You can get beers in all sorts of colors, flavors and styles across the United States and that remains true in the Mid-Atlantic, with breweries producing excellent products across Maryland and Virginia born out of hobbies or long-held dreams of craft beer fans.
From IPAs to ales and even some hard seltzers, there’s something for every beer lover in the region, and plenty of cool areas to watch your favorite drinks get made as they make their way to your glass.
Maryland
Sapwood Cellers – 8980 MD-108 Suite MNO, Columbia, MD 21045
This brewery in Howard County is the result of two men, Scott Janish and Mike Tonsmeire, turning their hobby for brewing into a business. The pair produce a range of IPAs and barrel-aged beers using ethically sourced grains, organic hops, local fruit and free-range yeast whenever possible. The pair say they produce beers they would want to drink at reasonable prices and alcohol content.
Manor Hill Brewing – 4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Serving as the first farm brewery in Howard County and the largest in Maryland by production, this family-owned establishment sells fruits, vegetables and herbs alongside their beers harvested from their 54-acre farm. The company is strongly supportive of supporting local and practicing sustainability. They produce a wide range of beers from IPAs to ales, lagers and hard seltzers that blend new and traditional styles.
Jailbreak – 9445 Washington Blvd N, Suite F Laurel, MD 20723
A production that began on a pilot system in the founder’s backyard, this brewery became the first production brewery in Howard County in 2014. The have a commitment to using fresh ingredients and don’t include any essences or extracts in their beers. They offer 12 to 15 different styles of beer for purchase by the pint, sample flights and cans to-go in their taproom. You can check out the production process for yourself in the taproom by sneaking a peek through the large window behind the bar.
Crooked Crab Brewing Company – 8251 Telegraph Road, Suite D, Odenton, MD 21113
A brewery started by three Maryland natives and University of Maryland graduates, the idea for this establishment was to create a brewery that would “make Marylanders proud.” The brewery opened in early 2018 and became the first one in Anne Arundel County. They offer a wide range of craft beers that they themselves would want to drink from crisp cream ales to heavy stouts, and there’s something for everyone.
Checkerspot Brewing – 1421 Ridgely St., Baltimore, MD 21230
A brewery that began with home brewing in a kitchen that expanded to a basement, and eventually a full-fledged business. The founders, Judy and Rob Neff, say that beer is a unifier. You can enjoy a beer while looking out at the brewery where it was crafted, and the owners have recommendations of their favorite beers. The Juniperus IPA and Zicke Zacke Oktoberfest are two favorites listed on the company website.
Virginia
Ardent Craft Ales – 3200 W. Leigh St., Richmond, VA 23230
This taproom, beer garden and production brewery in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood offers a varied experience for a range of tastes with a list of craft beers, food and outdoor spaces to spend time with people in a community-based beer environment.
Lake Anne Brew House – 11424 Washington Plaza W, Reston, VA 20190
This brewery and taproom in the historic Lake Anne Village Center Plaza in Reston, Virginia invites you to a place to share beer with your friends. They offer small-batch, hand-crafted beer in a nano-brewery taproom. The building overlooks the beautiful scenery of Lake Anne with a deck and patio to enjoy alongside their carefully hand-crafted beers.
Ono Brewing Company– 4520 Daly Drive, Suite 102, Chantilly, VA 20151
This veteran and family-owned brewery in Chantilly has roots back to Hawaii, and they invite you to come an experience a bit of paradise. They chose the name Ono, a Hawaiian word which translates to tasty or delicious. The brewery features a self-serve beer wall with 12 craft beers and hard seltzers on tap, all of which are brewed by Ono Breweries.
