A Toast to Local Beer, Wine, and Spirits
At the top or near the top of the major tasting competitions in 2024 for locally produced alcoholic beverages, you’ll find Washington County breweries, wineries, and distilleries. As the craft beverage industry continues to expand, Washington County mirrors the nationwide trend, especially in wine and beer.
The long-anticipated Hub City Brewery has opened in the former Hagerstown Farmers Market space at 25 West Church Street, as has its sister company, Church Street Distilling. The new Potomac Ridge Brewery on Shepherdstown Pike between Sharpsburg and the Potomac River brings another craft beer location to the county. These may join the county’s established craft beverage makers as award winners soon.
Brothers Adam and Sassan Shaool opened Thick ‘N Thin Brewery just three years ago, but their hard work paid off quickly. Their Glampsite Session India Pale Ale won the Best in Show Award at the 2024 Maryland Craft Beer Competition.
Glampsite bested beers from more than 50 Maryland breweries which submitted more than 200 beers to be judged in 20 categories. Glampsite also won the gold medal in the Session Beer category. Session beers are well-balanced, drinkable beers that are not too bitter, hoppy, or malty.
Thick ‘N Thin also earned honorable mention for its Warrior Wheat beer.
“While we consider ourselves more beer drinkers than brewers, we observed that many breweries specialize in just one type or style of beer,” said Adam Shaool. “We, however, wanted to offer a diverse range of styles—dark, light, experimental, high and low ABV—to satisfy every palate.”
Cushwa Brewing Company near Williamsport won gold for its German-Style Kölsch called Kolschwa, and bronze in the Contemporary American-style Pilsner category for its Pura Pils brew.
As proof that Washington County leads the way in the continued expansion and improvement in Maryland wine, Big Cork Vineyards in Rohrersville dominated the 2024 Maryland Governor’s Cup wine competition.
Big Cork won three best in class awards—in the sparkling wine category for the non-vintage Chenin Blanc Brut; the white varietal category for their 2023 Muscat Canelli, and in the blush and rose category for their 2023 Syrah Rose.
Big Cork also won three double-gold medals for its sparkling wine, rose and its 2021 Petit Verdot. Gold medals went to the vineyard’s Muscat Canelli as well as its 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Bank Road Vidal ice wine, its 2021 Black Label Nebbiolo, and its 2020 Big Finish Muscat Canelli Port.
Finally, Big Cork also won four silver and three bronze medals.
While distilleries in Maryland are not yet as common as breweries and wineries, the Maryland Grain Producers Association and Maryland Department of Agriculture held its inaugural Maryland’s Best awards.
Meinelschmidt Distillery won third place in the cocktail competition, whipping up a Jalapeno Sour with a base spirit that contained at least 50 percent Maryland grain.
“One of our goals is to remind consumers how agriculture plays a part in all of our favorite products, and this competition was a fun way to show the relationship from grain to glass,” says Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks.
