Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery (CRAB) is a small brewery tucked neatly between Washington, DC, and Annapolis in Crofton, MD. Chesepiooc (pronounced “chess-uh-pee-auck”) is not used in many conversations these days. It comes from the Algonquian language, meaning “village at a big river.” Joe Esposito founded the brewery about six years ago (Feb 2018) with the idea of being intentionally small in size but large in beer and community.
Read moreThe Other One Brewery: A Brewer's Journey
Nate Todd opened The Other One Brewery in Ocean City MD in 2023. Beginning with a homebrewing kit resulted in a deep passion for brewing. He served as head brewer at Backshore Brewing here for that operation's last two years, and wound up purchasing much of Backshore's equipment when the company closed in November 2021.
Read moreUpper Stem Brewery: Crafting Tradition and Community
Upper Stem Brewery is a licensed farm brewery in Washington County, just northeast of Hagerstown, MD. In April 2020, as the world grappled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan Winger decided to launch his brewery, a risky move given the uncertain times. Yet, they navigated the challenging waters through ingenuity and a small canning operation, providing curbside delivery that kept the dream alive.
Read moreA Hidden Gem: The Story of 1812 Brewery
In early March 2024, I visited the 1812 Brewery outside Cumberland, Maryland. I'd heard about the brewery from local friends and had hoped to visit myself, but the timing was never right. So, when traveling to western Maryland for a friend’s retirement party, I asked if I could stop by and learn more about the brewery and its people, and they welcomed our meeting.
Read moreScorpion Brewing: Closing Our Doors For Good
The last beer poured at the Scorpion Tap Room at 929 Skinners Turn Rd. will be on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 2024. At that time, we will be closing our doors for good.
Read moreCalvert Brewing: We Are Closed
Even though we are still in its early weeks, this year has not provided much good news for the Maryland brewery scene. Several breweries have closed their doors, with Calvert Brewing being the first.
Read moreSuspended Brewing Closes
Suspended Brewing Co. in the Pigtown section of Baltimore City, posted on their website on January 1, 2024, that their taproom is now closed. Mystique Barrel Brewing and Lager House are to open there in 2024.
Read moreStone Silo Brewery Opens in Damascus
Stone Silo Brewery Opens in Damascus — In mid-January 2024, Stone Silo Brewery, a new farm brewery in near Damascus MD, opened their doors to the public. That moves the brewery county to eleven in Montgomery County.
Read moreBurnish Beer Co: Shaking Off the Rust
Burnish Beer Company celebrated their second anniversary in October 2023. For a relatively new brewery, they have come a long way in that short time. But then, the Burnish team has brought a lot of experience and a diversity of talent to this brewing venture.
Read moreRoute 50 Brewery Tour
There is a wealth of notable beery diversions not far off US Route 50 along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. If you'd rather sit in a taproom than traffic, drinking a beer than eating sand on the beach, then one (or more) of these drive-ersions may be exactly what you need. Let’s go a little journey, shall we?
Read moreThe Maryland Hop: Monocacy
It has said that Maryland doesn't have the right climate to grow hops commercially. Yet, there is a growing movement in the beer industry to use locally grown ingredients in their beer. A new hop has been discovered in Frederick County Maryland that may change that.
Read moreLiquidity Aleworks
Liquidity Aleworks in Mt. Airy MD, opened their taproom doors to the public on November 10, 2022. The building Liquidity sits in was built in 1904, and formerly housed the First National Bank and Farmers and Merchants Banks. The taproom is bright and open and decidedly family oriented.
Read moreChicago Beer Hunting: Part 3 - Giants and The Mouse
This is the third of three journal entries about my Chicago Beer Hunting treks in April 2023. In this journal entry I visit Crushed By Giants Brewing and Off Color Brewing.
Read moreFlying Dog Sold to FX Matt Brewing
Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick MD, Maryland’s largest craft beer brewery, announced on Monday May 22, 2023, that it is being sold to New York’s FX Matt Brewing Company. Flying Dog will cease all brewery production in Maryland by August, moving all its production to New York.
Read moreChicago Beer Hunting: Part 2 - The Goose and Beyond
Originally I hadn’t planned on including Goose Island on my brewery trekking list. A casual conversation from a taproom patron changed my mind. Goose Island Fulton Street Brewery, Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, and Ørkenoy adventures await.
Read moreChicago Beer Hunting: Part 1 - Trekking a Great Beer Town
Chicago has been on my beery bucket list ever since learning about its beer scene through the voice of Michael Kiser and Good Beer Hunting. I had an opportunity to visit the Windy City in April 2023. Going was an easy choice. With so many breweries, choosing which breweries to visit was not.
Read moreGuinness Closing Maryland Beer Production
On April 3, Diageo North America, the parent company for Guinness released a statement that in June it will be closing its manufacturing facility at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Relay, MD. Diageo said that the restaurant and taproom will still remain open as will the brewing of “select experimental beers” in a 10-barrel brewery in the visitor center.
Read moreCheckerspot: A Baltimore Brewery on the Move
Judy and Rob Neff opened Checkerspot Brewing in 2018. A craft brewery with a taproom creates a certain kind of kinetic energy. It can change a neighborhood, attracting patrons from around the block or across the country. Currently there are 17 breweries within Baltimore City proper, the majority established within the last five years. Checkerspot Brewing is one of those and has become an important part of the city’s changing vibe.
Read moreOther Half Brewing DC
If you have experienced Other Half beers you know they are some of the best IPAs in the business. In an Untappd blog post titled The Top 10 Craft Breweries With the Most 5-Star Check-Ins of 2022 Other Half Brewing was ranked #4, ahead of such well knowns as Toppling Goliath and The Alchemist. Topping the list were Russian River, Bell’s Brewery, and Tree House Brewing.
Read moreGuilford Hall Brewing: New Beer History
Guilford Hall Brewery is just one of many brewing establishments that have opened within the heart of Baltimore. The city has a rich history as a beer town, and these modern takes on insuring that tradition continues and even grows.
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