These Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries Are Within Driving Distance of Philly–and Worth Building a Trip Around
Clear Skies Meadery
If you’re starting to feel the need for a change, take a break from the city this summer and get out to explore new scenery in Maryland’s Montgomery County, located just outside of the nation’s capital. Trade the cramped spaces of your typical Friday-night cocktail bar and head out for a weekend getaway to one of our region’s wineries, breweries and distilleries. There is no better way to experience a different culture and community than heading to a place where people craft great drinks.
Besides frequently supplying the kind of fresh air and spectacular views that you can’t get in the center of the city, production sites like these also act as cultural hubs, offering a place for people to gather, enjoy live performances, shop, dine, and partake in libations that are often crafted from what is actually growing around them. Fortunately, just a short drive from Philly lies a destination for these kinds of spaces and places, Montgomery County, Maryland, where the climate, history and culture have combined to support some amazing creators. Known as the Tastemakers Trail, the area features some of the top places in our region for those who are passionate about great drinks.
So, to help guide your exploration, we’ve grouped some of our favorite producers together by destination, whether you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors with a farm-based brew, relaxing at a vineyard overlooking the Agricultural Reserve and Sugarloaf Mountain, or exploring communities to find great conversations with locals. Here are the regional wineries, breweries, and distilleries that are worth taking a trip from Philly to see this summer.
Lone Oak Farm Brewery
Back to the Farm
Part of the appeal of heading to a brewery on a farm is the chance to visit the countryside while enjoying food and drink produced locally. That’s integral to Waredaca Brewing Company, which is located on a working horse farm and makes a commitment to producing in a sustainable way. Founded as a camp in 1953, it’s currently one of twenty horse farms in the state certified as an agricultural steward, thanks to their environmentally conscious production methods.
As soon as you get there, you’ll feel their home-grown, conscientious personality–it’s pet- and family-friendly, with views of the roaming horses. That wholesome spirit lends itself to the final product: head to Waredaca and you’ll find classic styles crafted with a sophistication and ingenuity that evinces care. Try their Jonathan Amber Lager, brewed with blue corn, for an easygoing but interesting sip, or their Little Dam, which is crisp but sweet with farm-produced honey.
Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Company
Blending is a feature of many classic tipples, from highland scotches to the red wines of Burgundy. So why not beer? Elder Pine is one of the breweries on the cutting edge of the industry, using the technique of blending to up the quality and consistency of their product year after year. The family-farm-based brewery is dog-friendly but adult-oriented, so be prepared for an interesting, out-of-the-box experience, with exotic options like a Japanese-inspired rice lager and a New Zealand-style Pilsner.
The sense of playfulness even extends to their snacks, provided by an on-site food truck. Check out their beer-braised cheesesteak, their cider-braised pork with pickled green apples and lime-yogurt dressing, and the elevated peanut butter and jelly on sourdough, served with vanilla milk.
As anyone living in the region knows, some farms are as old as the hills. That’s part of the Lone Oak story, which is built around its namesake pre-Civil War oak tree and its brewhouse crafted with local lumber. Worth the trip for the scenic views alone, it offers up almost 30 acres of rolling fields and streams, but it’s also a great place for the whole family, thanks to regular events ranging from trivia nights to line dancing to comedy shows.
Their emphasis on connection with the farm itself can be seen in many of their brews, which use locally grown ingredients in thoughtful ways. A picante Mexican lager features jalapeno peppers from the brewer’s own pepper patch as a key ingredient, while a dark Czech style lager has been aged on wood taken from the Lone Oak itself. They are even expanding to distilling libations at Fallen Oak Distillery, which plans to open in the fall.
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards
At the Vineyard
There’s nothing quite as transportive as a vineyard, from breathing in the wine to looking out over the rows and rows of vines. The Crossvines wants to make sure you get a unique, powerful experience each time you visit, thanks to an innovative approach to on-site wine production.
A research vineyard, it offers top-flight production facilities to a rotating selection of local makers to craft their wine, then adds those bottles to their library for guests to enjoy. The result is a wide array of wines that’s best sampled through their wine flights, paired with their charcuterie board, also featuring local producers. Or if you like to take it glass by glass, try ordering one alongside their prix-fixe menu or the weekend brunch at the Farmhouse Bistro.
The Crossvines also offers a wide range of cultural experiences. A premier golfing and dining destination, it hosts a Friday and Sunday music series on its patio–so if you find yourself wanting to spend a full day away from the stressors of the world, you know where to go.
Growing wine in the challenging climate of the East Coast is something that winemakers should be proud of, and Windridge takes that task to heart. For generations, they’ve produced wines that embrace the terroir of Maryland while limiting their environmental footprint, and present the the fruits of their labor in surprisingly bright, accessible expressions that nevertheless offer deep complexity. Try their wine flights, which include classic Mid-Atlantic varietals like Chambourcin, with distinctive savory notes, and the vineyard’s signature Seneca red blend.
After you’ve enjoyed your glass while overlooking the rolling hills surrounding Sugarloaf Mountain, you have more to explore. Windridge offers cellar tours on select days, and if you’re feeling peckish, you can mosey on down to one of local food trucks that stop by serving up diverse cuisine.
We’ve all fantasized, at least once, about living in Continental Europe, having the ability to take a short trip and find yourself looking out over the Alps, sipping a White Burgundy as you delicately spear escargot.
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard comes close to that fantasy, with mountain views and elevated, Bordeaux-inspired wines. Try their Cab Franc, or go for one of their mythically named signature blends, including the Chimera, aged in French oak.
And since the vineyard is located right at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain itself, you can act out your dream of hiking the Alps–probably before, rather than after, your glass of wine.
Twin Valley Distillers | Credit: Visit Montgomery
Out on the Town
If you ever need a guarantee that people are going to have a good night out, Silver Branch is your go-to. They take beloved European, international, and American styles and get creative with them. Their taproom is the perfect place to try their wide range of creations, from their gose made with mango and lime, to their nitro-infused Irish dry stout.
That international spirit is complemented by a fun bar menu, but perhaps best of all, Silver Branch is located right in downtown Silver Spring, near the Metro Red Line. That means it’s easy to continue your night of experimentation by exploring the diverse, renowned cuisine of downtown Silver Spring.
There’s nothing quite like having a great distillery in the heart of the city, and in Rockville’s Rock East District, that’s Twin Valley Distillers, Montgomery County’s first post-Prohibition distillery. They produce popular libations ranging from mainstay bourbons to creative rums and limoncello, so the shelves at their in-house cocktail bar are always well-stocked. There, order a Hibiscus Flower, made with both barrel-aged and sorrel-infused rums, and pair with a cuban sandwich from their simple but effective food menu.
Before or after your drink, check out other local producers around Rock East, celebrated for its many local makers and producers. Whether it’s craft coffee or a lovely boutique, there’s plenty to sample.
Also in the Rock East District is a destination for spirit lovers across the mid-Atlantic. Clear Skies is one of the most ambitious producers of mead, the ancient, honey-based spirit, on the East Coast, producing a wide variety of single-varietal, unfiltered expressions. For both the experienced and the new initiate, there’s something here, from pomegranate- or cassis-infused options, to a margarita-inspired brew (plus beer on tap).
Take a tour and try a flight–but your exploration doesn’t have to end there! Continue your summer adventure at the nearby Rock Creek Park or Millennium Bike Trail, and deepen your love of nature’s bounty even further.
This is a paid partnership between Visit Montgomery County and Philadelphia Magazine
