Guinness Opens Second US Brewery in Chicago
Diageo-owned Guinness will open the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Chicago today. The facility is housed in a 15,000 sq. ft. old railway depot and in addition to the 10-barrel brewery it will include a taproom, restaurant and bakery.
The taproom will have 12-16 rotating experimental draughts, most of which will be brewed on site and exclusively available in the taproom, alongside signatures like Guinness Draught Stout, Guinness Extra Stout, and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, which will be shipped from the Dublin brewery.
Megan Schwarz will lead the brewing operation and will have an initial line-up that includes Corn Maize Cream Ale made from corn grown in Illinois’ Iroquois County, Kinzie Street Pale Ale, and a Mango Chile Ale.
The culinary program will be led by Dream Team Hospitality, a joint venture by local industry veterans, with chef Taylor Bischof at the helm. The food menu will draw from the brand’s Irish roots and global footprint, alongside reimagined Chicago classics. The site will offer morning bakery and café service daily.
“This is an exciting step in the continuing evolution of the Guinness brand in America. It’s been a long journey, but we are so thrilled to be opening our doors this week and to contribute to Chicago’s world class food and beer scene,” said Rodney Williams, President of Diageo Beer
