03/16/2026
Big news from the Eastern Shore! 🌊🍻
Huge congratulations to Sam Calagione, Moriah, and the entire Dogfish Head crew on a legendary milestone. Sam was just inducted into the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame, and honestly, it couldn’t happen to a better guy. And If I know Sam, he’s sharing the spotlight with his entire team!
For those who don’t know the backstory, Sam is a huge reason Fin City Brewing Company is on the map today. Back in 2010, we were just brewing out of a garage, making 5-gallon batches of our hand crafted ales. We decided to enter our Captain Jack’s Pumpkin Ale in the 25th Anniversary Punkin Chunkin cooking contest.
Sam was at the event filming for his Brewmasters TV show, and in a completely unselfish move, he sent the National Geographic camera crew right into the competition tent. He saw the massive line of people waiting to see what the buzz was about and decided to include us in the episode.
That single moment changed our lives. We ended up winning the World Championship with our Captain Jack’s Pumpkin Ale. And, after the episode aired, Fin City Brewing Company’s social media went absolutely haywire. People were calling and emailing from everywhere wanting to know where to find our beer—meanwhile, I was sitting in my garage staring at the very last 6-pack in the fridge!
That spark turned our dream into a reality. We traded the garage for the loft at Hooper’s Crab House in West Ocean City and haven’t stopped brewing since. From those early days in the loft to production brewing in Baltimore, we’ve been lucky to partner with the best in the business—Carey Distributors, Bozick Distribution, and Other Side Beverage.
Now, as we start to build our brand new production facility right here in Easton, MD, it’s amazing to look back at how far we’ve come, pouring all across Maryland and Delaware.
It’s been a wild ride, and a great reminder that even in a competitive industry, a little help from a legend goes a long way. Cheers to Sam, you rock for being a true visionary and a class act.
Raise a glass of something local today! 🍺⚓️