Idiom Brewing Company: A Frederick Staple
The BMore Brew Crew recently made a stop at Idiom Brewing Company in Frederick, and let me tell you, this spot lives up to the hype. It had been a while since my last visit, and the first since their newly opened ‘Expressions’ Kitchen expansion. I have very much been looking forward to getting back and trying out some of their new beer and pizza offerings. But before I go any further, let me take you back a few years, if I may.
I met Michael Clements, the owner of Idiom Brewing Company as I was standing in line with for a Haunted House Attraction at Hersheypark Dark Nights in October, 2022. As my friends and I stood in line talking about our favorite local Breweries (which is our norm), the kind gentleman in front of us who was with his family at the time, overheard our conversation, and he looked up and said, “I own a brewery.“ All of our interest was peaked from that moment on. A few minutes later we were having a great conversation about some of our favorite local breweries and chatting craft beer like we knew each other for years. That is the kind of great and welcoming guy that Mike is. At the time of our meeting in Hershey, none of us had been to Idiom, as the taphouse is an hour away from our home base in Baltimore County. That has since changed.
Idiom is locally heralded for its expansive and diverse beer selection, and they have made a name for themselves by offering an incredible range of styles that appeal to nearly every craft beer drinker. No matter your style preference, Idiom likely has something to satisfy your cravings.
One of the standouts from our visit was their ‘Sour Grapes’, a newly released 7% ABV Candy Sour that is downright dangerous (in the best way possible). It’s so sweet and smooth that the alcohol seems to disappear, making it one of those beers you could sip on all day without realizing how potent it really is.
Beyond the impressive beer lineup, Idiom recently expanded its food offerings with Expressions by Idiom, a new pizza addition that had us all excited. We went for the Hot Honey Pizza and found ourselves channeling our inner Dave Portnoy and a One Bite review.
“One bite, everybody knows the rules! Look at that undercarriage! Hardly any flop!”
The pizza had a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and we were all in pizza heaven. We even ordered a second pie because one just did not cut it.
The taproom itself was spotless, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff who we saw helping out more than one patron with beer selections and recommendations. A special shoutout to our Beertender, who put together a flight for me featuring:
Sour Grapes Sour – A dangerously drinkable sour with an addictive sweetness.
Nose to the Grind Coffee Stout – A robust, smooth 7.3% Coffee stout with deep coffee notes and a little bit of sweetness.
Electric Feel West Coast IPA – A crisp 6% piney and citrusy IPA with just the right amount of bitterness.
The atmosphere at Idiom was very laid back and relaxed, with plenty of indoor seating and a picturesque outdoor seating area along Carroll Creek. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate during our visit, but we’re already planning a summer return to enjoy a beer with a view, relaxing Creekside in the sunshine.
As one of the staples on the Frederick Brewery Trail, Idiom is a must stop location when you are in the area. Idiom is also in excellent company with other fantastic local breweries like Steinhardt, RAK, Attaboy, Monocacy, and Brewers Alley, all of which are worth a visit if you’re making a day of it. Many of the aforementioned breweries are literally a stone’s throw away.
On top of their killer beer and pizza, Idiom also hosts fun events throughout the year, including Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers tournaments, trivia nights, and more. There’s always something happening year-round at Idiom to keep the energy there lively and entertaining for us craft beer folk.
If you haven’t been to Idiom Brewing Company, do yourself a favor and make the trip out. If you are on the fence, believe me, this brewery has something for you. While you are out and about, make a Brewery Crawl out of it by exploring the other fantastic breweries in the area. Cheers to another amazing stop!
