Heavy Seas Beer has released World Famous, a Pilsner brewed in collaboration with and sold at Royal Farms locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Read More
Outside the Heavy Seas Beer brewery and taproom in Baltimore, Maryland
Heavy Seas Beer

Heavy Seas Beer was founded by Hugh Sisson in 1995 and the business has grown to become one of the most respected and award-winning craft breweries on the east coast of the United States.
As the first pub brewer in Maryland, Hugh was responsible for the legislation that made brewpubs legal in the state. Heavy Seas originated as restaurant named Sisson’s and Hugh wanted to change the restaurant into a brewpub but they were illegal in Maryland.
That didn’t stop Hugh, and under the tutelage of Senator George Della, Sisson introduced a bill in the Maryland Legislature in 1987 to legalize brewpubs. Much to their surprise, the bill passed on first attempt. Sisson’s officially became Maryland’s first brewpub in August 1989, with Hugh as the brewer.
Hugh remained at Sisson’s until December 1994, when he left to form a new company, Clipper City Brewing Co., now home to Heavy Seas Beer.
Heavy Seas’ expansion began in 2010 with the arrival of 11 new fermentation vessels and 3 new brite tanks over a two year period expanding our fermentation capacity by 160%. With the addition of these new tanks, Heavy Seas can brew 45,155 gallons more beer every two weeks.
In the summer of 2013 the brewery installed a new 96,000 cubic foot walk-in refrigerator. This warehouse sized fridge will keeps the beer as fresh as possible until it’s shipped off to the distributors.
In the Fall of 2013 Heavy Seas began the demolition of two walls separating our warehouses in order to create a space for a new $2.7 million dollar state of the art bottling line.
And now over two decades later, Heavy Seas is celebrating its 23rd year of brewing independent craft beer in Baltimore. The brewery also continues to expand its beer portfolio, now producing 23 different beer styles and distributing to 20 states as well as Washington, D.C.
Heavy Seas was also named Beer Connoisseur Magazine’s 2017 Brewery of the Year.
For more on the brewery, visit the website at hsbeer.com.
Heavy Seas Beer is an independent craft brewer.

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Inside the Heavy Seas Beer taproom in Baltimore, Maryland
A row of tap handles inside the Heavy Seas Beer taproom in Baltimore, Maryland
Heavy Seas Beer
- 4615 Hollins Ferry Rd
- Baltimore, MD 21227-4624
- United States
- (410) 247-7822
For More Information
Visit the Brewery WebsiteBeers
A selection of beers from Heavy Seas Beer
Beer Name | Style | ABV | IBUs | Cal. | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AmeriCannon Double Dry Hopped American Pale Ale Review | American Pale Ale | 5.8 | 174 | 3.69 | |
Azacca Cannon Review | American IPA | 6.0 | 180 | 3.75 | |
Below Decks Review | English Barleywine | 12.2 | 366 | 4 | |
Blackbeard’s Breakfast Review | American Porter | 10.0 | 300 | 4.14 | |
Blackbeard’s Breakfast (Salted Caramel) Review | American Porter | 10.0 | 300 | 4.22 | |
Citra Cannon Review | American IPA | 6.0 | 180 | 3.84 | |
CrossBones Session IPA Review | American IPA | 4.5 | 135 | 3.56 | |
Cutlass Vienna-Style Lager Review | Vienna Lager | 5.4 | 162 | 3.51 | |
Dark IPA Review | American IPA | 7.3 | 219 | 0 | |
Deep Six Review | English Porter | 6.8 | 204 | 3.9 |
News
Heavy Seas Beer in the News
Heavy Seas & Max’s Taphouse Re-release “Pooch Power” Pils to Benefit BARCS
Heavy Seas Beer has re-released Pooch Power, an unfiltered Pilsner, in collaboration with Max’s Taphouse to benefit the BARCS animal shelter. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Pooch Power” Unfiltered Pilsner
Heavy Seas Beer announced a new release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse, Pooch Power, an unfiltered Pilsner, and a Pups & Pints event benefiting the BARCS animal shelter. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA”
Heavy Seas Beer announced the third beer in its Joose Cannon series and third release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2020, Joose Cannon: Key Lime Pie IPA. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer’s “Smooth Sail” Returns with Kiwi Strawberry Variant
Heavy Seas Beer will soon welcome the 2020 edition of Smooth Sail with an extremely limited, draft-only variant of the beer, Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Sail. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release Two New Variants of “TropiCannon” IPA
Heavy Seas Beer announced a new TropiCannon 12 pack can sampler featuring two new variants: TropiCannon Pineapple IPA and TropiCannon Mango Lime IPA. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Bottomless” Mimosa Sour
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to announce the second release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2020, Bottomless, a Mimosa Sour. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Releases “Blackbeard’s Breakfast” and Tiramisu Variant
Heavy Seas Beer will soon release Blackbeard’s Breakfast, an Imperial Coffee Porter aged in bourbon barrels along with a non-barrel-aged Tiramisu variant. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Dry January” Hazy IPA
Heavy Seas Beer announced the first release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2020, Dry January, a Hazy IPA, exclusively available in the Heavy Seas Taproom. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Hydra’s Haze” IPA
Heavy Seas Beer will release a brand new offering in 2020 — Hydra’s Haze, a Hazy IPA — in 12 oz. cans across the brewery’s footprint in January. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Announces “24 Anniversary Ale” Quadruple IPA
Heavy Seas Beer announced the release of “24 Anniversary Ale”, a Quadruple IPA to celebrate the brewery’s 24th year of brewing craft beer in Baltimore. Read More
Heavy Seas to Release “Night Swell” Dark IPA
Heavy Seas Beer is releasing Night Swell, a Dark IPA, this October in 12 oz. cans and on draft in all states where Heavy Seas beers are distributed. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer “Great’er Pumpkin” Returns with Variants
This month Heavy Seas Beer will release their 2019 edition of Great’er Pumpkin, a bourbon barrel aged pumpkin ale with spices, wherever their beers are distributed. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Wins “Best in Show” at 2019 Maryland Craft Beer Competition
Heavy Seas Beer’s “Pounder Pilsner” won the “Best in Show” award in the Brewers Association of Maryland’s 2019 Maryland Craft Beer Competition. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer to Release “Dat Booty Doe” Oktoberfest Lager
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to announce the next release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse, Dat Booty Doe, an Oktoberfest-style Lager. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Announces Release of Scoops, Chocolate Vanilla Milkshake IPA
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to announce the sixth release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2019, Scoops, a Chocolate Vanilla Twist Milkshake IPA. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Releases Bmore Snoball, an Egg Custard Blonde
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to announce the fifth release from its 15 Barrel Brewhouse in 2019, Bmore Snoball, an Egg Custard Blonde Ale. Read More
Heavy Seas Beer Launches E.Krispers Cider
Heavy Seas Beer announced today the launch of E.Krispers Cider, made from 34 different varieties of apples. Read More

Proud to Support Independent Craft Brewers
For years, small and independent U.S. craft breweries have been turning the beer world upside down. Their ability to take risks, innovate flavors and build better communities has made the U.S. the craft beer capital of the world.
To proudly display that independent spirit, the Brewers Association created a symbol to unify U.S. craft breweries and those who want to support them. This certified mark gives beer lovers an easy way to identify independent craft beer.
Learn more about what it means to be an Independent Craft Brewer by visiting the Brewers Association.