Are you looking to kick back, throw your feet up and sip on some tasty suds? The Eastern Shore’s got you covered.
In the past decade, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware has become a hotspot for countless local breweries. Craft beer enthusiasts are beckoned each year to the sandy seashore, tempted by tall, foaming pints brewed locally in quaint, coastal backyards.
According to Jim Bauckman of the Brewers Association of Maryland, now more than ever, the beer industry is witnessing unprecedented growth — a boom, if you will, he said. As far as the Brewers Association of Maryland can tell, this is the most breweries — well over 100 in the state — operating simultaneously at any historic period of time.
“The resurgence that we’re seeing is more in the mind of the consumer turning to local options,” Bauckman said of Eastern Shore craft breweries and microbreweries. “Craft beer has become a hyper-local industry. So now people are seeking out options made in their own community.”
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The beer industry is also experiencing immense growth on a national scale.
Overall, U.S. beer volume sales were up 1% in 2021, while craft brewer volume sales grew 8%, raising small and independent brewers’ share of the U.S. beer market by volume to 13.1%, reported the national Brewers Association.
“At this point, we’ve totally eclipsed any historic record of the number of breweries operating in the country,” Bauckman said. “As we continue to see people make investments in this industry, we’re seeing that number rise.”
As the beer industry, both local and national, continues to boom, more craft breweries and microbreweries are popping up along the Shore.
Here’s more on some of the area’s most recent breweries to open and some still to come:
Breweries that recently opened
Burnish Beer Co.
2305 Northwood Drive Suite E, Salisbury
Restaurant and brewery Burnish Beer Co. is turning into a staple in the Salisbury community.
The brewery, at 2305 Northwood Drive, opened near the end of the nationwide pandemic and has welcome beer-starved guests since October 2021. Since then, Burnish Beer has continued to flourish.
Co-owner and head brewer Randy Mills founded Burnish Beer with three other partners: Mathew Schockley, Alex Fisher and Taylor Wade. The building that currently houses Burnish is owned by Wade’s family.
“Maybe we’re a little country and at times a little wild, but when it comes to the business of making beer, we don’t mess around,” the brewery wrote on Facebook in October 2021.
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A little wild is the perfect way to describe the antics Burnish Beer gets up to with its patrons — from football on the big screens to live music to keg drops on New Year’s Eve, the brewery has got it all. In the summer, patrons can unwind outside in Burnish’s beer garden, and even start up a game of cornhole.
Ultimately, Mills wanted Burnish to be “a place where people can hang out.”
Gateway Craft Brewing
2207 Northwood Drive Unit 3A, Salisbury
Through the years, the craft brewery scene only continues to grow in Salisbury. The city is also home to Gateway Craft Brewing, owned by husband-and-wife duo Lynn and Tim Gavigan of Hebron.
The couple considered the idea of opening up their very own brewery back in 2016. Now, their sleek black and white logo marks the spot of their craft brewery, which came to fruition in 2020 amidst a worldwide pandemic.
“Thank you all for helping us survive against all odds for this crazy year,” the couple said in a 2021 Facebook post.
Gateway Draft’s “nanobrewery” features an area for brewing, as well as a tasting room. There, customers can sit back and relax with a pint of Schitz ‘n Giggles, Helles Bock, Wily Honey Pie Ale and more of the craft brewery’s unique creations.
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Loakal Branch Brewing Co.
501 N Bi State Blvd, Delmar
Loakal Branch Brewing Co. — Burley Oak’s first ever Delaware site — is used for the popular Berlin brewery’s experimental, small-batch brews.
Located at 501 N. Bi State Blvd. in Delmar, at the former 3rd Wave Brewing Co.’s site, Loakal also serves as a pub service, walk-up only facility with open seating. Loakal opened in 2020, and has since acquired a large following, both online and in person.
Although its main focus is on production, the Loakal Branch also aims to entertain guests through fun, weekly activities such as food trucks, karaoke, trivia nights and comedy nights.
A few returning food trucks include Sandy’s “Dog” Gone Good Eats, Luv Thai and Hometown Heroes. Loakal also allows its customers to bring food with them, or have it delivered on-site.
“We’re so glad to be a part of your local community and grateful to receive the support you guys have given us,” Loakal Branch Brewing Co. said.
Sinepuxent Brewing Co.
8816 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin
Sinepuxent Brewing Co., an unapologetically rural farm brewery, is nestled at 8816 Stephen Decatur Highway directly between Ocean City and Assateague Island.
The tasting room and brewery is located on a 17-acre farm, and features Farmhouse ales using Sinepuxent Brewing Co.’s blueberries, apples and grains from across the mid-Atlantic region.
The brewery’s farmland also offers visitors an array of services and activities, including goat feeding, cornhole, fire pits, live music events, and access to acai bowls and smoothies from Pablo’s Bowls.
Guests can end their day on the farm with a cold pint of beer and a blazing sunset.
Crooked Hammock Brewery
36707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes
Delaware can’t escape the fun that is delicious, locally made beer. At Crooked Hammock Brewery, located at 36707 Crooked Hammock Way in Lewes, when customers step inside, they can leave all of their worries at the door.
The brewery, established in 2015, hosts a seven-barrel system. Crooked Hammock also operates two other locations, one in Middletown, which opened in 2019, and another in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which opened in 2021.
Crooked Hammock is owned by Rich Garrahan, a city guy who moved to the Eastern Shore for more sand, and all in all, more fun. To Garrahan, the brewery is a beach escape.
Throughout the years, Crooked Hammock, like other local breweries, has become a gathering space for Delmarva locals and visitors alike.
Having the brewery tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the ever-busy Coastal Highway was important to maintaining what he refers to as, “his own little slice of heaven.”
Ocean View Brewing Co.
85 Atlantic Ave, Ocean View
SoDel Concepts, a Sussex County-based restaurant group, opened a brand new independent craft brewery and restaurant this spring in Ocean View.
Ocean View Brewing Co., located at 85 Atlantic Ave., is down the street from its sister restaurant Northeast Seafood Kitchen.
The brewery offers guests a fire pit, beer garden, and indoor and outdoor seating and dining. Additionally, all of the brewery’s craft beers, created by head brewer Taylor Smith, are brewed in Ocean View.
The brewery is currently serving up a wide variety of brews, including IPA, stout, traditional ale, lager, Kellerbier and sour.
“There’s a good chance that one of these bar seats is calling your name,” Ocean View Brewing Co. said in an April 5 Facebook post. The 5,000-square-foot, 200-seat restaurant contains bright, modern beach house décor.
Breweries coming to Delmarva
Cypress Roots Brewing Co.
148 Market St., Pocomoke City
Pocomoke City will welcome its first brewery soon, with a grand opening in 2023.
Cypress Roots Brewing Co. says it is eager to become a part of the community, and is looking forward to serving up handcrafted beer to its customers at its location at 148 Market St. With a combined brewing experience of 14 years, co-owners Jessmin and Warren intend to offer Pocomoke City-themed brews.
Since its inception, the brewery has shared its progress with the public via video blogs on the Cypress Roots Brewing Company YouTube channel.
In the first video, Jessmin and Warren can each be seen cracking open a can of beer, before saying, “Wait a minute. Hold on. Maybe we should — let’s open up our own brewery. I’m tired of reviewing other beer, let’s make our own.”
The pair began experimenting with recipes in the spring. The property, owned by Willey Strategies LLC, will have a wide variety of brews on tap on opening day, including Pocomoke Punch (American wheat), Riverside Ale (walnut brown ale), and a rotation between Front Street Porter (vanilla bourbon porter) and Carpe Noctem (black IPA.)
“It’s all about working together to create a better community for tomorrow,” the brewery said in a Sept. 20 Facebook post. “Cheers, and we look forward to seeing everyone at Cypress Roots Brewing Company!”
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The Other One Brewing Co.
2305 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City
The Other One Brewing Co., coming to 2305 Philadelphia Ave. on the first floor of the redeveloped Embers property, hopes to bring a unique entertainment and dining experience to the resort town of Ocean City.
The Taustin Group is working closely in collaboration with Nathan and Gina Todd, with Nathan serving as the founder and head brewer. Nathan Todd, who moved to Ocean City in 2005, has a passion for anything and everything craft beer.
“Nathan will be bringing all of his innovation and creativity that he has shown at other breweries in the area to the forefront of The Other One,” Kyler Taustin, director of marketing for the Taustin Group, said.
Ocean City has been home to a handful of microbreweries throughout the years with an exclusive few finding success. The Taustin family has high hopes that The Other One will flourish.
“What makes The Other One unique is that it’s going to be engrained and embedded inside of a much larger destination,” Taustin said. “It will be in a building where, if people want to have dinner, play putt-putt or entertain themselves in other ways, they can do all of that in this one space, as well as enjoy Ocean City made-and-brewed craft beer.”
A special menu offering beer-inspired snacks and cocktails will showcase the craft beer in its many different iterations and forms.
The brewery had previously announced a summer 2022 grand opening. This launch date has since been pushed back to winter 2022. The brewery has been granted federal approval but is currently awaiting the green light from the state, reported Taustin.
According to a Sept. 29 Facebook post, The Other One’s fermenters and brew system have been installed. Now, it’s only a matter of time until the doors are officially opened to parched patrons.
O.C. Beer Works
9247 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin
West Ocean City will welcome a brand new microbrewery, O.C. Beer Works, with a grand opening date currently set for St. Patrick’s Day 2024.
“We want to create a family-oriented atmosphere for the local folks in our community, where they can come and make new friends or hang out with old-time buddies,” said designer and project manager Stephen Kansak of the brewery, which will be located at 9247 Stephen Decatur Highway.
Paul Sens, owner and founder of O.C. Beer Works, was an original owner of Tall Tales Brewery in Parsonsburg. He is now ready to share his passion for craft beer with his native Worcester County.
Current plans for the establishment include a 8,904-square-foot brewery, tasting room, restaurant and outdoor beer garden, where live entertainment will be hosted. The brewery also plans to host appreciation nights for local teachers and public service personnel as a way to better involve the community.
“We are going to depend on the community to be an integral part of the brewery and intend to sponsor events and fundraisers to benefit our local first responders, nonprofits and Worcester County teachers, as well as other county and community organizations,” Kansak said.
The microbrewery will also offer games and activities.
“We want to do other fun events like cornhole and volleyball tournaments,” he said. “As for indoor activities, we will have an arcade, shuffleboard and board games, too.”
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
