Grand Opening July 1st & 2nd
It’s official; Columbia, Maryland will have a new brewery on July 1st. At long last, Hysteria Brewing Company of 9570 Berger Road will open its doors to the public.
Starting noon on July 1st, a two-day celebration is planned, with a temporary beer garden outside, 2 food trucks and, of course, their taproom with room for 100 people, will be open. Their neighbors, Lost Ark Distilling, will also be open and join in the fun. Hours of the grand opening are 12 noon – 11 PM on Saturday and 12 noon – 8 PM on Sunday.
The star of the show is their taproom, featuring 11 Hysteria beers on tap and a nitro coffee. Having coffee available to their patrons is an important option; it provides a more sobering drink for drivers. When I met with Hysteria’s Marketing & Event Planner, Zachary Michel, he said they hope to develop some kind of designated driver program in the future. Also, growlers and crowlers are available to purchase.
One standout feature of their taproom is a handcrafted interactive beer list topped with a clock. I like the rough-hewn tall tables surrounded with industrial looking metal stools, all with backs. The reading nook with a small library is not what you expect in a taproom. Zach, a self-described nerd, says a lot of the Hysteria staff enjoys reading and wanted to create a quiet corner where you can curl up with a book.
Zach had a hand in making their sour Tripel, called Idle Hands. Owner Rich was dead set against making any sours. Using their pilot system, Zach and brewer Jordan were making countless batches of the same beer (I believe a coffee stout) to fill their wooden barrels. While Rich was away over a weekend, the bored brewers should have been taking a break (hence idle hands) but decided to experiment with a recipe Jordan had been hoping to try. It happened to be a sour. I sampled Idle Hands last summer and found it deliciously tart and tasting of sour cherries.
I look forward to trying more of their beer. Zach really likes their hefeweizen. He says this well-made, German-style beer, unfiltered with its traditional banana and cloves esters, has been well received. Hysteria Founders Club member, Pierce, says “Grandmother’s Milk and MO’Problems are must haves.”
Looking past the grand opening, Hysteria has a few plans. Friday Firkins will tap a new cask every week. Also, Hysteria hopes to make cider as a gluten-free alternative; they are even considering making sodas. Starting out, beer will be distributed in kegs only to the local pubs.
Hysteria hopes to embrace the local community. More beer and yoga events, as well as a running club, are in their future. A joint venture with Lost Ark Distilling, Christmas in July, is also planned.
Sadly, I will be out-of-town both Saturday and Sunday but Dbear has promised to attend and record the event.
Cheers!
Warren