Carroll Creek Linear Park, Frederick, MD May 11, 2019

The Maryland Craft Beer Festival offered nearly 200 different beers from 56 breweries. With that many ales to chose from, Pierce, dBear, and I left Laurel, MD on the BAMbus from Jailbreak Brewing so we could drink responsibly.

For the festival, I adopted Uncapped host Chris Sands’ advice about Untappd by not using it in social situations. BTW, Untappd is an app used to share info about what beer you are drinking with friends, sort of a FaceBook for beer drinkers. I agree with Chris; while hanging with my friends, I was spending more time logging beers in Untappd than socializing. That’s not fun.

With almost 200 beers to chose from, I decided to limit my breweries (except for a few choice selections) to breweries new to me. Mind you, in 2017, I attempted to visit every Brewers Association of Maryland member in the Great Maryland Brewery Challenge. Of the 56 breweries, I hit about 53. Those breweries new to me breweries included:

• 1623
• 1812
• Astro Lab
• Brewery Fire
• Elder Pine (missed this one)
• Full Tilt
• Homaide
• Idiom
• Midnight Run
• Mobtown
• Monocacy
• Nepenthe
• Prospect Point
• Rockwell
• Street Car 82
• True Respite

Just a few standouts for me: Homaide had a very dank and enjoyable CBD beer; Nepenthe had a nice raspberry/peach kettle sour; and Hops the Cat from Full Tilt was as good as all the hype.

I carried a rain jacket and umbrella which fended off the rain. Many people (including Pierce) were wearing pretzel necklaces for snacks. I’ll put that on next year’s must have list.

I saw Chris Sands of Uncapped with a video camera. He was enjoying the festival but the late crowd of people made beer and bathroom lines challenging. He mentioned that Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot was spotted at the festival.

In my humble opinion, Sapwood Cellars craft beers are perhaps the best in Maryland. Comparing their ales to the rest of Maryland’s brews confirmed my opinion. Their unfortunate location was right next to the band. Also, one of our favorites from previous festivals is Steinhardt Brewing. His Kriek and Belgian Quad were both delicious. Also, I discovered the very rich, chocolaty, and slightly spicy Crooked Crabs Mexican Fairwinds Cupcake Porter — delicious! And Hysteria’s Monasterium is a scrumptious sour which hides the high ABV well.

The $80 BAMbus is a great alternative to driving back and forth to Frederick. BTW, the $80 includes a VIP ticket to the festival. I will always let someone else drive, especially if I’ve been drinking, so the bus is a great idea. The bus did leave a bit late from Laurel. Also, the scheduled ride home from Frederick left 20 minutes late, waiting for stragglers. I was in no hurry but I talked to one disgruntled bus rider from Arbutus. After 3 experiences with the Maryland Craft Beer Festival and the BAMbus, she is done; she feels it’s too unreliable. Also, she felt very disappointed that the festival ran out of the larger VIP tulip glasses which the BAMbus riders had paid for. She prefers the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival in Canton. I plan to attend the Baltimore Festival for the first time this year.

Regardless of my new Arbutus friend’s opinion, I look forward to next year’s Maryland Craft Beer Festival. The Columbia Pint Night crew is hoping to volunteer for Reckless (conspicuously absent at this festival) so that our “home” brewery is represented.

Every year, I have had a great experience at the festival. Each year, more breweries participate, the food seems to get better, and the Brewers Association of Maryland seems to tweak the festival for the better. Overall, the festival showcases Maryland’s great beer industry and Frederick’s charming Carroll Creek Linear Park.

Cheers!

Warren