Maryland farm breweries may add farm distilleries and host events

The law establishes a Class 10 farm distillery license for eligible farm breweries. The license covers only the farm named on it. Only a holder of a Class 8 farm brewery license may receive the license. Spirits sold under the license must be made with an ingredient from a Maryland farm product grown on the licensed farm. The farm must produce and showcase farm products and actively engage the public in farming and farm-based production. The license holder may not make or sell more than 100,000 gallons of spirits in a calendar year. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

The law requires Class 8 farm brewery and Class 10 farm distillery farms to engage in agritourism. This applies to the farm covered by each Class 8 farm brewery or Class 10 farm distillery license. The farm must expose the public to farming and value-added farming practices. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

The law changes food-service rules for Class 8 farm breweries and allows farm breweries to hold events and provide entertainment. Farm breweries may host festivals, provide live music or other entertainment, and rent farm space for gatherings such as weddings and fundraisers. Food may be sold or served through a licensed food business, a licensed food truck or caterer, or as qualifying cottage food prepared on the farm. Events and entertainment must follow the requirements for the farm brewery license. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

The law creates an exception to local zoning compliance for certain farm brewery and farm distillery licenses. The exception concerns local zoning compliance for the licensed premises. The exception applies to Class 10 farm distillery licenses and Class 8 farm brewery licenses first issued on or before July 1, 2015. The State Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission has exclusive regulatory authority over the operation of these license types. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.