Maryland Microbrewery Festival and 2026 Homebrew Competition

The Maryland Microbrewery Festival is a state-sanctioned event which showcases Maryland craft beer.  It is held on the beautiful grounds of the historic Union Mills Homestead, just north of Westminster, Maryland.  

Part of the Festival's mission is to educate guests about beer, and about how the craft of homebrewing beer is an integral part of Maryland's beer culture.  From the inception of the Maryland Microbrewery Festival in 2005, the Midnight Homebrewers' League has provided the educational component of the Festival's mission.  Our club operates the Homebrewing Education Tent, in which we perform day-long demonstrations of homebrewing beer.  Extract and all-grain brewing methods are demonstrated, and moderated by club members who explain to guests the process of brewing beer as they watch it being done.

In addition to the Homebrewing Education Tent, the club conducts an annual competition in the historic Mill on the grounds of Union Mills Homestead.  This BJCP-sanctioned homebrew competition draws entries from all parts of Maryland and the surrounding states. The 2026 Festival is currently scheduled for Saturday September 26, 2026 from 11AM - 6PM. 

This year, in honor of the United States 250th Anniversary, we are celebrating the American categories scattered throughout the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines.  Entries are limited to those beer styles.

Huge thanks go to the Union Mills Homestead, for the privilege of taking part in their annual festival!

Questions?  Email me.  Or ask me over a beer some time soon. Cheers!

Justin Wilson

Competition Organizer