Maryland Microbrewery Festival

18th Maryland Microbrewery Festival 2024

The Union Mills Homestead, a historic landmark in Carroll County, wil host the eighteenth annual Maryland Microbrewery Festival on September 28, 2024 from 11AM – 6PM. This fun-packed festival celebrates and promotes the best of Maryland’s handcrafted and distinctive microbrews. Come join the fun of Maryland's premier beer festival!

- Historic Site – 16 acres of open, beautifully maintained parkland with easy access
- Ample Parking, both onsite and at a satellite parking lot near the airport.
- A wide selection of Maryland breweries, each with a variety of different beers to sample
- Food Vendors
- Continuous live music and entertainment
- Crafts and Unique Merchandise Vendors
- Seminars to enhance the public’s knowledge of brewing

Activities:

11AM - 6PM: Homebrew Competition

Since its inception, the Maryland Microbrewery Festival has included the homebrewing community as an important part of the Festival's goals of beer education and appreciation of all forms of the brewing arts. This year, the Sixteenth Anniversary of the event, the festival will once again feature its annual Homebrew Competition.

Maryland Microbrewery Festival 2024 Homebrew Competition
Entry deadlines and details will be posted on the Homebrew Competition site.

Judging will take place during the festival, September 28, on the grounds of the historic Union Mills Homestead north of Westminster, MD. Winning brewer's recipe will be brewed commercially by Brewery Fire (with the homebrewer's assistance on brewing day, of course!) for draught sales at Brewery Fire in Taneytown, Maryland.  

Categories: This year we will be celebrating British beer styles and will only be accepting entries in those styles.
     
Winners will be announced from the stage at the conclusion of the judging.  Entrants do not need to be present to win.
     
Click Here Competition Rules and Entry Forms

Live Music:

Bands performing at the 2024 Maryland Microbrewery Festival:

Fast Eddie and the Slowpokes
Kittyback
Learned Doctors

All music will be at the bandstand. Entertainment starts shortly after gates are opened, and the bands will play in the order they are listed.

Crafts & Vendors:

List of attending vendors and craft exhibitors from the 2023 Festival:

All Shepherd Rescue -- Animal Rescue
Infused Leaf -- Infused Humidors, Barrels
Bob O'Connor Books
Gracie Mae Co. -- Original Artwork, Merchandise
Homestead Forge & Wood -- Wood and Iron work
Lisa Winter Sews -- Tote Bags, Purses, Pouches
Real Food Real Tasty -- Hot Sauces, Marinades, Dry Spices
Siren Call Gifts - Crafts, Wind Chimes and Jewelry
That's So Maryland -- Shrinky **** jewelry+ other jewelry
Tinman and his Tole Lady
Workshops of William Eyler-- Wood craft items, pens, baskets, cutting boards
Whimsical Wonders by Kris -- Trays, coasters, ornaments, signs, jewelry from recyled items

Other Vendors:

Carroll County Public Library

Brewing Presentations:

Midnight Homebrewers League will host brewing presentations on how to make your own beer at home throughout the day. Please look for their booth and join the fun of learning how to brew.

We will gather the group of attendees at the times listed below and give an illustrated basic explanation of homebrewing from start to finish in about 20 minutes followed by Q&A for as long as people have questions.  Active brewing will be taking place throughout the day, so people need not attend a presentation to see brewing in action.  The presentations will focus on the whole process and highlight the stage of brewing that is occurring at the moment under the tent.

11:30 - Basic Homebrewing -- Learn how to get started in homebrewing: how to begin, what you need, who can help you.  Brewing with malt extracts a great way for beginners to brew their first batch.  See basic equipment being used for boiling water and adding ingredients.

1:00 - More Advanced Homebrewing -- Brewing from Scratch ... Learn how homebrewers crush their grains, "mash," "sparge," boil, and create their own custom beer.  Increase your homebrewing vocabulary as you hear and see the whole process step by step.  See all grain brewers demonstrate their process in action. Taste the sweet grains.
2:30 - Basic Homebrewing -- Learn how to get started in homebrewing:  how to begin, what you need, who can help you.  Brewing with malt extracts a great way for beginners to brew their first batch.  See homebrewing in action as the future-beer is boiled then chilled.
 
4:00 - More Advanced Homebrewing -- Brewing from Scratch ... Learn how homebrewers crush their grains, "mash," "sparge," boil, and create their own custom beer.  Increase your homebrewing vocabulary as you hear the whole process step by step.  See all grain brewers demonstrate their process in action.  Taste the spent grains.

Cornhole Tournament

Click Here for tickets...