The Great Northern Distillery was founded on the site of the former Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk, Co. Louth in Ireland, which dates back to 1896. Diageo’s association with brewing in Dundalk dates back to the late 1950s when until 1960, the brewery had produced stout and ale. However, in response to an increased demand for lager at that time, Guinness converted the brewery into a modern lager operation. The Great Northern Brewery was the second largest brewery in Ireland until its closure in 2013 and subsequent takeover in 2015 by the Great Northern Distillery.