E-Malt.com News article: USA, MD: Burley Oak Brewing Company has opened in Berlin

Bryan Brushmiller has been making history lately, all in the name of craft beer. First, Berlin, Maryland amended its own local ordinances to allow a bar to be open without serving food. Then, legislators lobbied for changes to state law that would allow for the first-ever microbrewery in Worcester County. Most recently, Brushmiller was able to savor another first, one arguably the most satisfying: taking a sip from the first-ever batch of ale brewed at his new facility, Burley Oak Brewing Company, Delmarvanow.com reported on September, 6.

Burley Oak Brewing Company officially opened its doors Aug. 29, with three hand-crafted beers on tap. Take-home growlers are available and distribution of Burley Oak Beers could come this autumn to local bars, Brushmiller said.

"It was hard work getting here, but now it's time to work hard, make good beer and just, really, not compromise anything. Berlin's helped me out a lot, and I need to make sure I'm a good partner in the community, help give back, whatever way I can," he said.

Brushmiller spent the last year turning a 6,000-square-foot warehouse on Old Ocean City Road into his brewery. Dating to the early 1900s, the property used to house a cooperage, where packed oysters and seafood were sent by rail to Baltimore. In the tap room, three large wooden barrel tables are a nod to that history.

"Instead of building a whole brand-new building, we're taking an old building that's already here and trying to revive it," he said. "It fits in with our sustainable practices. We try to really decrease our waste stream. We don't even have a dumpster. We try to recycle everything."

Beers now on tap include: Just The Tip, a Cologne-style malt beer; Rude Boy, a nutty and sweet red ale and Seven Finger Farmer, a light, hoppy ale. Rude Boy is the strongest, at about 8 percent alcohol by volume.

"Having a small batch, we can experiment, and the people that benefit are the local town people that get to come here and try everything that's new," Brushmiller said. "What you have here this week, we might have something new next week. We can take that feedback, and the ones that people really like, we'll keep producing more. This is a little test lab right here."

Brushmiller, 34, studied biology and chemistry at Salisbury University, and got his start brewing beer in a garage. He had learned what flavors he liked while working at an off-campus beer and wine store. "It just kind of started becoming a passion, and I just said, you know, let's make this into a business," he said.

At Burley Oak, brewmaster Brian Karl "makes all my crazy ideas happen," Bushmiller said. Karl won the job over hundreds of applicants, Bushmiller said, and has experience at breweries in San Diego, New York and North Carolina.

Brushmiller said he's grateful for the support from Berlin and Mayor Gee Williams.

"He really has a vision for the success of Berlin," he said of Williams. "He knows what lies in small business and being business-friendly. Great leadership, the whole town of Berlin. There's a reason why you're starting to see Berlin grow. It's the reason I'm here."

Williams called Burley Oak "a very comfortable and natural addition to Berlin."

"From what I hear, they've gotten off to a very good start," he said. "It's not only good as an individual business, but I really think it has a great potential to bring more visitors to Berlin as another off-the-beach experience."

Brushmiller also credited Tom Knorr of Evolution Craft Brewing Company with assistance and advice in helping to launch the business. "I probably wouldn't be where I'm if it wasn't for the help of Tom or Evo. I can't even tell you all the things they've helped me out with," he said.

Knorr said he counseled Brushmiller on which equipment to buy, how to lay out the brewery, how to manage capital -- advice that could prevent the sort of pitfalls his Delmar, Del., brewery faced after opening in 2009. Since then, Evolution has been one of the region's more notable small business success stories.

"We try to lend a hand to those starting out, because it's a pretty big growth industry now," Knorr said. "It's not cutthroat. We're all busy enough and there's plenty of room for more breweries. My goal is to expend the awareness of craft beer. The more people than come when Bryan's open, the better I'm going to do," Knorr said.


09 September, 2011