Maryland Brewery Updates: July 2025
The Maryland beer scene is ever dynamic. Openings, expansions, closings, mergers. That's what makes it so exciting and so challenging to keep up with. Every two months, I conduct a survey of all Maryland columnists for breweries as the Mid-Atlantic Brew News. Here is a taste of what’s going on around Maryland and its beer producers. You can read about Ben Little, head brewer at Guildford Hall Brewery, the extended version, the most recent MABN brewery profile.
Brewery News From Around the State
Amy Dudrow is co-owner of Smoketown Brewing in Brunswick MD. Amy shares that a lot has been happening there. “We have extended hours for summer, exchanged one of our 15-barrel fermenters for a triple one-barrel system to allow for more variety, revamped our food menu to be more streamlined, while adding new items that fit better with our style.”
They have made some aesthetic updates as well by installing new epoxy flooring throughout the taproom and public areas, installed new shade sails on the patio and exchanged picnic tables for comfy outdoor couches, rejuvenated the upstairs concert hall that seats 300-400, and added a new canning line.
Smoketown has also added live music every Friday at the brewery. The hall is a historic music venue upstairs hosting such acts as Guy Lombardo, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Patsy Cline, and Jimmy Dean back in the 1950-60s. Visit: UpstairsatSmoketown.com
Amy has one more thought to share, “This August 29th will be the 1-year anniversary of new ownership at Smoketown. What a year it's been!”
Sapwood Cellars (Columbia MD) has some new beer releases. New (Zealand) Hop Crop 2025, a Hazy DIPA with Freestyle Nelson, Riwaka, and Motueka. Magician's Hat Trick is another Hazy IPA featuring BRU-1, Citra, and Simcoe. Mini Molé'd Almendrado is a Mexican Hot Chocolate & Almond Stout. And, State Fair Pink Lemonade is a Lemon & Raspberry Sour Ale.
A few exciting beer releases from Guilford Hall Brewery (GHB) in Baltimore. Crown 10 Degree is a Czech-style pale lager crafted using a triple decoction and step mashing process. It is exclusively made with floor-malted Pilsner malt from Bohemia and Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, showcasing how complexity can be achieved through simplicity. The beer offers a delightful balance of malty sweet notes like biscuit and honey, perfectly complemented by floral lemongrass hop notes. It is both highly sessionable and incredibly satisfying!
Another seasonal favorite is their Festbier, the traditional beer style of Oktoberfest. This is their modern take on the classic German Festbier, brewed to celebrate the season with tradition and clean precision. This double-decocted lager is crafted with 100% German malts and noble hops, delivering a golden pour with soft, bready malt and floral hop notes, and a crisp, smooth finish. Lighter and more drinkable than a Märzen.
GBH stated, “We’re proud to release Festbier along with three other beers quarterly this year, in partnership with the IAFF Local 964 Baltimore Fire Officers Charitable Foundation, with a portion of proceeds going directly to support local firefighters and their families. So when you raise a glass, you're not just celebrating the season—you’re giving back to those who protect and serve our community.”
GHB is planning an official Festbier release event in collaboration with the Fire Museum of Maryland on September 13, the same day they will be hosting their annual Oktoberfest at Guilford Hall.
Third Hill Brewing is seeking community support to purchase its building and secure its future in downtown Silver Spring. The brewery opened in the former Astro Lab Brewing building at 8216 Georgia Avenue in 2023. Founders Club members can receive free beer pours at every brewery visit, free and discounted merchandise, an annual member’s dinner, and other exclusive events, depending on membership level. As part of their Forever Home campaign, they are introducing their THBC Founders Club membership with two options available. In a media statement, Third Hill said, “As you can imagine, buying our space on Georgia Ave. in downtown Silver Spring is no small, or inexpensive, feat! These memberships are a way for people who love and want to support Third Hill to do so in a very meaningful way, but at a smaller scale than investing. Community is what we’re all about and together we can achieve something amazing.
George Handlin is a Managing Partner at Watchtower Brewing. George shares, “We will be opening this fall. Join us in Aberdeen, Maryland, as we open our doors to a new era of craft brewing. Experience bold flavors and a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates local heroes and community spirit.” You can keep up at watchtowerbrewing.com
Independent Brewery in Bel Air, MD was recently honored with the title of 'Baltimore's Best Brewery' for the THIRD year in a row ('23,'24,'25) by the readers of The Baltimore Sun's Best Of Poll. Congrats to Phil, Keith, and all the gang.
Idiom Remains Open But Is For Sale
The Maryland beer scene got surprising news this month, Idiom Brewing Company in Frederick, MD, is for sale. Founder Michael Clements announced the decision on August 6 via social media, sharing a candid message about the journey that had brought him to this point.
The sale includes Idiom’s brewing equipment, fixtures, and the full brand rights—but not the East Patrick Street building or the production facility near Frederick Municipal Airport, which are leased.
Clements initially intended to sell only the production brewery and scale back. But after some “soul-searching,” he chose to offer both locations, handing the brand to someone who can, in his words, “take the Idiom brand to the next level.”
Idiom opened in November 2018 and has been a highlight of the Carroll Creek scene ever since, along with other nearby Carroll Creek beer establishments, such as Attaboy Beer, Steinhardt Brewing, and now RAK Brewing.
We’ve Still Got Liquid To Pour
“This isn’t the end of the story; it’s just the plot twist. I’ve got work to do, and we’ve still got liquid to pour.”
Andrew Dill at Liquid Intrusion Brewing wanted to share some serious news regarding his wife and co-owner, Jasmine.
“Just a few weeks after we returned home from the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Experienceship on June 5th—still riding the high of being celebrated on a national stage as the only finalist without a taproom, without a physical space to call our own—our world came crashing down. On June 27th, Jasmine, my wife and co-founder, had a routine scan to follow up on headaches and vision issues she’d been experiencing. We didn’t expect much—just answers, maybe a prescription, and to move on with our summer. Within hours, everything changed. That same day, we were told she had a tumor in her brain.”
After further testing, all signs now point to von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)—a rare, hereditary condition that causes tumors and cysts throughout the body. While we are still awaiting official confirmation from a genetic counselor, the path ahead has already changed.
Jasmine’s response shows her courage. “This isn’t the end of the story; it’s just the plot twist. I’ve got work to do, and we’ve still got liquid to pour.”
Andrew says Maryland beer enthusiasts can assist by picking up some LIB beer, gather some swag available on their website, and tell your friends about LIB.
They want to continue the dream, “We’ve been bootstrapped from the beginning, fueling this brand with hustle, purpose, and community love. But now, it’s time to scale. We’re raising capital to open our own taproom and production facility.”
Some Final Thoughts on Beer Festivals
This year has been particularly challenging for Maryland beer festivals. Final thoughts! A pun perhaps, but when it comes to beer festivals, maybe not. Although it has not been officially announced, the 2025 Baltimore Craft Beer Festival will not be held. Rather, the Brewers Association of Maryland is partnering with the Hops & Harvest Festival to debut Wanderland, a one-of-a-kind craft beverage experience set for Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Symphony Woods at Merriweather Park in Columbia, Maryland. Learn more at wanderlandmd.com.
“After 10 amazing years, St. Michaels Brewfest has poured its final pint. Thank you to all the breweries, volunteers, and beer lovers who made this event so special over the past decade. Here’s to the memories, the friendships, and the unforgettable brews that brought us together!”
We will have to wait and see if this event becomes a new annual tradition for beer festivals in Maryland. Other festivals that have been recently canceled are the BAM Love Thy Beer held in February, the St. Michaels Brew Fest (after 10 years), the Easton Beer Festival (summer event), and now the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival.
The Easton Beer Fest announcement is somewhat emblematic of the issue, “It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of Easton Beer Fest 2025. As the craft beer landscape shifts—with fewer breweries able to participate and ticket sales falling short—we made the difficult decision to step back this year rather than deliver an event that didn’t live up to the standard you deserve or the mission we stand for.”
Some Closing Thoughts
If you enjoy Maryland craft beer and festivals that showcase our local breweries, then consider sending a message of support to the breweries and industry association by attending these events. It has become apparent that these events cannot be taken for granted.