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Grow & Fortify
1783 Forest Drive, Annapolis MD 21401
Cultivating an environment where value-added agricultural producers, startups, operators and growers innovate and thrive.

Cultivate & Craft

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Make Mine A Maryland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Patrick Seidl
TBC for Cultivate + Craft
Pseidl@tbc.us
443.764.6406

Make Mine a Maryland: New Initiative Celebrates Local Craft Beverages and Community Connection

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Oct. 6, 2025) — Maryland’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries are raising their glasses together under one powerful rallying cry: “Make Mine a Maryland.” Launched by the Maryland Wineries Association, Brewers Association of Maryland and the Maryland Distillers Guild, with support from Cultivate + Craft, this new statewide movement invites consumers to support local businesses by choosing Maryland-made beer, wine and spirits whenever they imbibe.

From crisp IPAs and small-batch rye whiskey to vineyard tastings with sweeping views, Maryland offers more than 300 locally crafted beverage experiences across the state. Make Mine a Maryland celebrates this diversity while uniting makers and consumers under a shared promise: every pour supports local businesses, strengthens communities and fuels Maryland pride.

“This isn’t just a campaign — it’s a movement,” said Kelly Dudeck, Co-Founder of Cultivate + Craft and Executive Director of the Brewers Association of Maryland. “When Marylanders order by name, whether at a taproom, tasting room or bar, they’re saying they believe in the quality and creativity of what’s made here. They’re also supporting small businesses that anchor our communities.”

The movement officially launches this fall with merchandise available at major events, including the Fell’s Point Fun Festival (October 11–12) and Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (October 16-19). A statewide media campaign will amplify the call-to-action, encouraging Marylanders age 21 and older to visit the landing page, join the movement and share their support on social media with #MakeMineAMaryland.

The positive economic impact of Maryland’s craft beverage industry is already significant, with room to grow:

  • Beer: 134 breweries contribute approximately $925 million in annual economic activity and support nearly 10,000 jobs.
  • Wine: 80 producers fuel $4.28 billion in statewide economic activity, support more than 25,000 jobs and draw more than 365,000 wine-related tourist visits each year.
  • Spirits: Maryland’s spirits sector supports 30,100 jobs and generates $3.4 billion in economic activity across production, sales and hospitality.

These craft producers aren’t just making beverages; they’re creating gathering places where stories are shared, milestones are toasted and Maryland’s culture is celebrated. “From the Chesapeake Bay to the mountains, our makers pour pride into every glass,” said Jon Zerivitz, Senior Marketing Strategist at Cultivate + Craft. “This movement is about uniting that spirit and giving Marylanders and visitors a way to say loud and clear: Make Mine a Maryland.”

Consumers are encouraged to join the “Make Mine a Maryland” movement, learn more and explore Maryland’s craft beverage destinations at makemineamaryland.com. Follow @makemineamaryland on Instagram and Facebook for updates, events, contests, giveaways and more.

MMaM Launch Press Release – FINALDownload

Breweries, Retailers and Consumers Prepare For Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Breweries, Retailers and Consumers Prepare For Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month
Celebrating local suds this FeBREWary

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – Belly up – this February marks another celebration of Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month. Known locally as “FeBREWary,” this monthlong recognition of craft beer highlights the local beer industry. Whether you’ve got a favorite seat at a community tasting room or like to pick up Maryland-made beer at a local retailer, FeBREWary is your time to celebrate all things Maryland beer.

“We always look forward to Craft Beer Lovers Month,” says Brett Snyder, President of the Brewers Association of Maryland and co-founder of Waredaca Brewing Co. “Some great consumer events are happening and there is always great Maryland beer to enjoy.”

Kick Off FeBREWary With Maryland’s Black-Owned Breweries

FeBREWary commences on Wednesday, February 1 at Charles County’s Patuxent Brewing Company. Enthusiasts are invited to join local brewery representatives from 2-4 pm for a kickoff happy hour featuring releases from Maryland’s Black-owned breweries and beer brands. In an industry underrepresented by minority business owners, the number of Black-owned breweries in Maryland eclipses national figures. To date, five percent of Maryland’s breweries or craft beer brands are identified as being Black-owned.

“Since we celebrate both Black heritage and craft beer in February, we’re compelled to share the story of Black-owned small businesses and their contributions to Maryland beer,” says Jim Bauckman of the Brewers Association of Maryland. “We’re all acutely aware that the brewing industry faces a lack of diversity in business operators and consumers and are excited about any opportunity to elevate these young businesses.”

Patuxent Brewing Co. has a great beer lineup for this celebration and will feature representatives from Black Beauty Brewing Company (Prince George’s County), Black Viking Brewing (Montgomery County), Joyhound Beer Company (Baltimore), Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company (Prince George’s County) and the nationwide Black Brew Movement.

“Kevin, Gene and I are excited to host this year’s kickoff,” says Davie Feaster, founder of Patuxent Brewing Co. “As Maryland’s first 100% Black-owned brewery, Patuxent Brewing Co. has been at the forefront of diversifying the local craft beer industry. Together with the Patuxent team, I am excited about the explosion of Black-owned breweries and brands in the last few years. We have always said that we didn’t desire to be the first and last – our doors have remained open to welcome and educate other Black brewers and brewery operators.”

Love Thy Beer & More FeBREWary Activities

Each FeBREWary the Brewers Association of Maryland invites consumers to “Love Thy Beer,” a craft beer tasting event showcasing beer styles brewed for winter sipping. More than two dozen local breweries will present their offerings from 6:00-10:00 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Friday, February 10. 

Breweries participating at Love Thy Beer share samples of their entry into the “Cupid’s Curse” competition and a winning beer is selected by voting attendees. Justin Trawick and the Common Good will perform live at the event. Tickets are currently on sale via Eventbrite.

This February, consumers are invited to visit Harford County breweries and enjoy “Come See Me About My Pale Ale.” This collaborative recipe will be produced at each participating brewery and coincides with the countywide recognition of its 250th Anniversary. Double Groove Brewing Company in Forest Hill will be the first to tap this release Thursday, February 9, 2023. More details about this project will be available on the Visit Harford and BAM websites.

For more information about FeBREWary events and engagements, visit the BAM website and follow the association on Facebook and Instagram. Download the free MD Craft Beverages App and plan your own Maryland beer journey. The app features Maryland’s brewery, distillery and winery tasting rooms, making tracking your local tasting experiences easy. 

About FeBREWary

FeBREWary is the annual celebration of Maryland’s craft beer industry. Proclaimed as Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month by the governor since 2015, the month showcases the more than 140 breweries operating in the state. Supporting more than 6,500 full-time jobs and $917 million in economic impact, the state’s beer industry is a major contributor to the economy. Consumers, brewers, retailers, and wholesalers all participate in FeBREWary.

About the Brewers Association of Maryland

The Brewers Association of Maryland, founded in 1999, is the non-profit trade association of Maryland brewing companies. The mission of BAM is to grow, promote, and protect the Maryland craft beer industry. Representing 105 licensed, operating Maryland breweries, the Brewers Association of Maryland is committed to producing memorable beer experiences for craft beer consumers. Events produced and promoted by the Brewers Association of Maryland are fundraisers and directly benefit our craft brewing industry.

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“Innovation Is Advancing Local Value-Added Agriculture” – Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Innovation Is Advancing Local Value-Added Agriculture

Value-added agriculture and agritourism have a bright future in Maryland

(KENT ISLAND, MD) – Nearly 200 local farmers and industry partners gathered on December 1 for the 2022 Value-Added Agriculture Summit in Kent Island, Md. This bi-annual conference, hosted by Cultivate & Craft, explores the opportunities within Maryland’s value-added agriculture and agritourism industries. Attendees were comprised of individuals from various sectors of the state’s agriculture industry and included representatives from state and federal government agencies.

“What an amazing day. Attendees felt the energy, learned about innovation, shared their excitement about the diversity of people and ideas, and left with a sense of community,” said Cultivate & Craft’s chief strategy officer, Kelly Dudeck. “This is what alternative agriculture looks like – it is exactly the industry Maryland needs to support right now.”

Kim Bremmer of Ag Inspirations was the event’s keynote speaker. Emphasizing how narratives around farming can sway consumers and regulators, Bremmer provided the audience with a refreshing and realistic take on the industry. Panelists and contributors from various backgrounds introduced their businesses and agricultural focuses during the highly anticipated “Rapid Fire Panel.” 

The conference included breakout sessions and covered topics ranging from emerging agricultural markets to building more beneficial relationships with consumers and partners. Luke McFadden, a local waterman with more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, provided the audience with unique insight into using social media to promote agriculture.

McFadden shared that social media audiences are interested in the things small farmers and business operators consider to be “day-to-day” and value seeing that every personality is human. This perspective has introduced millions of people to the life and work of a local waterman and has helped McFadden gain new access to the direct-to-consumer market.

Farm Credit, the Rural Maryland Council and the Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center supported this gathering as conference partners. More than a dozen additional sponsors contributed to the success of the event. 

For a listing of this year’s conference programming and updates about future events and the industry, visit the Cultivate & Craft website.

About Cultivate & Craft

Cultivate & Craft is built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. We’ve gathered a team of professionals to support agricultural startups and ensure the financial viability of our land, and ultimately, our community.

Cultivate & Craft is currently retained to represent the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association.

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