Newcomers Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. are already making an impact with their spirit of community and serve-yourself TNT Tap Wall.
By Mary Anne Ellifritz Photos by Brad Barnwell
Craft beer is having a moment. According to a recent survey by DSM, a leading food and beverage industry organization, the largest increase in craft beer consumption is taking place among those consumers aged 18-30, who are adventurous drinkers and like to experiment with a wide diversity of beer styles and taste profiles. Craft beer aficionados also appreciate sustainability and quality, and feel that the story, motivations, and purpose of the company behind the beer are important.
Craft brewers excel at telling this story, but with so many new breweries making their home in the Tri-State area, it can be hard to know which one will be the perfect fit for you and your group of beer-loving friends. But if you’re looking for a local spot with a laid-back vibe where you can enjoy craft beer, seltzers, and even zero-alcohol options that are as tasty as the free popcorn, Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. in Hagerstown just might be the place for you.
Opened in August of 2022, Thick-N-Thin is a reference not only to Adam and Sassan Shaool—two brothers who created the brewery and have worked together and supported each other through good times and bad—but also to those people in our lives who we love the most, who we want to spend time with, laugh with: our ride-or-dies who are with us through thick and thin.
Adam says that he not only wanted to create a place for friends and family to gather but also a place where the art of craft brewing was celebrated and enjoyed by “the normal beer drinker, not just the beer maker.”
But even the most appealing surroundings and welcoming ambiance won’t win the brew wars if your beer, ales, and hard
seltzers aren’t first-rate. And that’s where Jake Beaman comes in. With more than 10 years of brewing experience as both head brewer and cellarman, the award-winning brewmaster creates and curates Thick-N-Thin’s offerings and oversees the brewery’s unique TNT Tap Wall. This self-pour system allows customers to select from one of 12 taps, pouring as little or as much as they like and even mixing their brews if they so choose. An app-enabled card is used to pay the tab at the end of each visit.
MORE TO THE MIX
Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. also has a TNT Club. A $99 annual fee provides members-only perks like keg-tappings, beer tastings, Q&A sessions with the brewmaster, free tacos one Tuesday each month, and a Thick-N-Thin branded t-shirt. Annually, one TNT member is chosen via drawing to be an “honorary brewmaster” where they can craft and label their own beer, which is then sold at the brewery.
Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. also takes its place in the community seriously, and Adam stresses how important being involved is for them. “We’re locally born and raised—we want to do really good things for the community. We support local organizations like the South High Athletic Boosters, Habitat for Humanity, the Polar Plunge, and the Humane Society, and we also encourage our patrons to leave a donation for our non-profit of the month in return for the free popcorn that’s always available at the brewery. We intend to be here for the long haul and hope to open other breweries in the area. Giving back is a big part of our business.”
The brewery offers live music every weekend, as well as weekly bingo, karaoke, and open mic nights. More special events are planned for the future, including stand-out festivities for St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. But according to Adam the real draw of Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. is the opportunity to relax and kick back with people you know and care about, where hand-crafted beverages are lovingly prepared and responsibly enjoyed—and we’ll drink to that!
WHEN YOU GO
18330 Spark Dr.
Hagerstown, MD
(240) 366-4147
www.thickandthinbrewery.com
Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday: noon-8 p.m.