1623 Brewing (Eldersburg, MD)

"Would you like a beer?" Now that's a great way to begin a conversation. I had a chance to talk with Zac Rissmiller (co-founder and head brewer) and Carrie Nevius (Sales Manager and newly appointed General Manager) of 1623 Brewing at their brewery construction site in Eldersburg, MD. As I sipped on the 1623 IPA Zac offered me I noticed the brightness in the hops. "That was fresh off the canning line this morning", he informed me.

There a couple of things you notice about Zac after a few minutes of conversation. One, he is very confident in his ability to make great beer. And two, he is one honest and laid back guy. The first is the product from his ten years of brewing experience with 1623 being the fourth brewery he has helped build. The second is most likely from his living in Colorado.

The usual question is why the name 1623? Mike McKelvin and Zac are not only business partners but also cousins with 1,623 miles between their hometowns.

As we stood in the center of the concrete floors that one-day soon would evolve into a brewery, the smooth slab was interrupted by men working along with the sharply cut slots in the floor. Zac described for me the brewery that it would become. The brewery would be on the backside. Along one wall of the taproom will be the family section. Over on the other side will be tables where a couple can sit, enjoying their beer and the other company. In the middle, there will be a circular bar. Over here we will have a bar that opens to the outside so people can sit outside and enjoy their beer among the greenery. As I listened, it was as if Walt Disney was describing his vision for Disney Land. I could imagine the planning that had gone on in Zac’s mind over the past ten years in what his brewery would become.

Zac had worked as head brewer at Elk Mountain Brewing for three years helping to win four Colorado State Fair medals, a silver medal at 2015 GABF for South German Hefeweizen, and a silver medal at the Best of American Craft Beer Awards in 2015, also for Hefeweizen. He went on to co-found Resolute Brewing before moving to Rockyard Brewing as Manager of Brewery Operations. In 2018, Rockyard won a gold medal at the 2018 World Beer Cup for its German-style Pilsner.

As a survivor of the Columbine shooting and the pouring out of support Zac witnessed, as a result, acceptance by the local community was an important ingredient in locating in Eldersburg. And so, community outreach — giving back — is important for 1623 as well.

Signature beers for the brewery would be a toss-up between their Hefeweizen and IPA. Other regulars in their current lineup include Märzen, dry Irish stout, and a raspberry blond. If I had to describe these beers in a few words I would say they were traditional styles made very well! Zac also promises that some interesting and imaginative beers are on their way.

While production is currently occurring at DuClaw Brewing near Baltimore, they expect their new brewery opening for late October.

I asked Zac about his impression of Maryland. His response without pause was that traffic is terrible and everyone is in such a hurry. His advice to his newly found friends in Maryland, “Relax, calm down, have a beer.”