USA, MD: Hysteria Brewing Co. hopes to open in Columbia by next February

Sometimes hanging out and drinking a few beers with friends can lead to great things.

For Rich Gue, Geoff Lopes and Jordan Baney, brainstorming over a few beers in 2006 led to starting Vaper's Knoll, a Columbia-based e-cigarette flavor company. Now, looking to diversify even more, the partnership is opening up Hysteria Brewing Co. in Columbia with a target opening timeframe by next February, Baltimore Business Journal reported on August 18.

The idea really began back in college where Gue started getting into craft beers and home brewing his own product. When the group was looking to invest in another business venture, Gue said beer seemed like the direction to go in.

"Our company was founded on beer pretty much, so me being a home brewer I wanted to go make beer," he said. "It was a crazy thought in the very beginning and we never thought we would do it, but we decided to try it. We didn't want to put all our eggs in one basket with [Vaper's Knoll]."

Hysteria Brewing will be housed next to one of the two Vaper's Knoll stores at 9570 Berger Road. Hysteria Brewing will take over suites J and K with about 10,000 square feet of space.

Vaper's Knoll started in Gue's garage in 2011 and now has 48 employees and makes $3.6 million in revenue each year. The success of the first venture was inspired the partners to invest their own money to get the brewery going.

Gue said about $760,000 has been invested so far in acquiring the lease space, doing the research and buying equipment. A majority of the space will be used for the brewery while a tap room is also planned to open in February.

As far as what the suds will be, Gue said they will have an array of beers ranging from stouts and strong ales to IPAs and malt beers. The typical Hysteria Brewing beer will be between 6 percent and 11 percent.

The partners will start with self distribution to local restaurants and bars in Maryland and they hope to start canning in the future.

Hysteria Brewing will be joining a growing brewery scene in Columbia. Black Flag Brewing Co. recently opened along Snowden River Parkway while Jailbreak Brewing Co. and Manor Hill Brewing Co. have established themselves as the first brewery and first farmhouse brewing in Howard County, respectively.

Lost Ark Distilling Co. is also going in next door to Hysteria Brewing along Berger Road.

18 August, 2016