Columbia, MD
SPBW or the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood was meeting at the Ale House Columbia. SPBW is for members that like to drink cask beer, and the Ale House offered a few for us. Continue reading SPBW at the Ale House
Columbia, MD
SPBW or the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood was meeting at the Ale House Columbia. SPBW is for members that like to drink cask beer, and the Ale House offered a few for us. Continue reading SPBW at the Ale House
Frisco Tap House, Columbia, MD
It’s only logical. Once you drink 99 unique craft beers, most at a world-class level, your 100th should be a Natty Boh chugged from a bottle. It was Lagunitas pint night at Frisco Tap House and Laura was reaching mug club status. Continue reading Lagunitas, Mug Club and Mr Trash Wheel
Inspired by HowChow’s post about breweries in Howard County, I’m writing today about the HoCo breweries. There are 7 breweries in Howard County that make beer in the county: Ellicott Mills, Bare Bones, Manor Hill, Push (Frisco Tap House’s brewery), Black Flag, Hysteria, and Jailbreak. Continue reading HoCo Breweries
Laurel, Maryland – Jailbreak Brewing Company
I walked into Jailbreak just a few minutes before 3:00 PM and sat at the bar. I was early for the 4th Reform on Tap Task Force, so I thought I’d order a beer. My taste buds were craving my favorite Jailbreak and Howard County beer – VanDammit. Columbia Pint Night member, Z, mentioned he had one on Friday, so this limited release beer was available, or so I thought. The bartender gave me the bad news, “They ran out of VanDammit yesterday.” Errrg! I order a Miami Vice, instead. I really like this kettle-soured Berliner Weisse; the key lime puree gives it a nice fruity sweetness. (but it’s no VanDammit)
The Reform on Tap Task Force kicked off with a few opening words by the Maryland Comptroller, Peter Franchot. Then our host and owner of Jailbreak, Justin Bonner, welcomed us and told us a little about Jailbreak. They just celebrated their third year of business and have 36 employees. Then Justin bought a round for everyone attending the event – nice!
At this point, let me just say, I’m just a guy who likes to drink good craft beer. In fact, I enjoy it so much, I write this blog about craft beer and I’ve even made a few batches of my own homebrew. For me, finding the next new delicious craft beer is what I live for. On the other hand, the complex Maryland beer laws are an amazing labyrinth of legislation that this easily distracted beer drinker finds tiresome.
Apparently, the last reform on tap session got a little contested. Some questions from the previous meeting were still unresolved, so they were revisited at the meeting. The Task Force spent nearly an hour talking about the law requiring an 180-day notice to terminate an existing relationship with a wholesaler. 180 days (almost 6 months) seems to me to be a very long time to have to remain in a sour business relationship.
The “buy back” clause was brought up again. Let me get on my soap box about this, one more time. It is good that HB1283 has increased the taproom beer limit to 2000 barrels. It is ludicrous that a brewery can serve an additional 1000 barrels, but only if it is sold to the distributor, touched down at the warehouse and returned to the brewery. In this time of global warming, it is shameful for a governing body to legislate this wasteful, ludicrous practice. If taproom limitations are the goal, just pay a fee to the distributor for the additional barrels.
The beer industry has changed a great deal over the past few decades. In earlier times, there were just a few large brewers and many small distributors. Today, that scenario has been turned on its head, with nearly 70 Maryland brewers and fewer distributors due to consolidation. The laws from the 70’s to protect the small distributor from mighty breweries don’t always apply anymore. Comments from each tier were that they need the other tiers and actually have excellent relationships with them. I believe the tension in the room or the “violent agreement” (my term) is about all these small, new breweries wanting to adjust the rules to protect their interest and give them a chance to compete fairly.
I think Chuck Ferrar of Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits of Annapolis said it best, “We have the same ultimate goal. Sell more beer, make more money.”
Cheers!
Warren
The Maryland Comptroller, Peter Franchot, presented the 2017 Bright Lights Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Howard County to the Victoria Restaurant Group yesterday, June 13, at the Manor Hill Farm Brewery in Ellicott City, Maryland. Continue reading Victoria Restaurant Group Awarded
There is some exciting news at our beloved Manor Hill Brewery located in Ellicott City, Maryland.
According to Manor Hill’s Director of Brewery Operations, Jason Gotcher: “Ben Little is no longer working for Manor Hill. He is currently exploring other opportunities.
Kurt Krol is our new Head Brewer. Kurt has been brewing all of our beers for the past 7 months and has come to us with 9 years of large scale production brewery experience. We are incredibly excited to move forward with Kurt running the brewhouse.” Continue reading Manor Hill’s New Brewer
I swung by Jailbreak Brewing Company on May 4th. Pierce is a Star Wars fan and invited me to Jailbreak for their May The Fourth Be With You (Star Wars Day) celebration. Continue reading Star Wars comes to Jailbreak
Far from the mill of Ellicott lies a treasure of liquid gold, guarded by magical powers. For those who dare to seek this treasure, you must take the treacherous journey deep into the Enchanted Forest where a grand White Oak is hidden. Continue reading Ye Olde White Oak
Wow, 3 separate trips for me to historic Ellicott City, MD in one week — nice! And also a fun time at the Fretz Showroom in Columbia, just to change things up.
Continue reading EC and Columbia
Historic Ellicott City is bustling again. We met friends for dinner at the Ellicott Mills Brewing Company last Saturday night. Continue reading Ellicott Mills is Back