Cushwa Brewing Company
10210 Governor Lane Boulevard #2010
Williamsport, MD 21795
(301) 223-3434

Cushwa Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in the Potomac River town of Williamsport, MD.
If you are proceeding on your Williamsport beer tour, Cushwa is just a 1-minute walk from Interchange Tiki Bar & Brewery.

Cushwa's taproom is large and spacious, and seats about 100 patrons...15 of them at the long bar. Many large tables are also offered.
There is also an outside seating area in front.

How about the beer?
Cushwa offers 20 taps, with many styles represented...lagers, hefeweizen, 3 IPA's, 3 double IPA's, a stout, 4 sours, and 2 nitros.
Beers are available in 5 or 16 ounce pours.

When in doubt, I asked my bartender, Em, for her opinion. She was personable, knowledgeable, and could pour with the best of them.

The taproom was quite lively on a Wednesday evening, with the crowd ranging in age from 15-70.

If you are hungry, Cushwa has their own pizza oven right there in the bar!
They also offer many of their beers to go in cans.

Cushwa distributes their beer throughout the region. And in the Summer of '23, they will be opening a taproom in Columbia, MD.

Extras? Cushwa hosts Trivia Night on Mondays, and a Cornhole Tournament of Tuesdays.
Sound like fun? Cushwa will be waiting for you on your next Williamsport Beer trip!

Thick - N - Thin Brewing
18330 Spark Dr.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(240) 366-4147

Thick - N - Thin is a microbrewery on the Southern outskirts of Hagerstown, MD.
They have a large, spacious taproom, with seating also on an outside patio.

Thick - N - Thin features one of those Pour My Beer walls, whereby a customer can pour any amount of beer from any tap into their glass, and the system keeps track of what and how much you are drinking. Then you settle up at the end, paying by the ounce.

Or you can proceed like me, and order from your friendly bartender.
Speaking of which, Marcus and Quinn were very helpful in answering my questions about the brewery and anything else I needed to know, whether it be about beer, or about how my phone works.

Thick - N - Thin had 18 taps running, including 5 IPA's and 3 sours.
Thick - N - Thin brews their beer on a 10-bbl brewing system, and it is distributed to various locations in the region.

Hungry?
Food trucks are on site several nights a week. You can also scan a code, and have food delivered from three restaurants in the same complex.

The taproom is pet-friendly and kid-friendly, as long as everyone minds their manners.
There is free popcorn, and if you come on Wednesday evening, bring your thinking caps, as that is Trivia Night.

Babycat Brewery
10241 Kensington Parkway
Kensington, MD 20895
(301) 302-8892

Babycat is a microbrewery tucked behind a strip mall in Kensington, MD.  It's hard to find and there is very little nearby parking.  One must go through a plastic enclosed heated patio to get to the front door.  
Inside is spacious, with the bar toward the right back corner.  They have about 10 nicely padded chair-style bar stools along the bar, and about 15 tables. 
Babycat featured about 10 beers on tap, none of which are particularly “big”, meaning high ABV.
The 7-barrel brewing operation is on full display in the back room.  Purchases are credit card only.  

The day this Questor visited might have been “kids day”, in that the workers behind the bar didn't seem old enough to be employed there. When asked if they had coasters, the gal said Yes.  When told we wanted some, she said she didn't know where they were.

We found pallets of cans in the back. When asked about canning, the kid said he was told they would start, the second week in January...so they should have a canning operation by the time you visit.

Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery
2408 Crofton Blvd.
Crofton, MD 21114
(410) 630-1579

So, you ask yourself, "What is a Real Ale?"
Real Ales are:
Brewed from traditional ingredients, with perhaps the addition of extra hops, or other ingredients, directly into the cask,
• Matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed,
• Never filtered,
• Served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide. Cask ales are “pulled” from the cask with the hand pump or simply tapped and served directly from the cask.
Chesepiooc is a microbrewery in Crofton, just off of Route 3 South.
At any given time, they will usually have 16 beers on tap, and 2 real ales.
At the time of my visit, they had several IPA's, a lager, a Wit, Doppelbock, barleywine, hefeweizen and more.
The taproom is spacious, with seating at tables for about 90 patrons, and another 10 stools at the bar.
This is the only location where one can get Chesepiooc beer. The brewery does not distribute, yet they can brew enough in their 1-bbl. system to keep the taps flowing with an amazing variety of beers.
A customer can also take home Chesepiooc beer in crowlers.
And in case you were wondering, Chesepiooc is from the Algonquian language and refers to "a village at a big river" , or the "great shellfish bay."

Notch 8 Brewery
10150 Junction Drive
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
(301) 960-3333

Notch 8 Brewery is a microbrewery located just south of Route 32 off of Dorsey Run Road.
It is situated in an area of newly risen apartment and office buildings, and the structure actually contains three businesses...a coffee shop, a sub shop, and Notch 8 Brewery.
You can walk back and forth between the establishments.
The taproom is attractively appointed, and the bar seats about a dozen patrons. The 14 tables seat about 60 more, and still more can be accomodated on the patio outside.
Notch 8 had 10 beers on tap, including an American Lager, a Mexican Lager, IPA, Amber, a cider, a sour, a Belgian, and more.
I had the 3:10 to Lager American Lager, which was excellent.
The clientele seemed to hover around their 30's and 40's, and the taproom is dog-friendly.
Notch 8 has a small but intriguing food menu, and I can highly recommend the House Smoked Turkey Sandwich with boardwalk fries!
Notch 8 beer is not sold anywhere but here, and you can take some home with you in 32- or 64-ounce growlers.
So, if you are a Questor...or just a Marylander who can't even put your finger on exactly where Annapolis Junction is, Notch 8 Brewing is a good reason to find out.

1623 Brewing Company
5975 Exchange Dr
Suite H-L
Eldersburg, MD 21784
(443) 218-1410

1623 Brewing is located off Liberty Road between Route 32 and Route 97 in Eldersburg.
As you come in off of Liberty Road, keep going back, as it sits behind 2 other strips of businesses. It's worth getting there.
The facility is quite large, with the barroom seating about 180 patrons, and room for more than 100 outside.
The staff was extremely helpful in answering questions about the brewery and the beer. They were also glad to offer samples.
One question was, "Where does the name 1623 come from?"
Seems it derives from the 2 cousins who started the brewery, and the distance between their homes in Colorado and Maryland.
1623 had 12 brews on tap at the time of my visit, including an IPA, Oktoberfest, Cream Ale, Sour, Stout, and others.
The decor of the taproom is tasteful, with a huge circular bar as the focal point, with many, many tables to one side. Much of the lighting is natural.
Where can you get 1623 beer besides right here at the brewery?
Well, 1623 is distributed in all of Maryland's 23 counties, and can be found at pubs on tap, and on the shelves of local retailers.
After you drink your fill in the taproom, you can take some 1623 home in a Crowler.
This is a big operation, with two 30 bbl. bright tanks, two 60-bbl. bright tanks, and 6 fermenters.
Hungry? Food trucks are present Wednesday through Sunday.
Other extras include fire pits outside in cooler weather, live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Happy Hour on Wednesday, and Bingo on Thursday.
If all this sounds like fun...it is.
Check out 1623 and their beers for yourself.

Cult Classic Brewing
1169 Shopping Center Rd.
Stevensville, MD 21666
(410) 980-8097

How long does it take to become a cult classic?
In the movie world it can take decades, in the beer world it rarely happens.
I am willing to bet that no one has ever tried to become a cult classic in the movie and beer world until August 3, 2018 when a former grocery store in a well-worn and worn out strip shopping mall alongside MD 301/50 East in Stevensville on Kent Island opened.
The theme of Cult Classic is somewhere between black and movies. One of the longest bars you are likely to see is done all in black, the seating for 100 or so people is all black, the ceiling is black, the napkins are black and the wait staff dress in black.
A dark gray wall behind the bar provides the only splash of color.
Then I see the classic-to-cult movie posters at both ends of the bar. On the far left as you enter is a little movie theater complete with screen, curtains and overstuffed couches for viewing. There is a movie theater popcorn machine with movie-sized boxes of candy in this family friendly place that also features shuffleboard tables, two electronic dart games, Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper and souvenirs. There are also two skee-ball machines but I think they may be required by law on the Maryland's Eastern Shore.
A live music venue caps off the somewhat schizophrenic décor. I loved the glass front wall...if only there was a view.
Alas there is just parking lot and sound barrier wall.

But let's talk beer.
Six dollars will purchase a pint of one of 15 beers, beer that is brewed on premises and also available in crowlers and growlers. Four IPA's (Session, Red, New England and American), five other ales (Blonde, Pumpkin, Irsih Red, and Strong), two lagers (American Light and Märzen), a witbier, a Kölsch, a porter and a stout provide a well-rounded set of choices. ABV's ranged from the 4% Love Point Light to the 10% Winter Warmer.
I found this place by accident on a day that did not allow much beer tasting so I had the IPA and I must say I have never read a more accurate description of a beer: “Bright copper color with a fine lacing head. Clean, yet assertive hop bitterness. Medium bodied. Maltiness fades away to a dry, hoppy finish.”
It was surprisingly good, because this writer has not been especially impressed by the offerings of most small breweries. I would definitely return when next in Stevensville.

Food trucks provide the eats, a Mexican restaurant anchors the opposite end of this strip mall, and a lively calendar of events shows live music, trivia, book club, beer ball, and open mic nights. Where are the movies?
Time will tell if this funky eclectic place becomes a cult classic or not.

Valhalla Brewing Company
41 Cherry Hill Rd.
Elkton, Maryland 21921
443-207-8059

Opening in the Summer of 2018, Valhalla Brewing Company is one of the latest venues in the brewing community of northeastern Maryland.
The bar seats about 10 drinkers, and there is room for a larger number at community tables.
Valhalla offers 3 of their own brews on tap, as well as several guest taps.
Food is available from a pub menu and the choices are interesting and tasty. The meats are smoked in-house, and the sauces are homemade.
Tim, our bartender was welcoming and helpful in answering all of our questions.
Valhalla beers are made here on their 6.5 bbl. system, and right here is the only place you can get them as of the time of our visit.
If you want to take some home, the good news is a crowler machine will probably be working as of the time you read this article.

B. C. Brewing
10950 Gilroy Rd
Suite f,
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
(443) 318-4867

B. C. Brewing (Balt County) is a microbrewery in a large warehouse-type facility at the Gilroy Road light rail stop in Hunt Valley, MD.
Meant to be a beer lover's paradise, they have 28 of their own beers on tap.
B. C. has a 2-bbl. and a 7-bbl. brewing system, as well as a 25-gallon pilot system.
Their stated goal is beer diversification, and with this many taps of their beer available, this goal is being met.
Unique to this area is their "beer wall".
Pay in advance by the ounce for a beer card and self serve as little or as much as you'd like.
The 28 taps are also behind the bar, twice.
The 50-foot long bar seats 25 and there is seating for about 175 more with plenty of standing-around space...5,000 square feet of it!
Food is available from a food truck out front.

Crooked Crab Brewing Company
8251 Telegraph Rd
Odenton, MD 21113
(443) 569-9187

Crooked Crab is a microbrewery located on Telegraph Road in Odenton, MD.

The spacious tap room seats about 20 at the bar, and has a total capacity of 143 patrons.
There is still space for moving about, and a large chalkboard for kids, and others, to write upon.
The 15-bbl. brewing system can be seen through windows.
Crooked Crab has eight beers on tap...5 year-rounders and 3 seasonals.

The brews at the time of our visit included a pale ale, a white ale, an IPA, a double IPA, 2 stouts, a cream ale and a brown ale.
Much of the Crooked Crab beer is consumed right here, but they do distribute their kegs to area establishments.

On a Sunday afternoon, the venue was fairly crowded with about 100 imbibers, drinking beer and having fun with friends and family.
Crooked Crab sells their beer in pints and flights, and also fills growlers. A crowler machine is coming soon.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House
5001 Washington Blvd
Halethorpe, MD 21227

Baltimore's Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House, actually located in Halethorpe, MD, which some might call Relay, is a large production brewery with an attractive and spacious taproom.
Guinness will have three brewhouses on site.  A small 2-barrel pilot brewery, a 10 hectoliter brewhouse, and a custom-designed 100 hectoliter brewhouse.
All three systems will be set up to brew and ferment various styles. 

Locals will remember this 62-acre site with its towering square brick buildings as being the long-time home of Seagrams Distillery until 2015.

The brewery is owned by Diageo, the conglomerate that brings you, aside from Guinness, such spirits as Tanqueray Gin, Johnnie Walker Black, Bailey's, Ketel One Vodka, Captain Morgan Rum, and a host of other potent potables.
The Brewery in Halethorpe will be used to brew Guinness Blonde American Lager, and a variety of experimental brews.
At the time of our visit, there were 10 beers on tap; six experimental beers such as a Wheat IPA and a Northwest IPA, 3 stouts imported from Ireland, and of course the Blonde Lager.
You can purchase your beer in pints or by the flight.
The taproom was industrial in decor, but was warmed up by colorful murals and photos relating to Guinness and their brewing processes.
The large bar seats over 30 patrons, and at least 60 more can be seated on stools at barrel tables.
There also was picnic table seating outside.

Our bartender informed us that a much larger restaurant and taproom was under construction on site. That is due to open in late summer, 2018.
Note: This new much larger taproom is now open!
In the meantime, patrons can enjoy the present taproom, which will stay open even after the larger venue is completed.
The Quest for the Holy Grain would also suggest that visitors to the area make their trip a real beer adventure and combine a visit to Guinness with a visit to the Heavy Seas Brewery and Taproom which is barely 10 minutes north.

Sapwood Cellars
8980 MD-108
Ste MNO
Columbia, MD 21045
(443) 542-9304

Sapwood Cellars is a microbrewery that sits in an industrial park on Route 108 in Columbia, MD.
When planning your trip, have their phone number ready, because you may get lost.
I did...twice!
Sapwood has a spacious taproom, with a bar that seats 15 patrons, and approximately 15 tables of various sizes. In spite of all this seating, the taproom does not feel crowded.

Sapwood had 11 taps going at the time of my visit, which included a doppelbock, a few stouts, IPA's, a gose, and others.
The beers come in 7- or 14-ounce pours, and the two I imbibed were way above average.

Anna, the charming young lady who served as my barkeep, was friendly, knowledgeable, and an outstanding representative of the brewery.
She was able to answer nearly all of my questions, and if she couldn't, she found someone who could.

Sapwood's beers are brewed using a 10-bbl system which is visible in the rear.
Many of the beers are on sale to take home in 16-ounce cans. Rest assured that I took advantage of this.
Food trucks are usually present on the weekends.

Sapwood Cellars is one more example of the vibrant brewing industry in the Columbia area.
I'll be back.

Hysteria Brewing Company
9570 Berger Rd
Suite J
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 630-8319

Hysteria Brewing is a craft brewery with a large taproom located in Columbia, MD.
Hysteria is situated quite near the Black Flag Brewery, making the south end of Snowden River Parkway a beer destination.
The brewery is located in an industrial park, and the crowd consisted of a good mix of ages on a crowded Saturday night.
The bar seats about 20 imbibers, with room for many more at tables and leaning shelves.
At the time of our visit, Hysteria had 9 beers on tap, including an IPA, a triple IPA, Scotch ale, red rye, stout, and others.
A Questor can obtain Hysteria Beer here in the taproom, or on draft at craft beer establishments in several counties.
Beer is sold in pints, flights, or can be taken home in crowlers (32-ounce cans).
The large 20-bbl. brew works can be seen behind the bar area.
For your convenience. food trucks are often parked outside, and for your added convenience, I counted at least 4 restrooms.

Black Flag Brewing Company
9315 Snowden River Pkwy Columbia, MD 21046

Black Flag is a microbrewery located in an industrial strip, in the southeastern part of Columbia, MD.
The taproom interior is modern, spare, and clean.
The taproom is open and spacious...the motif is industrial, the focal point being the impressive 20-bbl brew works, gleaming behind large glass doors.
The bar seats about 12 patrons, with 2 community tables handling another 20.
About 30 more imbibers can sit at tables along two sides of the perimeter.
Black Flag had 10 beers on tap...5 flagship beers and 5 experimental brews.
They included a pale ale, IPA, double IPA, Belgians, stout, porter, and more.
Black Flag beer can be had at the brewery in pints, flights, and growlers.
The plans call for providing kegs for local drinking establishments, with bottling or canning in the future.
No food is served, but there will be a food truck during the busiest times.
Victuals can also be ordered and delivered.

Brookeville Beer Farm
20315 Georgia Ave
Brookeville, MD 20833
(301) 260-1000

The Brookeville Beer Farm opened in July, 2016 in rural eastern Montgomery County.
It is a farm brewery, and produces many of the hops and berries used in their beers.
The excess from the brewing process is fed back into the farm.
Brookeville's grounds are beautifully landscaped with lush greenery and intriguing water features, reflecting an appreciation for natural materials.
This motif continues as one walks inside the taproom, where wood and stone are effectively combined with a modern industrial look.
The large, multifaceted bar is the focal point of the taproom, and there are numerous tables as well as seating in smaller areas away from the bustle of the bar.
Brookeville had six of their beers on tap; the pils and the double IPA were very good and true-to-style, and the stout was outstanding.
The taproom and patio outside were extremely busy, and the clientele consisted of the Howard and Montgomery County beer intelligencia...upscale and comprised of all ages.
The 10 bbl. brewing system was visible adjoining the taproom.
BBF's beers are available at the taproom in pints, flights, and growlers.
Brookville does ship some kegs to local watering holes, but consuming it right here on the farm seems to be the most enjoyable way to go.

Scorpion Brewing
929 Skinners Turn Rd
Owings, MD 20736
(410) 279-9700

Scorpion Brewing is a Maryland microbrewery located in Owings, in the heart of Calvert County.
According to their mission statement, they pride themselves "on producing beer made with local ingredients and embrace the flexibility, adaptability and experimentation a small microbrewery allows."
At the time of our visit, Scorpion had 5 beers on tap...a blackberry sour, double IPA, light, Belgian Tripel, and a Wee Heavy.
At this time, Scorpion is open 4 days a week.
They provide tastes of their beer and fill growlers.
Once a month, they are liscensed to sell pints.
The taproom is kid-friendly, and provides games for them to play.

Calvert Brewing Company
Production Brewery & Tasting Room 15850 Commerce Ct. 
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
240.245.4609

The Calvert Brewing Company is a microbrewery in a large business park in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Follow your GPS, you will get there.
If you don't have a GPS...pretend it is 1976.

According to Calvert's mission statement, they are "... Maryland's first designated farm brewery. With a dedication to pride, loyalty and quality, we are committed to building a better beer."

The bar area is one large room dominated by a large U-shaped bar set perpendicular to your entrance.
The bar seats 25 or more and there are several tables scattered about.
To the left of the room is a hallway with their offices, rest rooms, and stacks of their six packs for sale.
There are large windows in the walls behind the bar letting one look into the fairly large production area.

Calvert Brewing has 10 of their beers on tap as well as several products that are available in cans.
There is no kitchen, but food trucks are there when the brewery is open to the public.

It was reported on January 24, 2024, that Calvert Brewing is closing by the end of the first quarter of the year. Check this out before going.

Manor Hill Brewing
4411 Manor Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Phone: (410) 997-7771

On the way to Manor Hill Brewing, just off of Route 108 in Ellicott City, the thirsty Questor drives down scenic and tree-lined Manor Lane.
As he or she approaches the destination, a vast vista opens up, with the brewery in the distance...quite impressive.
This is the site of Manor Hill Brewing, a farm brewery that opened in 2015.
Manor Hill is owned by the same family that brought you Victoria Gastropub, a successful restaurant and beer venue close by.
The farm also produces beef cattle, corn, hops, and vegetables.
The tap room seats about a dozen drinkers at the bar, and another 40 or so at tables.
The brewery's 30-bbl system can be seen adjoining the tap room.
Manor Hill had eight of their beers on tap during our visit, and these could be purchased in pints, or in 3-beer flights.
Beers were also available to go in growlers or in 6-packs of cans.
Manor Hills beers are available around Maryland and in DC.
But perhaps the best way to enjoy these delicious and imaginative brews is right here at the brewery, in the heart of the beer-savvy Ellicott City/Columbia region.
Manor Hill Brewery is open Friday thru Sunday, but please call first...the place is so popular that a reservation may be needed.

Smoketown Brewing Station
223 W Potomac St
Brunswick, MD 21716
Phone: (443) 995-1516

In the quaint town of Brunswick, nestled on the banks of the Potomac River, a cavernous firehouse has been cleverly re-purposed into a craft brewery and tasting room...Smoketown Brewing Station.
The front part of the old Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company is nicely appointed with attractive black tables and chairs and a red tile floor.
Lots of brick and metal are visible, as is the 7-bbl. brewing system located to the left of the bar area and tasting room.
The large front room seats about 24 patrons, with some other tables for standing.
There is one unobtrusive TV and live music was being played during the time of our visit.
Smoketown had 6 of their own beers on tap...pale ale, hefeweizen, stout and others.
I had a pint of pale ale and one of hefeweizen and found them both to be clean, tasty, and true-to-style.
The barroom in the back seats approximately 20 more people, and the bartenders were kept busy serving pints, assembling flights, and filling growlers.
You can't get Smoketown beer anywhere else yet, only here.
So it would be a great idea to get on down to Smoketown.
It's a beautiful drive from whichever way you are coming.

Waredaca Brewing Company
4017 Damascus Rd
Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Phone: (301) 774-2337

Waredaca Brewing Company is a farm brewery located in rural central Maryland.
It is situated in Gaithersburg in name only, actually being only a few miles removed from Howard County, and about 8 miles south of Route 70.
It is near the crossroads of Sunshine, MD.
Waredaca draws its name from a day camp that once occupied this beautiful rolling landscape.
Today, the farm has one of the area's best-known equistrian event barns, as well as Montgomery County's premier farm brewery.
The wooden bar in the attractive tap room seats about 10 patrons, with room for about 50 more at community tables and couches.
Just out back is seating for many more on the large patio overlooking the beautiful Maryland scenery.
Waredaca had 7 of their beers on tap during our visit, including a saison, wit, IPA, stout, and others.
All of the brews were clean-tasting, fresh, true-to-style, and easy to drink.
Waredaca uses a 10-bbl. system to brew their beer, and most of it is for consumption on the premises.
Their beer is exported to a small number of bars and restaurants in the region.
Thirsty patrons have several options while at the brewery.
They can purchase their beer by the pint, or buy a flight including one of each beer in a sampling glass.
They can also take beer home either in a growler, or a crowler...which is a 32-ounce pour drawn from the tap and canned right before your eyes!
Questors would be well advised to visit Waredaca Brewing at their earliest convenience.
The beers are delicious and reasonably priced...the view is free.

Independent Brewing Company
418 N. Main Street.
Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 836-8313

Opening in October of 2015,
Independent Brewing has become a very popular beer destination in Bel Air, MD...that beer-centric town in Harford County.
Boasting 22 taps, with rotating house beers, as well as a few brews from a local farm brewery (can't find the name...), they are able to provide you with a nice selection of authentic beer styles.
Ample seating around the bar and several community tables, make the main bar area accommodating to groups of all sizes.
The brew works are visible behind large windows behind the bar.
There is an additional room with more seating and apparel for sale.
Food vendors set up outside and provide a varied supply of sustenance.
The place was hopping on a Saturday afternoon.

Midnight Run Brewing
912 N East St.
Frederick, MD 21701
(240) 651-1424

Midnight Run is a microbrewery located north of downtown Frederick in the Monocacy Village Shopping Center. It's easy to miss...but if you're driving north on East Street, it comes up just after Rockwell Brewing.
Midnight Run doesn't go in for small beers...their taste runs towards industrial strength brews.
The Pilsner Ale that I had was smooth and seductive like a Belgian Golden Ale and weighed in at 9.0%.
Kristy, our welcoming and informative barkeep, explained that MR usually has about 10 taps pouring, and most are north of 7%.
At the time of my visit, they had the Pils Ale, a stout, IPA, double IPA, and others.
MR's 3-bbl system puts out enough beer to be consumed in the tap room, and to be sent to a few local bars. Kristy can give you an 8-oz., 12-oz., or a 16-oz. pour of this fresh, well-crafted brew.
You can also take some home in crowlers.
MR's taproom seats 40 patrons, and there was a decent crowd there on a Sunday afternoon.
They weren't kids, and they seemed to be local.
Midnight Run serves no food, but they will allow you to bring anything in.
If you are a craft beer lover, a trip to Midnight Run is well worth the effort!

Olde Mother Brewing Company
526 N Market St
Frederick, MD 21701
(240) 877-7392

Olde Mother is a microbrewery located on the main drag of N. Market Street, just above the main shopping district.
Olde Mother has a lot of space...more so than it appears from the outside.
The bar seats about 10, and another 40 or so patrons can be seated at tables. There are also several couches to be had.
Beyond the taproom, in the rear, there is a large area in front of the 10-bbl brewery. Those who wish to stay active, can play darts and cornhole, and there is a lot of room for moving around.
There are also enough picnic-style tables to seat about 40 more.
Let's get to the beers.
At the time of my visit, Olde Mother had 11 of their beers on tap, and 5 more were available in 16-ounce can pours. Drinkers could choose from IPA's, hefeweizen, 2 barrel-aged imperial stouts, a Pilsner, and many others.
Beers were available to take home in 16-ounce cans and crowlers.
Both of the bartenders were friendly and helpful, and the clientele, at the time of my visit, was a mixed-age crowd that seemed to be denizens of the neighborhood.
If you live nowhere near the neighborhood, you can find Olde Mother beer in the better beer retailers.
Special events include live music on Tuesdays, trivia on Thursdays, and oft times music on Saturdays.
Remember Olde Mother when you are doing your Frederick Brewery Tour, or any other time that your thirst tells you that it's Beer O'Clock.

Steinhardt Brewing Company
340 E Patrick St
Suite 102
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 471-0901

Steinhardt Brewing is located in an old industrial building alongside Frederick's scenic Carroll Creek.
The taproom has abundant brick and natural lighting which makes it an excellent spot for taking photos,or drinking beer.
Rather than follow the lead of making beers that are extreme, outside the box, or contain radical herbs, spices and tropical fruits, Steinhardt prefers to brew true-to-style beers with a preference for Belgian styles.
Among their 24 taps, one could find a Dubbel, Tripel, and Quad...also a Vienna lager and several IPA's
There were four Flemish beers, as well as German stalwarts Kölsch and hefeweizen.
That is just to name a few.
In the taproom, there are a half-dozen seats at the bar, with tables accounting for placement of about 80 more thirsty patrons. There is also seating outside on the patio bordering Carroll Creek.
Steinhardt features Happy Hour on Wednesday and Trappist Thursday when you can "drink like a monk" at reduced prices.
The beers are brewed from a 7-bbl. system, and there is some local distribution.
You can take Steinhardt beer home with you in mix-your-own 4-packs.
The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and there is every reason to return to Steinhardt.

Rockwell Brewery
880 N East St Suite 201
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 732-4880

Rockwell Brewing is a microbrewery that opened in Frederick, MD in early 2017.
The venue was packed on a Saturday evening, and our waitress informed us that she had not yet worked on a day when it was not this busy.
The long U-shaped bar seats about 15 patrons; this is supplemented by several large tables.
There are also shelves with numerous stools.
The patrons covered a mix of ages...locals enjoying the company of locals appreciating fresh craft beer.
The bar was not only crowded, but seemed like a fun place to hang out.
Rockwell had 7 beers on tap at the time of our visit, including a Rye, an ESB, a Milk Stout, and an Imperial IPA, as well as others.
You can consume your Rockwell beer here, or take it home in growlers, or hefty 2-liter crowlers.
Rockwell Brewing also has a limited food menu of tasty items.

Attaboy Beer
400 Sagner Ave #400
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 338-8229

Attaboy Beer is a microbrewery with a tasting room located a stone's throw from the scenic Carroll Creek Promenade in downtown Frederick.
The tap room is quite spacious, with a large L-shaped bar that seats at least 20.
Tables are also plentiful, and can seat maybe 75 more customers.
The decor is a basic, no frills, industrial motif.
At the time of our visit on a Saturday afternoon, the placed was mobbed, with thirsty patrons of all ages from babies to seniors.
Attaboy had 5 of their beers on tap...an IPA, 2 Pale Ales, Patersbier, and a strong golden.
I had a Ruud...the strong golden which was crisp and tasty.
Large glass windows show off the 10-bbl brewhouse.
Attaboy beer can be taken home in growlers and crowlers.
As far as food goes, they have a few snacks, but a food truck was outside at the time of our visit.
Although Attaboy plans to distribute their beer in the future, the only place you can get it now is right here at the brewery on the banks of Carroll Creek, in Frederick.

Monocacy Brewing Company
1781 N Market St
Frederick, MD 21701
(240) 457-4232

Monocacy Brewing Company is located in an old ice cream plant on the outskirts of historic downtown Frederick.
Monocacy is owned by the same folks as Brewers Alley, also in Frederick.
Arcane liquor license laws required that they brew under a different name, and with the Monocacy River very near by, Monocacy Brewing Company was a logical fit.

While the brewery has three flagship recipes, a rye pale ale, a session pale ale and an imperial coffee stout, they have the flexibility and creativity to branch out into many unique styles.
When these Questors visited a Thai Wit Bier and Dirty Chai Stout were options in the tasting room. This series of experimental and unique brews has been dubbed the "Blank Slate" beers, and is constantly being added to.

There is a quaint tasting room with 7+ beers on tap.
Tours are a reasonable $5, which includes 5 tastings, a souvenir glass and the tour itself. Tickets can be purchased online or at the brewery.

For the home-brewers out there, The Flying Barrel, a home brewers' shop and brew-on-premise facility, is located right next door.

Mully's Brewery
141 Schooner Ln
#15
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(443) 968-9426

Mully's is a family-owned production brewery located in rural Southern Maryland.
Mully's brewer and owner, Jason, received his brewing education at the Seidel Institute and the World Brewing Academy.
He now brews Mully's 5 flagship beers as well as several seasonals in 15 or 30 bbl. batches.
Mully's attractive tasting room seats about 10 at the bar, and another 20 or so at tables.
Visitors to the pub can taste samples of Mully's beer, get growlers filled, and take home 6-packs.
Hopefully in the future, they will also be able to sell pints.
Mully's presents Firkin Fridays once per month, and hosts a "Small Batch Sunday" also once per month. Visitors can watch a small batch being made, ask questions, or even help.
Visitors interested in brewing can also take a tour of the brewery on Saturdays and Sundays.
Pairing dinners are presented several times a year.
Other than that, it's BYO food.
Mully's brewery is definitely a friendly stop for any Questor driving this peninsula in Maryland's Calvert County.

Nepenthe Brewing Company
3626 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD 21211

Nepenthe Brewing Company is located in the center of Baltimore's popular Hampden neighborhood.
On the Saturday of our visit, there was some sort of event going on, and the taproom was more than packed.
As far as I could tell, the long bar seats about 20 patrons, and there are many group tables and smaller tables…the place is quite spacious.
The crowd was of all ages, and most of them were there for beer.

The tap list was prominently displayed above the bar, and by my count, there were about 18 offerings on tap, including but not limited to: 5 IPA's, 3 Double IPA's, 2 stouts, 3 sours, an imperial stout, and several lagers.
There were enough styles to flood the wheelhouse of any Questor!
A few steps up from the taproom is more seating and the kitchen.
Nepenthe has a delicious-looking menu, on which you can find salad, tacos, burgers, a chicken sandwich, wings, fries, mac & cheese, and more.
"What does the name Nepenthe mean?", you ask.
According to my research, nepenthe is “ a drug described in Homer's Odyssey as banishing grief or trouble from a person's mind.”
Remind you of beer?

Speaking of the beer, if you can't drink your fill in Nepenthe's taproom, you can take some home in cans from a cooler in the back. One can also purchase Nepenthe beer from a number of retail establishments that offer craft beers.

I have to return to Nepenthe's taproom when it's not so crowded.

Wico Street Beer Company
1100 Wicomico St.
Baltimore, MD 21230

Wico Street Beer Company is a microbrewery in Baltimore's burgeoning beer neighborhood of Pigtown.

The bar in the spacious taproom seats about a dozen, with a number of tables and plenty of milling-around room.
In the rear is a space the size of a small gymnasium used for events such as cornhole tournaments and the like.
It also serves as more space to stand around and drink beer.

Wico Street had 11 beers on tap during my visit, with most running toward the Hazy IPA and sour end of the spectrum.
The list also featured three lagers and an Imperial Stout.
The beers were available in 5- 12- or 16-ounce pours.

The 5 bbl. brewing system is visible to your right as you enter.

Aside from drinking Wico Street's beer right here in the comfortable taproom, it can be found at some local bars and retailers.

If you would like some Wico Street to go, they have plenty for sale in cans to take home.

I was informed that Wico Street will also host special events such as flea markets, record shows, and live music.
Food trucks are available at the busier times.

You'll want to make Wico Street a stop on your Pigtown Pubcrawl.

Suspended Brewing Company
912 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 926-8847

Suspended Brewing is a microbrewery in South Baltimore's neighborhood of Pigtown.
Suspended is a small brewery with a social conscience; their mission statement tells us that they strive "to demonstrate that social justice and ecological stewardship can be a potent combination combination for business..."
You will usually find 12 drafts of fresh and innovative Suspended beers being poured in their taproom featuring a variety of light, dark, sweet, and hoppy brews, as well as beer to go in bottles which are "mixed culture fermentation" beers and more on the experimental side.
The Wishwood German-style Pils that I had during my visit was the best Pils that I have had in a good while...and I drink a lot of different Pils!
The building in which Suspended is housed is interesting and very much Old Baltimore.
It was originally three rowhouses, and most recently a theater, with other different incarnations in between.
Suspended's taproom seats about 35 patrons and could be described as industrial-hip, and is spacious and dog-friendly.
Josey and Daria told me that Suspended is primarily a neighborhood watering hole.
They do supply some area restaurants with their brews, but your best bet is to drink them here, bring in a growler to be filled, or take home a bottle of their innovative mixed culture fermentation beer.
If beer drinking makes you hungry, and I myself have known that to happen, you can grab a bite from one of the restaurants nearby and bring it on in.
The staff to whom I spoke, Josey and Daria, were friendly, professional, and full of information about their 5-bbl. brewing operation and the delicious beers they produce.

As of January 1, 2024, Suspended closed their Pigtown location for good. They are planning to move to North Baltimore. Stay tuned.

Checkerspot Brewing Company
1421 Ridgely Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 388-8912

Checkerspot Brewing is in South Baltimore, just southeast of M & T Bank Stadiuim.

The taproom is spacious, offering about 7 seats at the bar, with seating for many others at small tables, community tables, and shelves along the wall.
Outside, there is seating for about 50 more patrons under cover, and plenty of free parking.
Checkerspot offered 16 beers on tap at the time of my visit, including an amber lager, several IPA's and DIPA's, a Pils, a sour, a Kölsch, and others.
My barkeep was friendly and ready to explain about Checkerspot and their beers.
The brewery, which cooks in a 15-bbl. tank with 30-bbl. fermenters, has their beers on sale at local retailers and on draft in local establishments.
Getting hungry?
Checkerspot has a tasty menu of small plates and snacks.
And when it's time to depart, you can take some beer home with you in cans, growlers, or crowlers.
I am betting you'll come back.

(In case you're wondering, the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is the official insect of Maryland.
Write this down...there will be a quiz.)

In 2023, Checkerspot moved to 1421 Ridgeley Street...not far away. The photos on this page reflect the original location.
Check the new one out for yourself.

Peabody Heights Brewery
401 E 30th St
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 467-7837

On April 18, 1919, at the future site of Peabody Heights, the Red Sox came through town on their way north from spring training. They played an exhibition game at Oriole Park and Babe Ruth put on a hitting exhibition for the ages. He launched four home runs out of the ballpark, three of which were estimated to have traveled 500 feet or more. One hundred years later Peabody Heights Brewery continues the hit parade with its hop-heavy line of beers, several of which clear the bases.

For folks who do not know the City this looks like a kinda scary part of town. As you sit in your car waiting for the 5 PM opening of the taproom you have plenty of time to wonder what that concertina and barbed wire over the parking lot entrance is there for. Are they expecting a low level attack by flying monkeys? Lions, tigers and bears” Oh my.

Once you gain entry a nice long bars awaits you on the right as the rest of this repurposed industrial building unfolds before you. Comfortable table seating occupies most of the room, a few whiskey barrel tables thrown in for atmosphere. At the far end of the room is a movie screen along the left wall is a display devoted to Old Oriole Park which burned to the ground on July 4, 1944. There are also a couple of extra rooms with baseball themes on the left side of the building. We belly up to the bar, where the real action is.

On this visit PHB is pitching 17 different beers. I begin with Unforgiveable Curses a Belgian Tripel and a clean triple it is. This is a crisp Belgian beer and great start, then I made the mistake of having a Lost Generation: Gertrude Stein an Imperial stout with sweet potatoes, marshmallows, pecans, and brown sugar . Don't let the description scare you off... this beer was a home run. I never ordered anything else for the duration of our stay.

If you like the squeal of little children and the threat of a dog taking a dump indoors, i.e., the modern brew pub that is pet and family friendly this is your place. Me, I hate that trend. Call me old school but a beer joint should be for picking up women and ruining marriages, getting in fights with a-holes who vote and think differently than you, developing drinking problems with old friends, then sending you off to drive home four sheets to the wind. Dogs and kids in a bar? Let your dogs watch your kids while you go out and drink. The Babe must spin in his grave and I bet he still gets on base.

Key Brewing Company
2500 Grays Rd
Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 477-2337

If you are planning a trip to Key Brewing, beware of the MapQuest directions...they will leave you at a dead end, very close to the brewery, but with no way to get there!
Once you do arrive, however, you will find your trip well worthwhile.
Key Brerwing's Taproom is very spacious, and the 40-bbl production brewery is even more so.
The bar seats about a dozen patrons.
Four picnic tables and a conference table provide seating for many more.
Much of the wall space is lined with a drinking rail, so you can lean and relax with your beer during busy times.
The brewery is visible through large doors, and so is the game room with a pool table and Foosball.
Spike, our barkeep and one of the proprietors, describes himself and his partners as being "purists...but not elitists" in the craft brewing industry, as they brew beers that are "deliciously drinkable."
This would certainly describe the two beers I enjoyed during our visit; the Dalkanator Doppelbock and Catch & Release Double IPA. They were worth drinking and coming back for another!
Key will usually have 12 beers on tap at any one time...their six regulars and six more which are seasonals or new creations.
As of now (April, 2017) Key sells it beer in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia.
You can find Key beer in cans at local beer stores, on tap at bars in the region, or you can take some home from the brewery in cans or growlers.
Drafts are sold in the Taproom in sizes of 5 to 16 ounces.
Food trucks are usually on site on Fridays and Saturdays.

Diamondback Brewing Company
1215 E Fort Ave #008
McHenry Row
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 388-9626

Diamondback Brewing Company is located in Locust Point's McHenry Row neighborhood.
The brewery and tap room is housed on an old brick building that used to be a mattress factory.
A large sickle-shaped bar seats about 20 drinkers, a community table seats 10, and stools at leaning tables can accomodate many more.
In the rear is a small game area, and downstairs is a large rec room with ping-pong and the 8.5 bbl. brewery.
Francis, one of the proprietors, was accomodating and answered all of our questions whilst drawing beers for a thirsty crowd of young professional-type patrons on a Sunday afternoon.
Diamondback's decor is industrial yet cozy, and the tap room is dominated by the lower portion of a tall brick smokestack.
Diamondback will usually have 4-7 different beers on tap, and the selection during our visit included a blonde, and IPA, a coffee IPA, and a black gose.
The barkeeps at the tap room sell their beers in pints, and cheerfully give samples.
Diamondback beer can also be taken home in growlers.
You may have trouble finding the place, but just keep asking...your perseverence will pay off.

Waverly Brewing Company
1625 Union Ave
Baltimore, MD 21211
443-438-5765

Waverly Brewing Company is tucked off of Union Avenue, just to the east side of the Jones Falls Expressway.
Waverly is the second craft brewer to set up shop in the Hampden-Woodberry neighborhood, it being just a coupla short blocks from Union Craft Brewing.
The tap room is fairly spacious; the angular bar seats about a dozen patrons, and there is a leaners shelf that can accomodate many more.
A second room is off to the side with a communal table and a few couches and chairs.
At the time of our visit, Waverly had 7 beers on tap from their 5-bbl system.
The list included a blonde, a brown, saison, helles, IPA and more.
The crowd seemed young, local, hip, and artsy...then again, compared to me, almost everyone is young, hip, and artsy.
If you want to try some Waverly beer, there is only one place to go...right here!
So far, all of the beers are brewed for consumption right here in the tap room.
Be sure you check the website, or call for the hours.
During our stay, the Kommie Pig food truck was parked outside dishing out delectibles.

Waverly Brewing is just what we need more of...a place where neighborhood denizens can drink freshly-brewed craft beer in a bar-like atmosphere, along with friends who are looking to do the same thing.
I wish there were one in Catonsville.

Union Craft Brewing
1700 W. 41st Street
Suite #420
Baltimore 21211
(410) 467-0290

Union Craft Brewing is a microbrewery located in the Woodberry neighborhood just west of Hampden.
The bar in Union's taproom seats about a dozen patrons, and 2 communal tables can accomodate about 18 more.
The taproom is mid-size...industrial, functional, and friendly.
Union Craft distributes their beer to Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC.
During our visit, there were 9 different beers available on tap.
There were also growlers, bombers, and six-packs to go.
Beer styles were diverse and covered all the bases.
The taproom occupies a corner of the brewery itself, and evidence of the 20-bbl system could be seen through glass.
Check the website for schedules of when the taproom is open, brewery tours, and food trucks.
PS - This article describes the old Union Brewery and Tap Room.
Pictures are of the new Tap Room.

Address is new Tap Room.

Heavy Seas Tap Room
4615 Hollins Ferry Road, Halethorpe, MD 21227
(410) 247-7822

Heavy Seas Tap Room adjoins the Heavy Seas brewery just off of the Beltway on the cusp of Halethorpe and Landsdowne.
The bar seats 10 or 12 folks, and tables accomodate another 32 or so.
There are always 8 Heavy Seas beers on tap, with another two dispensed from hand engines.
The Tap Room also sells bombers and six-packs, and fills growlers.
Although all they purvey is beer, there is usually a food truck outside offering Brick Oven Pizza.
The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and represented their brewery well.
Heavy Seas produces 45,000 bbl of brew per year, and may be the craft beer world's leading producer of cask beers.

Liquidity Aleworks
8 North Main Street,
Mt. Airy, MD 21771

Liquidity Aleworks is a microbrewery in scenic, historic, Mt. Airy.
The taproom is spacious, with high ceilings and lots of windows. The building was previously a bank, and is over 100 years old.
There is room for 8-10 drinkers at the bar, with numerous tables that can seat about 90 more comfortably.
Additionally, the taproom has a mezzanine with more seating, and an outdoor patio that can accomodate possibly 40-50 more patrons.
The 5-bbl brew works are housed in the basement.
The beer...I thought you'd never ask.
Liquidity has 20 taps including a couple of lagers, several IPA's, a few stouts and sours, and a couple of wheats. And more.
Liquidity doesn't serve food, but visitors can bring their own food in, or purchase from a food truck when present. Victuals from some local establishments can be delivered.
You can take Liquidity beer home in crowlers, or from the fridge in 4-packs.
The drive to Mt. Airy was beautiful on this particular Easter Sunday, the beer was tasty, and the crowd and staff were friendly.
What else ya need?

Red Shedman
Farm Brewery & Hop Yard
13601 Glissans Mill Rd
Mt. Airy, MD 21771
301-831-5889
or 410-795-6432

The rural community of Mt Airy, MD now boasts its third brewery...
Red Shedman.
Red Shedman opened on November 15, 2014, with a huge crowd on hand to socialize and sample the beer.
Not so crowded, though, that the staff could not take time to explain to us the story of Red Shedman, their philosophy, and any other questions we may have had.
Vic Aellen, proprietor and brewmaster, explained how he would not make any beer that he wouldn't drink himself.
I'm not sure what this rules out, but Red Shedman, for their Grand Opening, had on tap a Golden Ale, Oktoberfest, Honey Rye, IPA, Porter, and a Stout.
All the beers were clean-tasting, easy to drink, and true to style.
Red Shedman boasts a large taproom with a long bar, tables, and ample leaning counters.
One can sip their beer and view the 15-bbl brew works through windows looking down into the lower level.
Red Shedman, which is on the grounds with Linganore Winecellars, is in a beautiful pastoral setting and certainly is a great place in which to enjoy craft beer, eat some lite fare, watch the big-screen TVs.
The dedicated Questor may also wish to take home a growler.

Milkhouse Brewery
at Stillpoint Farm
8253 Dollyhyde Rd
Mt. Airy, Maryland 21771
301-829-6950

Amid the verdant, sprawling farmland of rural Frederick County sits Stillpoint Farm...home of Milkhouse Brewery.
Tom Barse and Carolann McConaughy built Milkhouse Brewery " to help sustain small farming in Maryland.? "
According to their mission statement, they believe "that by offering a wide variety of products, activities and services on our small farm, we can help others maintain the family farm tradition that is disappearing so rapidly in our State and across the country. "
Milkhouse, by law, is the first Farm Brewery in Maryland.
The brewery is housed in a barn-style structure, and adjoining that is a lovely wood-appointed tasting room where thirsty visitors can enjoy a sample or a pint of Milkhouse beer.
There is also a patio where one can drink their beer and admire the scenery.
During our visit, Milkhouse had 3 beers on tap, and one in a cask. All are brewed in Milkhouse's 10-bbl system from ingredients grown on the farm.
Growlers can also be taken home.
As of this time, the tasting room is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Check their website for hours.
Milkhouse Brewery is a great place to visit and down a few fresh farm-brewed beers in an attractive and convivial atmosphere.

Sinepuxent Bay Brewing Company
8816 Stephen Decatur Hwy
Berlin, MD 21811
(443) 513-3038

Unapologetically Rural...Sinepuxent Brewery and Taphouse is located on a farm along Stephen Decatur Highway, between Ocean City and Assateague Island. 

The taphouse is in an old produce stand that has been outfitted with several tables and a small bar.  Sinepuxent Bay had about 8 beers on tap at the time of our visit.

The real action is outside, where dozens of picnic tables, cornhole boards, an outdoor stage, and even goats, can be found.  With frequent entertainment offerings, and a laid-back atmosphere, this is definitely a place to visit when you're goin' downy oshun, hun.

Our Ales
Ruhlman Brewery on Creeping Creek Farm
2300 Harvey Grummel Rd
Hampstead MD 21074

Ruhlman Brewery is one of the new wave of farm breweries opening in Maryland due to 2012 legislation.
The law states that if a brewery uses a locally grown ingredient, they may open the brewery to the public and sell beer for on- or off-premise consumption.
Ruhlman Brewing has a 10 barrel all-grain system. The brewing equipment was brought to the States in January of 2012 with brewing beginning several months later.
They purchase their grains from the U.S., Canada and the UK and they grow many varieties of hops on Creeping Creek Farm, including Centennial, Cascade, Saaz, Nugget, as well as a few others. These hops are used in their various recipes.
Ruhlman currently offers 4 different brews (Milk Stout, IPA,Tavern Pale Ale, Red Ale) that are available for purchase in bottles and growlers at the brewery as well at local retailers.
Recyclable kegs of Our Ales are also sold; drink the beer and discard the keg with your everyday recycling.
The rest room is clean and well-lit.
The Brewmaster, Henry Ruhlman, offers personal tours and a set of samples for $5.
Look for more of these farm breweries just over the horizon, cropping up in the Free State.