The new Guinness experimental beer is the first in a line of barrel-aged beers to come out of the brand’s Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore.
Guinness has introduced a fresh stout. The latest experimental beer to come out of the brand’s new American home, it features Dublin-brewed Antwerpen stout aged for eight months in Bulleit Bourbon barrels at its Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House in Baltimore.
With the aim to recapture the tradition of maturing beer in wood barrels, the facility is part of the growing Maryland scene. A fitting location for the new brewery, the spot originally served as the Maryland Distilling Company—a post-prohibition distillery opened in 1933.
Combining full-bodied notes of bittersweet chocolate and aged fruits, the drink boasts an oak-infused richness due to its unique aging process. Part of the global Diageo community, Guinness has access to a vast supply of barrels from some of the best spirit-makers.
Establishing the brewery stateside, Guinness partnered with Bulleit for its first barrel-aged beer out of Baltimore. The toffee and caramel notes from the barrels were sought out to balance the bittersweet profile of the stout. The tie-up strengthens its presence in America.
“Our story began more than 250 years ago in Dublin. Now that we have a permanent home here with some of the most talented brewers, the potential to blend our brewing expertise with American creativity is virtually endless,” said Emma Giles, Brand Director for Guinness.
