Hub City Brewery: Maryland Craft Beer Grows in Hagerstown

The craft beer industry thrives on innovation, passion, and community—and nowhere is that more evident than at Hub City Brewery, the latest addition to Maryland’s brewing scene. Nestled in downtown Hagerstown, this ambitious brewery is more than just a place to grab a pint. It’s a hub for craft beverages, local artists, live music, and small business collaboration.

I had the chance to sit down with Jake Blackmon, co-founder of Hub City Brewery, to talk about their journey, their vision, and why this brewery is shaping up to be one of the most unique destinations in Maryland’s craft beer landscape.

From Smoketown to Hub City: A Bold Move

For Blackmon, the road to Hub City started with Smoketown Brewing Station, a well-regarded brewery in Brunswick, Maryland. “We had grown too big for our britches,” Blackmon recalls. “We were selling more beer than we could make.” This realization led the team to consider expanding their production capabilities, but instead of simply adding a warehouse, they found themselves falling in love with Hagerstown.

Jake Blackmon and Dave Blackmon - Hub City Brewery in Hagerstown MD

“The city’s economic development team was incredible. They showed us this historic building—once home to the local fire department and the oldest running farmers market in the country—and we knew we had to do more than just production. We had to create a gathering place,” Blackmon explains.

That realization changed everything. Instead of opening a secondary brewing facility, they sold both Smoketown locations to go all-in on Hub City Brewery.

More Than a Brewery: A Marketplace for Local Business

What makes Hub City truly stand out is its commitment to community collaboration. Blackmon’s vision is not just about beer—it’s about fostering a space where multiple small businesses can thrive together.

“This building was designed as a marketplace, and we want to honor that,” he says. “We already have two businesses operating here alongside us, and we’re adding more. There will be two permanent food vendors, a local plant shop, an art gallery featuring local artists, and even a planned cigar lounge, retro arcade, and indoor golf simulator.”

Imagine stepping into a brewery where you can:

Grab a craft beer brewed on-site
Sip a cocktail made with house-distilled spirits
Enjoy fresh food from rotating local vendors
Browse a gallery of local artwork
Purchase a plant while you drink
Catch a live music performance

This multi-business, multi-experience model is something rarely seen in small-city breweries, and it has the potential to revitalize downtown Hagerstown.

A Brewery, A Distillery, and A Future Winery—All Under One Roof

One of Hub City’s most unique features is that it’s not just a brewery—it’s also home to Church Street Distilling Company, its sister company producing Maryland-made craft spirits.

“In Washington County, breweries can sell spirits as long as they’re Maryland-made,” Blackmon explains. “Instead of just buying spirits, we thought—why not make our own?”

Currently, their house-distilled spirits lineup includes:

Tempest Gin – An American vernal-style gin with citrus and herbal notes
Maritas Bourbon – A well-rounded, classic bourbon
Alpha Mega Rye – A solera-style rye whiskey
White & Spiced Rum – For tropical and tiki-style cocktails
Bounce Cordials – Inspired by Martha Washington’s fruit-infused brandies

But they’re not stopping there—Hub City has already purchased additional property to launch a winery in the coming years.

“Our goal is to offer beer, spirits, and wine—all made in-house. Every drink on our menu will be something we crafted from start to finish,” Blackmon says.

The Beer: Balancing Tradition & Innovation

Of course, at the heart of Hub City Brewery is the beer. They’re starting strong with nine core styles, including:

Traditional English IPA
Hazy IPA
Pilsner
Oatmeal Stout
Vienna Lager
Brown Ale
Red Ale
Kolsch
Fruited Sour

What sets them apart is their approach to brewing. “We want 60-70% of our taps to be traditional styles—ones that are always available. The rest will be experimental, seasonal, and one-off brews,” Blackmon explains.

One of their most exciting new creations is a Double Zero Double IPA, made without any hot-side hops.

“It’s wild—you get all the aroma and flavor of an IPA, but none of the bitterness,” Blackmon says. “It’s been really fun introducing it to people who ‘don’t like IPAs’ and watching their reaction.”

Barrel Aging & The Future of Collaboration

With a built-in distillery, Hub City has access to something most breweries can only dream of—barrels on demand.

“One of our first projects will be taking the same imperial stout and aging it in three different barrels—rye, bourbon, and spiced rum—to see how each develops differently,” Blackmon says.

Beyond their own experiments, collaboration is key. “We’re already working with local breweries like Thick & Thin and Cushwa, and we’d love to expand that. The beer industry is one of the most cooperative out there—it’s not about competition, it’s about lifting each other up.”

A Hub for Live Music & Events

Another major pillar of Hub City Brewery’s identity is live music.

“I’m obsessed with live music,” Blackmon admits. “We wanted to create a space where both local and touring artists can perform—so we invested in a professional sound and lighting system.”

The brewery also has a huge outdoor space with 180+ parking spots, allowing them to host outdoor festivals, beer and food events, and live music nights.

“We’re planning everything from Oktoberfest celebrations to a full-scale summer music series,” Blackmon says. “This isn’t just a brewery—it’s an entertainment destination.”

Final Thoughts: More Than Just Another Brewery

As our conversation wrapped up, I asked Blackmon the big question:

Why beer? Why this? Why now?

His answer?

“Because beer brings people together. It’s not just about what’s in the glass—it’s about the conversations, the connections, the creativity that surrounds it. And that’s exactly what we want Hub City to be—a place where people come together, try something new, and leave with a story to tell.”

Hub City Brewery isn’t just another craft brewery—it’s a new chapter for Maryland’s beer scene. If you’re a craft beer fan looking for something fresh, something bold, and something community-driven, Hub City Brewing in Hagerstown is officially on the map.

So, what do you think? Want to visit Hub City Brewery? Let us know in the comments! 🍻