Brewery Fire Taphouse opens its doors Saturday, June 20, at 530 Jermor Lane in Westminster, bringing a sit-down bar and kitchen to the 140 Village Shopping Center. The taphouse pours the same beers brewed just up the road at Brewery Fire’s original Tanytown location, alongside a full food menu, local wine, and a hand-selected lineup of high-end bourbon, whiskey, scotch, and tequila.
Taphouse staples and more on the food menu
The food menu is built around taphouse staples with some creative twists. Starters include Fire Wings with sauces ranging from Old Bay dry rub to Jamaican jerk, pretzel-crusted seared ahi tuna, and Fire Fritters, house-made tater tots with Old Bay, hot sauce, and jalapeño aioli.
Main menu items include burgers on pretzel rolls; La Ropa tacos with chipotle garlic shrimp, grilled chicken, or ground beef; flatbreads; wraps; and a kids' menu (Little Embers) with chicken tenders and hot dogs. Vegetarian options are available on request.
Drink options that go well beyond beer
The taphouse will pour 10 Brewery Fire beers brewed in Taneytown, alongside guest taps from other local breweries. Pub Dog (Westminster), Liquidity Ale Works (Mt. Airy), and 1623 Brewing Co. (Eldersburg) all currently have beers on tap.
The drink menu goes well beyond beer. House cocktails include the Old Flameful (bourbon, bitters, orange, sweet cherry) and Jesse's Girl (rum, lime, mint, cranberry, ginger beer, jalapeño garnish), plus mocktails for non-drinkers. The bar also offers beer flights, whiskey flights, and a dry ice cocktail flight.
The taphouse will pour 10 Brewery Fire beers brewed in Taneytown, alongside guest taps from three other local breweries: Pub Dog (Westminster), Liquidity Ale Works (Mt. Airy), and 1623 Brewing Co. (Eldersburg). The drink menu also includes house cocktails like the Old Flameful (bourbon, bitters, orange, sweet cherry) and Jesse's Girl (rum, lime, mint, cranberry, ginger beer, jalapeño garnish), mocktails, wine, and a hand-selected lineup of premium bourbon, whiskey, scotch, and tequila. Beer flights, whiskey flights, and a dry ice cocktail flight round out the options.
Inspiration for the taphouse concept
The concept for the Brewery Fire Tahouse took shape about two years ago, though the path from lease to opening spanned just over ten months. The idea crystallized during a visit to Cured 18th & 21st, a whiskey bar in Ellicott City, where owner Jesse Johnson found himself working through a high-end whiskey flight and a smoked Old Fashioned. "That was the spark," he said.
That experience shaped the taphouse's emphasis on premium spirits, including Covalent and other Maryland-made products. Johnson said he wants the taphouse to be a genuine champion of local makers. "A lot of places talk about supporting local businesses, but because of cost, convenience, or planning, they don't always follow through completely," he said. "As someone who is self-employed and manufactures my own product, I understand firsthand the sweat, sacrifice, and uncertainty that go into building something from the ground up."
Johnson said many of the farmers, brewers, distillers, and makers whose products will appear on the menu are people he knows personally. "I know the late nights, the financial risks, and the sacrifices that often go unseen," he said. "I want to create a place that celebrates not only their products, but also the people and stories behind them."
Regular hours beginning June 20: Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–8 p.m. The taphouse is closed Monday through Wednesday.
The taphouse is also hiring bartenders, servers, and cooks. Interested applicants can send resumes to [email protected].
For more information, visit breweryfiretaphouse.com or call 410-781-8821.
Photo: from the Brewery Fire Taphouse website