Columbia, MD October 5, 2019

It was a good move changing the Hops & Harvest Festival venue from the Columbia Lakefront to Merriweather this year. With lots more room, we could all sample local craft ales, wine, and spirits, chow down on food truck food, or learn about medical marijuana dispensers in the comfort of the deep shade of Merriweather Wood’s forest.

Arriving fashionably late, I still had 4 hours to sample a few local ales. Some of the breweries included: Sapwood Cellars, Black Flag, Manor Hill, Calvert, Reckless, Silver Branch, Oliver, Ellicott Mills, and Jailbreak. Sadly, Sapwood Cellars’ popularity outperformed their supply as the Out of Beer sign showed.

A few ale highlights included: Oliver’s So It Gose, a lime/cherry gose – quite tart and very drinkable, Black Flag’s French Toast Stout – roasty and very sweet, and Reckless’s Illustrious Buddha (my favorite of the afternoon)

I come for the beer but the people are what fascinates me. The best hat of the day was a keg hat (see below).

Several medical marijuana dispensers had tents at the festival. Zenleaf held a hops joint-rolling contest.

This Howard County festival was well worth the $40. Except for the painfully long lines to the portapotties, this was a perfect day and fun event.

Cheers!

Warren