To make good beer you need a few basic things: high-quality ingredients, a skilled brewmaster and the proper equipment. Likewise, to make a good brewery you must have a few essentials: good product, a savvy business owner and a regulatory climate that’s conducive to success. While Maryland has an abundance of most of these prerequisites, our state is sadly failing to deliver on the last metric.
This is unfortunate, because the state is home to many great brewers and entrepreneurs. In recent years, Maryland such as like Flying Dog in Frederick, Jailbreak in Laurel and Union in Baltimore have received prestigious national awards for their beers. If these companies — and dozens of others fantastic in-state breweries — are going to continue to produce great brews, contribute to the local economy and expand their operations, it’s essential for the General Assembly to modernize our state’s laws and regulations.