GUINNESS has announced plans to open its first brewery in the United States since 1954 in an attempt to woo younger customers.
The Irish brewer, owned by Diageo (DEO) since 2001, will open the $80 million Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House in the town of Relay near Baltimore, Maryland on August 3.
The huge 62-acre site will also feature a 270-seat restaurant and tap room in a former distillery, according to the company.
"The USA is probably the most dynamic and exciting beer market in the world right now, and, put simply, we'd like to be closer to the action," said Guinness in a statement on their website.
"Having a brewery in the USA will help us understand and respond to trends more quickly, as well as brew smaller batches and get them to market faster."
American stagnation
The Baltimore facility will become the sixth active Guinness brewery in the world - in addition to St James' Gate in Dublin and four others in Malaysia, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
The company briefly operated a brewery in New York between 1949 and 1954.
But despite remaining one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, Guinness sales have stagnated in the US in recent years as craft beers from smaller breweries gain in popularity.
As well as its famous stout, the firm's new brewery will offer India Pale Ale along with wheat beers, lagers and more experimental brews such as 'Guava Wit' and 'Cherry Stout'.
Baltimore, here we come!
