Some of the best beer being brewed in Maryland can’t be bought. Homebrewers all over the state are making incredible beer just about every day of the week. To get your hands on some you’ll have to become friends with a homebrewer, become one yourself, or hit up the Free State Homebrew Guild‘s annual holiday party!

The 2013 party was at Clipper City Brewing (home of Heavy Seas Beer), and could not have been at a better venue. Each participating homebrew club setup themed booths of food and beer among hundreds of barrel aging beers, brewing equipment, and the brand new bottling line at Clipper City.

For $25 we got to sample over 100 homebrews and commercial beers paired with food made by each of the clubs. We ate every thing from Roast Beast from the Whos in Whoville, to Citra® Hops ice cream from the scientists at Brewtherville Labs.

Best of all over $7,800 was raised for local charities! The event raised around $1,800 for House of Ruth, as well as $2,000 each for Animal Advocates, The Baltimore Station, and the Wounded Warrior Project!