Best Wineries and Breweries in Maryland
Maryland is full of breweries, taphouses, vineyards, and wineries, most of which grow their ingredients on-site and produce small-batch beer and wine in-house. With everything from urban tasting rooms to family-owned farm operations, the local beverage scene in Maryland has something for everyone. Read on to discover some of the best wineries and breweries in the area as well as what you can expect from each.
Best Breweries in Maryland
Hysteria Brewery & Taproom
9570 Berger Road
Columbia, MD 21046
https://www.hysteriabrewing.com/
The eclectic, inviting taproom at Hysteria Brewery is the perfect place to spend an afternoon enjoying the innovative flavors of “beer that’s not afraid to be beer.” Outdoor seating is also available if you’d prefer to enjoy some fresh air along with your brew. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Hysteria’s brewers love to experiment, which is part of the reason they’ve found themselves on lists of the best breweries in Maryland for years, now! Try Krispy Panda – a hazy, sweet, Rice Krispy IPA – or I Don’t Remember the Title, but the Cover was Blonde – a smooth, refreshing gin-infused blonde ale – and you’ll see what we mean. Hysteria is always doing something fun to celebrate new releases, so keep an eye on their Facebook events page if you want to be the first to taste one of their innovative and collaborative creations.
Sapwood Cellars
8980 MD-108 Ste MNO,
Columbia, MD 21045
https://sapwoodcellars.com/
Known for its unique flavors, Sapwood Cellars is also among the best breweries in Maryland, hands down. Visit the Brewery and Cidery tasting room Wednesday through Sunday to explore some seriously intriguing craft creations.
For something light, try the Guava Salzig, a subtly tart, citrusy, pink guava gose brewed with lactobacillus and brettanomyces. Leaf Fall Up is Sapwood’s dark spiced lager infused with fresh roasted coffee and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla. And if you’re feeling especially adventurous, stop by the tasting room on a Thursday, which is usually when experimental brews are tapped – like their Festbier brewed with pretzels and toasted sesame seeds.
Jailbreak Brewing Company
9445 Washington Blvd N, STE F
Laurel, MD 20723
443.345.9699
https://jailbreakbrewing.com/
With communal, garden-style seating, soft leather couches, TVs, vintage arcade games, and a restaurant on-site, you could easily spend an entire day at Jailbreak Brewing Co. Outdoor seating is available as well, and you can even email ahead for reservations. Bring the whole family, if you like. Leashed pups are allowed outside, and kids are welcome anywhere the grown-ups are.
Now, the beer! Badfish is perfect for IPA lovers. This hazy beer has lots of flaked oat in the brew, creating a rich mouthfeel that sets it apart from your typical IPA. For a coffee cream ale, give White Russian a try. It has notes of roasted coffee and vanilla and is named in honor of The Dude from the Big Lebowski! For a less adventurous, yet equally delicious pour, go for Goldie Hon, a hazy blond ale with a bright citrus flavor. Round out your tasting experience with a few plates to share from FoodWorks, which is just on the other side of the taphouse.
Crooked Crab Brewing Company, Inc.
8251 Telegraph Road, Suite D
Odenton, MD 21113
443.569.9187
https://www.crookedcrabbrewing.com/
Three University of Maryland grads decided to build a brewery that would make Maryland proud, and they certainly hit the mark. The taproom for Crooked Crab Brewing Co. is housed in a small, creative space full of board games, a giant chalkboard wall, and a large projection screen.
Sip a pint as you play trivia on Tuesday, enjoy live music with your beer on Saturday, or simply get cozy and relax on…any day! Crooked Crab is open seven days per week, and they welcome all family members, including those with four legs. The names of their beers are just as goofy as the brews are creative. For instance – A Cranberry, Orange, and Ginger Walked into a Bar. Can you guess what you’ll taste in this slightly sweet, creamy, tart concoction? A little less obvious is Maximum Joltage – an imperial coffee stout brewed with local coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company.
No matter the day or the brew, you’re sure to enjoy the very crafty, very seasonal, and very silly concoctions at Crooked Crab!
Manor Hill Brewing
4411 Manor Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-997-7771
https://www.manorhillbrewing.com/
The first farm brewery in Howard County isn’t just one of the best breweries in Maryland, it’s also the largest farm brewery in the state. Manor Hill Brewing uses high quality, seasonal ingredients to craft handmade beers for every palate.
Dark Side of the Moo is a milk stout brewed in collaboration with another local beer maker, Union Craft. Farm Fuzz is a tangy, Belgian style witbier with peach for flavor and flaked oat for smoothness. Natural Occurrence is a blond ale aged in Sauvignon Blanc barrels. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Pizza Trolley sells delicious pizza crafted with an equal level of creativity and thought. Just to mix it up, food trucks are on site for Sunday bites.
Because it’s a working farm, the Manor Hill taphouse is only open for visitors Friday through Sunday, and while kids are welcome, pets are not. The upside to having a taphouse on a 54-acre farm is the amount of outdoor space available for visitors to spread out and enjoy some fresh air. You can bring your own chairs and even a pop-up tent, if you want!
Best Wineries in Maryland
Olney Winery Tasting Room
18127 Town Center Drive
Olney, MD 20832
301-570-1907
https://www.olneywinery.com/
What began as a passion project to bring a welcoming, non-pretentious, working winery to an urban, retail setting has become one of the best wineries in Maryland. Olney Winery is different than most of the other Maryland wineries on our list because they don’t grow their grapes on-site. Each of the 34 wine varietals offered in their tasting room are made with a supply of grapes sourced from around the world.
Inside the contemporary tasting room, you’ll find seating for 56, divided between a center tasting bar and comfy seating areas. Because of the relatively small number of seats, reservations are recommended; however, walk-ins are welcome if there’s space available. Olney Winery hosts some pretty unique events like karaoke nights and even a make your own wine night – where you craft your wine and come back a few weeks later after it’s been aged and bottled.
Olney Winery is known for combining premium base grapes with local fruit to create their refreshing, flavorful, fruit-infused wine. Think, black cherry Pinot Noir, chocolate raspberry dessert wine, and habañero (yes, habañero) ice wine. These wines are made in small batches, and many are only available seasonally, so check their website ahead of time to see what you’ll be tasting when you arrive.
Thanksgiving Farm Winery
195 Harwood Rd,
Harwood, MD, 20776
(410) 630-1511
https://www.thanksgivingfarm.com/
Included in the Potomac leg of the Maryland Wine Trail, Thanksgiving Farm Winery specializes in the production of dry, European-style wines, with all grapes grown in their on-site vineyards. This is a true farm operation, so while tasting room hours are limited it’s well worth working into your schedule. The cozy indoor space boasts rich wood tones and comfy chairs that swallow you up, while the outdoor tables provide stunning hilltop views of the lush vineyards below and the largest Gingko tree in Anne Arundel County. Reservations are recommended, so make sure to call ahead.
Some intriguing wine options include a 2015 Farmhouse Red which is a blend of merlot, cab franc, and petit Verdot, aged in twice used French oak barrels. Another 2015 vintage – the Meritage – adds cabernet sauvignon grapes to the blend above and ages it in once used French oak, instead. White wine lovers should consider the White Meritage, which combines sauvignon blanc and Semillon grapes in to a crisp, dry, wine with aromas of citrus and a touch of spice. Due to the close quarters and limited hours, this is an outing best for adults only.
Rocklands Farm Winery
14531 Montevideo Road,
Poolesville, MD, 20837
301.825.8075
https://www.rocklandsfarmmd.com/
This 9.5-acre estate vineyard produces small batch wines for every palate, and the peaceful farm setting (complete with big red barn visible in the distance) is a perfect spot for an afternoon of wine tasting, live music, and even a guided vineyard tour. The low-intervention, handcrafted wines from Rocklands Farm never touch lab-purchased yeasts or herbicides, and the winemakers work hard to ensure that their wines are not manipulated in order to appear or taste a certain way.
Local food vendors and locally sourced snacks are available to pair with the wine of your choosing. Perhaps you’d like the flavors of lemon, lime, citrus, and honey in the 2020 Gather, which is made from a variety of white grapes aged for 8 months in French oak. For the red wine drinkers, we recommend trying the 2020 Sandstone with notes of jalapeño, herbs, and cherry. Rockland even has some sparkling and dessert options as well.
Black Ankle Vineyards
14463 Black Ankle Road
Mount Airy, MD 21771
(301) 829-3338
www.blackankle.com
With a goal of using sustainable farming practices to grow grapes and craft wines that express the unique flavors of the land from which they are derived, Black Ankle Vineyards is known as one of the best wineries in Maryland, and a local favorite. Even their taproom was sustainably built using materials grown or found on the farm.
The majority of seating at Black Ankle is outdoors, which isn’t a problem as that’s where you’ll find the best views, lovely courtyard and patio, plus live jazz music and food trucks on Fridays. Featured flights and wine by the glass are available to order at the patio bar as are cheeses, breads, meats, and spreadable toppings for a sort-of DIY charcuterie board.
As far as wines go, Black Ankle has a little bit of everything. The 2019 Reserve Chardonnay brings aromas of fruit and subtle oak on a creamy palate, while the 2020 barrel-fermented Gruner Veltliner is a little more lively with hints of tropical fruit and the perfect amount of minerality. Those who prefer red will find bold favorites like the 2019 Crumbling Rock – a Bordeaux-style blend with notes of dark fruit, rich berries, spice, and tobacco – as well as lighter options like the 2018 Syrah – fruit forward with lighter secondary flavors including cola and licorice.
Book at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve
Located just a short drive (or Uber ride!) from each of the venues on our list, the Hotel at Arundel Preserve is the perfect place to stay while exploring the many wineries and breweries in Maryland.
We also have several offers to make your stay a little sweeter. If you plan to spend a few days experiencing our local libations, take advantage of the Stay More Save More package, which offers a discount when you book for two nights or more. For a single-night trip, consider the Wine Down Weekday Special, which includes late checkout… just in case you need to catch a few extra Z’s after a day spent at the taphouse or tasting room.
Don’t forget that the local culinary scene is equally exciting! There are a number of waterfront restaurants in Baltimore with stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay, all within driving distance of our front door. Regardless of how or where you choose to explore, the Hotel at Arundel Preserve has you covered with luxe accommodations and perfectly appointed guest rooms that won’t disappoint. Contact us today to book your stay!
