Around the World in Beers: Frederick, Maryland

In November of 2021 I finally took a road trip to the town of Frederick, Maryland, which I have always wanted to visit. It’s a charming little artsy town in western Maryland full of Civil War history and beautiful scenery along the Carroll Creek that runs through its core. I had a great time exploring Frederick, but being the beer lover that I am, you can only imagine my thrill upon arriving into town to find a cluster of breweries all within walking distance of each other along the scenic Carroll Creek! Here is a recap of all the great Frederick beers that I tried.

Flying Dog Brewery

Flying Dog is located a little to the south of downtown Frederick on the outskirts of town, and are one of the biggest and most well-known breweries in the Frederick area. Their distribution reaches Philadelphia, so I was already familiar with them and excited when I realized they were located in Frederick. With the COVID-19 pandemic, their taproom in Frederick has closed to focus more on to-go orders and distribution, so I didn’t get a chance to visit the actual brewery but tried a few of their seasonal ales on tap during my travels. At Angus & Ale, the tavern in the parking lot of my hotel in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, I had their Dogtoberfest, their take on the traditional Oktoberfest Märzen-style ale. With lunch at the Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, I enjoyed Freezin’ Season, Flying Dog’s malty 7.4% Winter Ale.

Brewer’s Alley

While exploring historic downtown Frederick, I stopped for lunch at one of the historic sites on the self-guided walking tour, which also happens to be a brewery! Brewer’s Alley is known historically as the location where a ransom was paid to Confederate General Jubal Early to prevent the destruction of Frederick. I made an interesting pick off their menu for lunch – Pam’s Spicy Pickle Pizza, topped with garlic oil, shredded mozzarella, sliced dill pickles, jalapenos, and parmesan – and paired it with their light and refreshing Kölsch.

Idiom Brewing Company

At the east end of town along the Carroll Creek is a cluster of breweries all within a few minutes walk of each other, perfect for a brewery crawl (please drink responsibly if you are driving!). I started with Idiom Brewing Co. I had been given the recommendation of hitting this brewery when Boxcar Burgers was the visiting foodtruck, and it worked out perfectly that they were there on the evening that I was staying in Frederick. What goes better with beer than a deliciously fresh burger made with 100% locally-sourced grass-fed beef? But let’s talk about the beer: my choice was Bring Home the Bacon, a 6.5% porter with maple syrup and bacon-y notes that was rich and delightful. I enjoyed my meal in perfect atmosphere along Idiom’s outdoor tables along the creek.

Smoketown Creekside

Next I headed across the creek to Smoketown Creekside, the secondary location of Smoketown Brewing based in Brunswick, Maryland. Here I was overwhelmed by a massive selection of beers of all types – there is truly something at this brewery for every palate. I landed on It’s For My Wife, a 5.1% Orange Milkshake IPA swirling with flavors of orange and vanilla.

Attaboy Beer

I wandered next door from Smoketown to Attaboy Beer, a brewery in a fun and funky garage space with an outdoor beer garden that I could easily picture myself hanging out in a lot if I was a local. Here I sipped on Creek Life Strata, a 5.7% Extra Pale Ale that was crisp and fruity with notes of grapefruit and pine.

In addition to Idiom, Smoketown, and Attaboy, there is a fourth brewery in that cluster called Steinhardt that I unfortunately didn’t get to since I was driving. Maybe next time! I greatly enjoyed the breweries that I was able to hit during my time in Frederick.