For anybody who loves Chicago beer and has a thirst for that smooth, creamy, world-famous Irish dry stout, you’re in luck! Guinness Open Gate Brewery has now officially opened its second U.S. location right here in Chicago.
Taking over a 15,000-square-foot space in the former Pennsylvania Railroad Terminal in West Loop, Guinness’ newest home finally opened at 8 am this morning, welcoming customers in with “Guinness’s own freshly baked brown bread.”
Where is the Guinness Open Gate Brewery?
Located in Fulton Market, at 901 West Kinzie St., the former rail depot now consists of a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and Guinness’ very first bakery globally.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago combines more than 260 years of brewing experience from Ireland with cutting-edge American brewing innovation for a uniquely Chicago experience.
What will the Guinness Open Gate Brewery offer?
The taproom will offer a rotating menu of various food and beers, including, of course, the company’s world-famous Guinness Draught Stout, imported directly from St James’s Gate in Dublin.
A 10-barrel brewing system will offer 12-16 rotating experimental draughts. Most of the draughts will be brewed on-site and exclusively available in the taproom.
Alongside signatures of Guinness Draught Stout, Guinness Extra Stout, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, and a Non-Alcoholic Guinness Draught, the brewhouse is hard at work on an initial line-up which will include Corn Maize Cream Ale made with corn from Illinois’s Iroquois County, Kinzie Street Pale Ale and Mango Chile Ale.
Behind the design
The culinary program, meanwhile, is led by Dream Team Hospitality, a joint venture between Chicago’s Hyde Park Hospitality and Stefani Restaurant Group with chef Taylor Bischof at the helm.
A food menu draws inspiration from the brewery’s Irish roots with a global footprint and reimagined Chicago dishes like Chicago Caviar which is a play on Giardiniera dip.
A daily morning bakery and café service provides a great place to start the day with local Intelligentsia Coffee and assorted treats from Aya Pastry.
It’s not just beer and food that guests can experience in the new taproom, however. In addition to informative tours, the 15,000-square-foot Chicago space will function as an events space and a venue for local artists.
Designer Karen Herold of Studio K Creative and Principal Rick Joutras of Whitney Architects transformed the huge former rail depot, marrying the old and new to create an environmentally sustainable state-of-the-art brewery and taproom with an epic patio with stairs reminiscent of Chicago’s Riverwalk steps.
The main space also features a hand-painted mural and a nearly 10,000-pound harp sculpture with layered ambient lighting that hangs over the center of the room high above the main taproom bar.
According to the release, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago will source 100% renewable electricity from solar panels and renewable energy credits, operate as a zero-waste-to-landfill facility, and utilize a 100% electric boiler.
“I extend our warmest Illinois welcome to Guinness as they join the Chicago brewing family, continuing centuries of tradition right here in the heart of the West Loop,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“Guinness’ commitment to community engagement and sustainability is admirable, and I’m pleased that both locals and visitors alike will have access to yet another unique cultural and culinary opportunity while in Chicago — a city with a proud history of both.”
More information can be found at guinnessbrewerychicago.com.
Now, who fancies a Guinness?
[Featured image courtesy of the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago]