Highest-rated breweries in Maryland
Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.
Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer's overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!
Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.
Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It's first and foremost the journey of the beer's own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it's also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there's the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.
Combine America's love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).
Many of the nation's highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.
To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in Maryland using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024.
Regardless of the brewery's size and scope, one thing is for sure: Now is a great time for a beer!
#30. Suspended Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 912 Washington Blvd. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Charm City Meadworks
- Rating: 4/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 400 East Biddle St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. 7 Locks Brewing
- Rating: 4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 12227 Wilkins Ave. Rockville, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Monocacy Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 1781 North Market St. Frederick, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Dig Deep Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 2 Howard Steet Cumberland, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Slate Farm Brewery
- Rating: 4/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 2128 Whiteford Road Whiteford, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Inverness Brewing
- Rating: 4/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 16200 Markoe Road Monkton, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Idiom Brewing Co.
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 340 East Patrick St. Suite 104 Frederick, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Waverly Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 1625C Union Ave. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Falling Branch Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 825 Highland Road Street, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Scorpion Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 929 Skinners Turn Road Suite 100 Owings, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Checkerspot Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 1399 S. Sharp St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Attaboy Beer
- Rating: 4/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 400 Sagner Ave. Ste 400 Frederick, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Peabody Heights Brewery
- Rating: 4/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 401 East 30th St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 8253 Dollyhyde Road Mount Airy, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Cushwa Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 10212 Governor Lane Blvd. Suite 1012 Williamsport, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Crooked Crab Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 8251 Telegraph Road Suite D Odenton, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. 1812 Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 13006 Mason Road Northeast Irish Willows Farm Cumberland, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Waredaca Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 4017 Damascus Road Laytonsville, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Black Flag Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 9315 Snowden River Pkwy Columbia, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Smoketown Brewing Station
- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 223 West Potomac St. Brunswick, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 201 East Vine St. Salisbury, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Cult Classic Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 1169 Shopping Center Road Stevensville, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. The Brookeville Beer Farm
- Rating: 4.5/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 20315 Georgia Ave. Brookeville, MD Brookeville, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Independent Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Address: 418 North Main St. Bel Air, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Heavy Seas Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Address: 4615 Hollins Ferry Road Halethorpe, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Flying Dog Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (126 reviews)
- Address: 4607 Wedgewood Blvd. Frederick, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Eastern Shore Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (148 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Burley Oak Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Address: 10016 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (498 reviews)
- Address: 5001 Washington Blvd. Halethorpe, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jacob Osborn, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
