Maryland’s Guinness Open Gate Brewery is preparing to close, another blow to the region’s beer scene after a longtime Baltimore brewpub shut down earlier this year. The closure will affect at least 174 workers at the Halethorpe destination, according to a state labor filing.
Guinness owner Diageo announced the decision on October 1, 2026. The brewery’s last day open to the public will be Sunday, November 1, with the remaining operation expected to wind down by the end of the year. The 174 positions belong to Aramark, which provides hospitality services at the site, rather than being a confirmed count of Diageo employees.
Guinness is closing its Maryland brewery after eight years
The Open Gate Brewery opened in 2018 at 5001 Washington Boulevard, just outside Baltimore. It was Guinness’s first brewery in the United States since 1954 and became a popular stop for visitors interested in beer, food and the brewing process. The company says more than two million people have visited since opening.
The property combined an experimental brewery with a taproom, restaurant, beer garden and events. It also gave customers a chance to try limited-release beers that weren’t necessarily available in stores nationwide.
There is an important distinction in this closure: Diageo already ended most large-scale manufacturing at the Maryland property in 2023, eliminating roughly 100 jobs at that time. A smaller experimental brewhouse and the public-facing operation continued. The new announcement concerns that remaining brewery and hospitality destination, not a newly announced shutdown of the larger production plant.
174 jobs are affected by the planned shutdown
An October 1 notice on the Maryland Department of Labor’s WARN list identifies Aramark Campus LLC at the brewery’s address and lists 174 employees affected effective November 1. The state classifies the action as a mass layoff with no recall.
Aramark has said it is looking for opportunities to place affected employees elsewhere in its organization where possible. Diageo has not publicly provided a separate, precise number of its own employees who may be affected, so 174 should not be presented as the total workforce impact across both companies.
Why is the brewery closing?
Diageo said it reached the decision after reviewing its operations and long-term business priorities. The company pointed to rising operating costs, changing consumer demand and wider economic pressures. It is also pursuing a broader cost-savings program, although Guinness itself remains an important brand in its plans.
Diageo says it will establish a $250,000 fund to support Baltimore-area organizations focused on economic opportunity and hospitality. Baltimore County officials have also offered workforce assistance to people affected by the shutdown.
The closure does not mean Guinness beer is disappearing from U.S. shelves. The brand’s Open Gate Brewery in Chicago will remain open. For Maryland customers, though, November 1 marks the planned final chance to visit the Halethorpe brewery before the remaining operation closes.
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