Sustainable Brewery Tour: An Ecological Design Collective Event

Description

Are you hankering for a pint of Baltimore-brewed beer? Are you curious about sustainable beers made with locally sourced ingredients? Join the Ecological Design Collective in a tour of the Checkerspot Brewing Company, led by brewery owner and Johns Hopkins alum Judy Neff, and learn about their green beer-making practices (and of course sample some of their amazing beers afterward).

The Checkerspot Brewery Company is well-known for its innovative use of local ingredients in its beer-making processes, sourcing malts and spices from Maryland farms like Baugher's in Reisterstown. The brewery has also partnered with several local businesses and not-for-profits to promote sustainable food practices. They have crafted specialty beers out of excess crab shells from J. M. Clayton Seafood Company (Keeper's Stout) and made beer with African Basil harvested from compost heaps by the Baltimore Compost Collective (B'more Kashi). Check out their current selection of locally crafted beers on their website.

As owner and brewer, Judy Neff is a longtime homebrewer living the dream. She is a Certified Cicerone and helped found Baltimore Beer Babes, a craft beer appreciation group bringing more women into the fold, and is a proud member of the Pink Boots Society. She has a PhD in microbiology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, so she isn't afraid of the scientific side of brewing, but she firmly believes that the creative side and understanding of the ingredients are just as important. She loves all of the beers, but Juniperus IPA is definitely the number one.

Itinerary

Meet inside the Checkerspot Brewing Company at 5 p.m. Judy Neff will lead the tour of the brewery and answer questions from 5:10 to 6 p.m. Beginning at 6 p.m., grab a table and sample some of Neff's amazing local beers. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. First round is on the Ecological Design Collective.

About the Event Series

This event is a continuation of the Ecological Design Collectives' 2024-25 itinerary for "Reimagining Land," anchored in a monthly series of "Groundings" that explore Baltimore's ecology, history, and contemporary place-making efforts through experiential events.