PRESS RELEASE: Frederick's Original Ale Makers' "A Taste of Frederick" on November 2nd was a huge success! As part of an ongoing effort to promote the high quality of beer being both home and commercially brewed in Frederick County, Maryland's largest homebrew club, FOAM, sponsored a Free State Homebrew Club Guild (FSHCG) event that gave fellow Maryland homebrewers a taste of Frederick's best.

A van jam packed with homebrewers left Baltimore at 1:00 pm making a quick stop-over at The Flying Barrel homebrew supply shop & Brew-On-Premise before meeting up with fellow mid-Maryland homebrewers at the Frederick Brewing Company. Over 40 members and guests representing 8 Maryland homebrew clubs toured the brewery and sampled from the vast selection of beers in Frederick Brewing's expansive tap room.

As the afternoon progressed, the group made its way to the Brewer's Alley brewpub in downtown historic Frederick. With clockwork precision, the staff seated the large group and began serving while master brewer, Tom Flores, took them on a table by table tour of their brewhouse. Following dinner, Tom held a lively question and answer session before the Baltimore group made the return trip with visions of Frederick's best in their heads.

Mid-Maryland homebrewers gathered in the bar area to continue discussions of which of Frederick's brews were the favorites. Among the most favored brews were Frederick Brewings' Crooked River Pumpkin Harvest Ale & Blue Ridge Snowball's Chance and Brewers Alley's cask conditioned Stout.

From the feedback received from those who attended and from our hosts, FOAM and the FSHCG may make this an annual event. Our friends in the Baltimore area have talked about returning the favor later this year.

For immediate release, November 7, 2002.