Diageo to Brew Guinness at New Irish Facility, Doubling Capacity

Diageo plans to brew Guinness at a new facility in County Kildare, Ireland, with production set to start in 2026. The brewery, originally projected to have a capacity of 2m hectoliters, will now have a capacity of 4.5m hectoliters. Diageo will continue to brew Guinness at the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin for established markets, while the new facility will serve emerging markets.

Diageo, the global drinks company, has announced plans to brew Guinness at a new facility in County Kildare, Ireland. The brewery, located in Littleconnell, is expected to start production in early 2026. Initially projected to have a capacity of 2 million hectoliters annually, the brewery's capacity has been increased to 4.5 million hectoliters following a planning application submitted by Diageo [1].

The new brewery will serve as a production hub for Guinness and Guinness 0.0, targeting emerging markets. Meanwhile, the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin will continue to brew for established markets such as Ireland, the UK, and the US. The expansion is part of Diageo's long-term strategy to increase capacity and flexibility to support future growth opportunities [2].

Colin O’Brien, Diageo’s global head of beer supply, stated, "This planned expansion at Littleconnell is designed to position us for future global growth opportunities for Guinness and Guinness 0.0. By increasing our capacity, we can better serve emerging markets while strengthening Ireland’s position as a leading market for beer exports" [1].

The construction of the Littleconnell brewery began in June 2024, with the first brew for lagers and ales expected in early 2026. The brewery is designed with energy and water efficiency at its core, aiming to set a new industry standard [2].

References:
[1] https://www.just-drinks.com/news/diageo-to-brew-guinness-at-new-facility-kildare-ireland/
[2] https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/kildare-now/1875527/breaking-diageo-want-to-extend-guinness-brewery-in-kildare.html