USA, MD: Black Flag Brewing Co. scheduled to open in Columbia in June

A hobby that started nine years ago for Brian Gaylor is now in the final stages of preparation to become a full-fledged brewery as Black Flag Brewing Co. is scheduled to open this June in Columbia, Baltimore Business Journal reported on April 22.

Gaylor, who started brewing beer in his home in 2007 at the same time he was wrapping up school at the University of Maryland, will occupy Suite C at 9315 Snowden River Parkway in Columbia. The 8,600-square-foot space will have a tasting room in the front 2,000 square feet and the rest will be used for brewing. The entire project, Gaylor said, will require about a $1.2 million investment.

Besides Gaylor, Black Flag will have a head brewer and assistant brewer on day one with the front of house staff that serves the tasting room yet to be hired. The goal is to produce 1,500 barrels in the first year, with a stretch goal of 2,000 barrels. The space provides enough capacity to make up to 3,000 barrels a year, but Gaylor said a lower barrel count in the first year will help them keep everything running smoothly.

The tasting room will have 75 seats between the tables and bar. Patrons will be able to visit Wednesdays to Sundays, with later hours on Fridays and Saturdays. A limitation on the liquor license doesn't allow Black Flag to prepare and serve food, but Gaylor expects to have prepackaged snacks like chips and jerky. He is also looking to partner with local food trucks.

Black Flag will join a growing brewery scene in Howard County. Jailbreak Brewing Co. was the first brewery in Howard County when it opened in March 2014, doubling its square footage and barrel production soon after in Laurel. A year later, Manor Hill brewing Co. started full-scale production in Elliott City as the first farmhouse brewery in the county, opened by the owners of Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia.

In regards to distribution, Gaylor said he has been in talks with local bars, restaurants and liquor stores who serve draft on site to get Black Flag products to the public. In the first year, the brewery won't have a packaging component, so the beers will only be available on draft.

As far as the beer choices, Black Flag will have four beers during the first year, with a variety of IPAs and a rotating seasonal beer from a Belgian ale to a breakfast stout and a pumpkin beer in the fall.

"We really want to limit it at first to not overwhelm people and keep our stuff moving in volume," Gaylor said. "Our goal is to always have something new on draft that may only be there a week or a month and then it's gone."

25 April, 2016