E-Malt.com News article: USA, MD: Denizens Brewing Company plans to open brewery in Montgomery County as state law changes favorably

Changes to Maryland laws governing breweries in Montgomery County are good news to one budding brewer aiming to open this summer in Silver Spring, Bizjournals.com reported on April 2.

Last week, Maryland legislators passed a law that will allow Montgomery breweries of all sizes to sell pints even if they don't have a restaurant. Breweries previously needed a full restaurant license to serve pints.

A second change will allow Maryland breweries to sell their beer directly to restaurants and bars. Previously, a Montgomery brewer would have to sell its beer to the Department of Liquor Control for it to be distributed by a county agency.

That transition, which began in 2013 when the Maryland General Assembly first took up the issue, sealed the deal for Denizens Brewing Co. owners Emily Bruno, Julie Verratti and Jeff Ramirez to locate in Montgomery. They also had been looking to open in D.C.

Though Denizens is currently imagined as a brewpub of sorts, the owners originally envisioned doing a West Coast-style taproom.

"You go into the brewery, you get to have a pint, but you don't really have food. You're not going there for a restaurant," Bruno said. "That's actually what we really wanted to do."

As of July 1, they'll have that option, as long as Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signs the bills into law. While breweries and brewpubs have been growing rapidly in the D.C. region, that growth has been slower in Montgomery County, perhaps because of the county's complex liquor laws.

Denizens plans to have a restaurant, despite the initial beer-only vision. The owners are in talks with some existing restaurants that may come on as partners.

The other change approved by the legislature March 28 will allow Denizens to self-distribute its beer, rather than going through a wholesaler. The change will help the brewery save money and establish itself in the marketplace, Bruno said.

"This new law would allow us as a brewery to go up to another bar/restaurant instead of having to go through county liquor board," Bruno said. "Which is great for our bottom line in terms of revenue as well as having a relationship with our clients."

The new laws will make for a better brewing business environment in the county, something that makes Bruno and Verratti, who are Silver Spring residents, optimistic.

"When we saw the laws were changing, we decided on Montgomery County because we are from here," Bruno said. "We're excited to be reinvesting in our community."


04 April, 2014