Distillers ask Carroll County to consider state-level permit changes to allow food and private-event BYOB

Representatives of two Carroll County distilleries asked the Board of License Commissioners on Tuesday to consider changes to local permitting that would allow on-premise distilleries to serve food and loosen restrictions on private-event alcohol at tasting rooms.

The request, presented as an informational briefing rather than a formal application, cited a package of changes passed in Frederick County this summer. The presenter said the changes Carroll County distillers want fall into two primary areas: (1) allowing county on‑premise distillery permits to include the service of food, and (2) permitting tasting rooms to be used for private events where, under defined conditions, a host or caterer could bring beer or wine purchased from a retailer rather than requiring all alcohol used at the event to be sold by the distillery itself.

The distillery representative said the intent is not to conduct retail alcohol sales on behalf of outside hosts at private events but to allow, for example, a caterer or host to provide beer or wine brought in from a retailer for a closed private gathering. "The idea would be that we would not be conducting any sales of alcohol for the event, but they could bring their own, like, beer and wine, for example," the representative said. The presenter added that distilleries want the option mainly to broaden the types of private events they can host and to serve light food alongside spirits for customer safety and experience.

Commissioners asked how frequently such private events occur and pressed for operational details, including capacity, kitchen buildouts and how servers and caterers would be vetted. The presenter described tasting-room layouts, typical private-event sizes ("average event size we usually have is around, for private events, 40 to 60"), and plans for a limited food program rather than full restaurant operations.

Board members repeatedly asked for the underlying state-law language and for examples of how the Frederick County changes are being implemented there. One commissioner said he would like to read the state statute and the Frederick materials; another asked the distillery representatives to provide a compact executive summary and draft ordinance language if possible. The presenter said a local distillery owner and a Patapsco representative planned to draft proposed language in the coming weeks.

No formal vote or change was taken; commissioners said they would review the materials and consider a formal proposal at a future meeting. Several commissioners recommended staff and counsel review the state legislative text and the Frederick County implementation guide before the matter returns.

If the board votes to pursue changes, the requesters said the process would require cooperation from the county's legislative delegation and state-level enabling language.

Ending: Commissioners asked the distillery representatives to provide the Frederick County materials, the specific state-law citations referenced in the packet, and draft local language where possible. Staff said it would review those materials and place a formal proposal on a future agenda if the request appears legally and administratively feasible.