The traditional dark stout made by Guinness is known around the world as the Dublin-based brewery’s flagship beer. And while Guinness isn’t looking to brew that beer at its planned Baltimore County facility, there was little doubt it would be sold to thirsty visitors.
But a controversial bill passed earlier this month in the House of Delegates barred beer brewed off premises from being sold in tap rooms. Now, Diageo Beer Co. USA, the parent company of Guinness, is seeking amendments at the Senate level to get that dark stout sold in the Relay facility.
“We have to be able to serve Guinness [traditional stout] at this facility,” said Dwayne Kratt, senior director of government relations for Diageo. “That is like telling Walt Disney it can use all its characters except Mickey Mouse.”
Diageo and the Brewers Association of Maryland both testified Wednesday in front of a Maryland Senate committee requesting amendments to the bill.
House Bill 1283 raises the on-premise sales cap of craft…
