USA, MD: Attaboy Beer Co. preparing to open in Frederick in December

Brian and Carly Ogden wanted to open a brewery in Baltimore. In fact, the couple had a space all set up to move into until after six months of work, the deal fell through, Baltimore Business Journal reported on July 25.

With equipment ordered and pieces moving, the duo had to find a new place quick and that led them to Frederick. And this December, the Ogdens will open Attaboy Beer Co. along the Carroll Creek.

The couple had originally settled on a place in Remington. The location was ideal because it was close to their home in Hampden and in a growing food and culture scene. But during final lease negotiations, the landlord backed out unexpectedly.

"What took six to seven months here took two months from beginning to end [in Frederick]," Carly Ogden said. "We very quickly had to work backwards and opened up the search because we needed to find a place very quickly."

Attaboy Beer will open at 400 Sagner Ave. in Suite 400 in Frederick. Along the Carroll Creek, the brewery is near a biking and walking path as well as has adequate parking, Brian Ogden said.

Brian and Carly met in San Francisco seven years ago and connected over a shared affinity for quality craft beer. After some time working in a brewery in California, Brian said the next logical jump was to do home brewing before deciding to run a professional brewery.

The pair decided to look for locations near family and first explored Georgia, but said state laws restricted breweries too much there. Baltimore and Washington, D.C., were the next stop and Brian said they felt the market in Maryland could handle another brewery.

"There was a good opportunity to start a brewery here," Brian Ogden said. "We can sell pints out of the brewery and self distribute."

The 6,700-square-foot space will house a tap room and have the capacity to churn out 1,200 barrels a year, although Brian said they will most likely start with half that.

The couple invested between $250,000-$300,000 in equipment and will offer up different beers each week as they find out what people in the area are looking for as well as what they like to make. Carly said they will focus on have quality pale ales, IPAs and saison beers regularly.

On the distribution side, Brian said they will look to get into some restaurants and bars in Baltimore, Frederick and Washington, D.C., but really want to focus on getting people into the tap room in the early going. The tap room will have seating for just under 50 people.

The company will employ five to six people to start and will hire as needed after opening.

28 July, 2016