Maryland Beer Journal & Atlas
Beer Across The Free State
Maryland Beer Journal & Atlas (MBJA) — Our purpose is in our name — only Maryland, only beer. We tell the stories of the people and places that make Maryland beer unique. Maryland traverses many landscapes, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains, Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay, historic small towns, and all points in between. And the beer is as diverse as the landscapes.
Guinness, Garrett, and Grain
On November 21, Guinness Open Gate in Baltimore hosted Garrett Oliver, the famed head brewer at Brooklyn Brewery, for the release of their collaboration brew, Fonio Stout. This beer was the last in a series of collaboration beers highlighting the use of fonio grain as a brewing ingredient.
From Homebrewing to Hustling: Tom Pagano’s Journey to Mystique Barrel Brewing and Lager House
Nestled in the vibrant community of Pigtown, Baltimore, Mystique Barrel Brewing and Lager House is more than a brewery; it’s a testament to passion, resilience, and creativity. For Tom Pagano, owner and brewer, it represents a culmination of over a decade of dreaming, planning, and hands-on experience in nearly every facet of the beer industry.
Behind the Beer: Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery
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.
Maryland Brewery Updates: Oct 2024
And so it continues! Open, close, move, grow — the business cycle for breweries, large and small, continues to shift, creating new partnerships, voids, and opportunities. But it's the season for Oktoberfest, autumn seasonals, barrel-aged beauties, and otherwise great beer-drinking weather. Enjoy!
The 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.
Celebrating Craft Beer and Community: Beer From Here Festival
On August 3, 2024, Guinness Open Gate Brewery, just outside of Baltimore, opened its gates to breweries from across Maryland for the first Beer From Here beer festival. I talked with Ryan Wagner, Guinness’ National Ambassador, and Jon Zerivitz, Union Craft Brewing Co-founder and Maryland Brewer’s Association Senior Marketing Strategist about the event and Maryland beer.
Berlin Beer Company: The Ground Floor - June 2024
I first met Adam Davis in August 2022 while he was at Burley Oak Brewing in Berlin, MD. Not long after that, Adam announced he would plant his own flag in the sand with the Berlin Beer Company (BBC), a 3-minute drive and less than a mile from Burley. I have been following his progress ever since. In June 2024, Adam showed me around the progress at Berlin Beer Co.
Upper 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.
Maryland Brewery Closures: 2024
It isn't easy to learn of another local brewery closing. There will always be business cycles, and craft beer is no different. Even so, breweries are opening in Maryland, and successful breweries are growing, adding taproom locations, and expanding markets.
Maryland Beer Opinions: Best Maryland Festival
In February 2024, Deep Beer Journal hosted our first Maryland Beer Opinions poll. The poll asked, “Which Maryland breweries produce the best barrel-aged beers?” The results are in. And the March 2024 opinion poll is now open.
Scorpion 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.
Suspended 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.
Burnish 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.
Mid-Atlantic Brew News: October / November 2023
Interested in learning more about smoked beers? You can read about it in the lastest edition of the Mid-Atlantic Brew News and the cover story, Autumn Smoke: Rauchbier Emerges as Fall Seasonal.
Maryland Top Rated Breweries 2023
What are the best breweries in Maryland? I get asked that question occasionally. Of course I have my opinion, as we all do. Honestly, can this question be answered subjectively? Untappd may have the answer.
Liquidity 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.
Guilford 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.
Pickett Brewing in Pigtown
With Pickett Brewing and Suspended Brewing already with a presence, and Checkerspot Brewing moving to the neighborhood soon, plus Wico Street Brewing opening their taproom soon, Pigtown is becoming a craft beer hotspot in Baltimore.
Burley Oak Brewing: Not Conceptually Just Brewers
Burley Oak Brewing is a decidedly small brewery in Berlin, MD. ”Not conceptually just brewers, we think about making the coolest beverages. A little unconventional with some convention thrown in.”
Prairie Bomb
Next time you are in a bottle shop take some time to look around. Hopefully, your old favorites will be waiting for you but sometimes something new will sneak itself onto the shelves. Ask the staff what’s new, were there any new breweries picked up. Because sometimes that answer may be the Bomb!.