WWBG: Local Brewery Tours

January 4, 2013 2:35 p.m.

Editor’s Note: This weekly sponsored column is written by Arash Tafakor, owner of Originally brewed in Colorado, Flying Dog purchased Frederick Brewing Company in 2006 and moved its entire brewing operations right in our area. Flying Dog built a state of the art facility that can produce up to 100,000 barrels of beer a year. This is a must go to tour. Flying Dog has a number of different beers they brew every day. Known for their artistic labels and numerous styles of core beers Flying Dog is not only a local favorite but also a national powerhouse in the beer industry. Reservations are required.

Port City Brewing Company Alexandria, VA

This tour is also should be on the top of your to do list. Port City was originally formed from a Small Business Administration loan. Bill Butcher, owner and brew master of Port City, even spoke at the Democratic National Convention about how the loan got his brewery up and running. Politics aside, I’m a huge fan of this loan, because Port City makes great beers. Their equipment is state of the art and facilities are brand new. The tours are usually small and the guides encourage questions, making this a great learning experience. Reservations are not needed.

Heavy Seas Brewery Halethorpe, MD

- Advertisement -

Owner and brewmaster Huge Sisson is responsible for the legalization of brewpubs in the state of Maryland. After leaving his family owned brewpub in 1994, Sisson founded Clipper City Brewery to satisfy Baltimore beer lovers after National Bohemian relocated out of Baltimore. As the craft beer industry expanded Sisson introduced a high gravity line called Heavy Seas. The Heavy Seas line took off and eventually became the new brand of Clipper City. As for the tour itself, I’ve heard amazing things about how fun it is. They have excellent beers and great food to compliment. Reservations are recommended.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BethesdaNow.com.

Community discussion guidelines: Our sponsored columns are written by members of the local business community. While we encourage a robust and open discussion, we ask that all reviews of the businesses – good or bad – be directed to another venue, like Yelp. The comments section is intended for a conversation about the topic of the article.

Digital Partners

Enter our essay contest