Nanobreweries have taken off in Montgomery County in the last few years as a result of much-needed changes that were (finally) made to several laws which previously had made it essentially impossible for nanobreweries to succeed in Montgomery County.
There are three nanobreweries in Rockville that Rebecca and I have been enjoying. They each:
> Serve up a range of thoughtfully crafted and reasonably priced beers, brewed on-site.
> Host a range of different events and activities across each month.
> Are the epitome of a locally-owned small business, worthy of the local community’s support.
Saints Row Brewing Co. (info and photos below)
7 Locks Brewing (click for separate blog post)
True Respite Brewing Co. (click for separate blog post)
They’re each a bit different as far as their brews, their vibes and their events/activities. They’re each located in what was an industrial space – so, you’ll find their spaces are pretty simple – which, at least for us, creates an unpretentious and welcoming community feel. Whether this is your thing or any of these might become your favorite(s) will depend on your personal tastes.
One great thing they do all have in common is you can (and are encouraged to) bring in your own food – either from home or from a restaurant (they do not offer their own food). Some nights, there will be a local food truck parked outside. Food trucks’ cuisines vary. Some we’ve really enjoyed – so, if you’re into potentially good food truck food, check each nanobrewery’s schedule to see which food trucks will be visiting when.
All three of these nanobreweries are also child-friendly. It’s not usual to see multiple families at each during early evening hours. We’ve brought our kids a few times ourselves.
Note: As of this blog post, there’s word of another nanobrewery in the works for Rockville, to be named Mano Negra. No location or opening date has yet been announced.
Saints Row Brewing Co.
1211 Taft Street, Rockville, MD 20850
saintsrowbeer.com
facebook.com/saintsrowbeer | instagram.com/saintsrowbrewing | twitter.com/saintsrowbeer
yelp.com/biz/saints-row-brewing-rockville
Saints Row Brewing Co. is the smallest of the three nanobreweries – it can feel a bit cramped when it’s crowded — and it’s a bit rougher around the edges than the other nanobreweries. But, that’s part of its charm.
Given their smaller space, they don’t offer as many different brews at any one time as the other nanobreweries. Typically, they have a half dozen or so total on tap. They tend to be creative and a bit more out-of-the-ordinary with their brews. Here’s what’s currently on tap: saintsrowbeer.com/currentbeers.
They offer some events and activities. In addition to occasional live music, they also offer monthly brewery tours, and have just begun hosting comedy shows. Here’s their current schedule: facebook.com/pg/saintsrowbeer/events.