With 4 breweries in town, 10 more under an hour away, and more popping up every few months, Ocean City, MD has asserted itself as the fastest growing craft beer brewery destination on the East Coast. Each week, OceanCity.com brings you ‘Microbrew Monday’ to keep you in the know about what’s going on around our local brewery scene. Don’t forget to check out ShoreCraftBeer.com for complete craft beer coverage and to learn how you can win prizes just for drinking local with the ShoreCraftBeer.com Shore-17 and OC-8 Brewery Challenges!
Here are this week’s highlights:
In preparation for the first ever Shore Craft Beer Fest, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at Sunset Park, many of our local brewers will gather on Monday, September 21, for a ‘Back to Their Roots’ brewing demonstration. During this event, which lasts from 12-4pm and is open to the public), some of the best brewmasters from around the area will gather at Assawoman Bay Brewing Co. to go back to their roots and collaboratively brew the official ‘OCtoberfest’ beer on a homebrew system like many used before becoming professionals. This collaborative brew will only be available at the inaugural Shore Craft Beer Fest and will be available for sample to all who attend. Click here to RSVP if you’d like to attend the brewing demonstration on September 21, or click here to get your tickets to the first annual Shore Craft Beer Fest.
– Evolution Craft Brewing has great food and beer specials all week at Public House Restaurant and the tasting room in Salisbury. Check out eVo on Monday for 1/2 priced wings and all day happy hour; Tuesday you can get a beer and burger for only $10; Wednesday house-smoked brisket sandwiches are 1/2 off all day; Thursday is ‘Community Appreciation Night” featuring discounts for police, firefighters, EMTs, teachers and others who make the local community a better place; and Sunday Evo has 1/2 priced burgers and happy hour all day long.
– Ocean City Brewing Co., it has two dozen taps, many of which are occupied by craft beers made on premise. This week, Ocean City Brewing has new summer releases like its Strawberry X pub ale, Blood Orange IPA, Orange Crush Wheat Ale, and Watermelon Mint Ale, so make sure to stop by to sample them all! Also, head to the brewery for Pint Night on Tuesday at 7:00, “Firkin Friday” where a special, one-of-a-kind cask-conditioned brew is featured weekly, breakfast at the brewery on the weekends, and half priced drinks and drafts from 12am-2am for Midnight Madness. Finally, if you want a first-hand look at the brewing process, don’t forget to stop by OC Brewing Co. for a personal tour of the operation. Tours take place daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
– The 3rd Wave Brewing Co., just up the road in Delmar, DE, prides itself on ‘Good Friends Good Waves and Great Beer’ and wants to share all three with you on your way to or from the beach. This week, 3rd Wave will be part of the Brews By the Bay event at the Lewes Ferry Terminal from 4-8pm. If you can’t make it there, stop by the brewery for weekly events such as School Faculty Appreciation Night on Monday for Hoppy Hour prices with proper ID, Wednesday for 3 pints for $3 each, Flight Night on Thursday with half price flights, or any other night to try 3rd Wave’s newest offerings.
– Located at 10th St. and the Boardwalk, Ocean City’s first brewery- Backshore Brewing Co.- may have the best view of any brewery anywhere in the country. Stop by for the view and stay for the handcrafted beers and brand new HoopTea- homemade tea made for adults. Plus, don’t forget to be on the lookout for Backshore’s big screen debut in ‘Blood, Sweat, and Beer,’ a recently released documentary chronicling two craft beer breweries.
