AleCraft Brewing in Belair, MD, has announced that they will be closing their Maryland brewery. They will focus on the newer location in Railroad, PA.
We are sad to announce our closing, scheduled for Thursday February 29. We've had a great 6 years meeting new friends, hosting home brew lessons and fundraisers, sampling beers from local brewers, getting and giving beer advice, partnering with local businesses like Birds Nest BBQ for great food and Oodles Cheesecakes for beer pairings, teaching brew lessons on hops, water and off-flavors with the local homebrew club and a million other memories. But our time here in Harford County is at an end. We hope you don't become strangers and come to visit us in Railroad PA. Please stop in to say goodbye (for now) over the next 10 days. Mug Clubbers can pick up their mugs anytime before we close. Thanks again.
I reported in the Mid-Atlantic Brew News October 2021 edition of AleCraft’s desire to expand their Maryland brewery but was faced with strong resistance from the local officials. That caused them to seek expansion in Pennsylvania.
Photo credit: AleCraft Railroad PA
Maryland’s loss is Pennsylvania’s gain. Eryn Streett, one of the owners of Alecraft Brewery (Bel Air, MD) reports they have recently announced they will be opening a new production facility in Railroad, PA. Demand for Alecraft beer has grown and they need to expand production and building a farm brewery was their plan. They have been in a long battle this year with Harford County officials regarding their opening a farm brewery within a couple miles of their current facility but a moratorium against it caused them to change their plans and location. For the time being they will be keeping their Bel Air taproom location and homebrew store.
“We are expanding our operation and moving our primary production to a 13,000 square foot building featuring a new seven-barrel brewhouse, hop farm, taproom, expansive biergarten and restaurant. This location will be a craft beer lover’s haven. ”
“We are expanding our operation and moving our primary production to a 13,000 square foot building featuring a new seven-barrel brewhouse, hop farm, taproom, expansive biergarten and restaurant. This location will be a craft beer lover’s haven. The new brewery will be situated on four lush acres adjacent to the NCR (Northern Central Railroad) trail in Railroad Borough, Pennsylvania, complete with a pristine stream, spacious outdoor seating, and a rooftop deck. We’ll partner with the owner of Fox & Fern (formerly in Forest Hill, MD) to serve premium gastro-pub fare and their locally renowned coffee. Our main production and hop farm will relocate to Pennsylvania and our goal is to keep our smaller brewing system and taproom in Harford County (MD).”
Expansion to PA
In December 2022, AleCraft opened its flagship location, sitting on four picturesque acres along the York County Heritage (YCH) Trail in Railroad, PA, with a 7-barrel brewhouse, canning line, on-site cafe, and a rooftop patio.
