The early days
In the early 1990s, Steve Barbour, Mike Harrington, Don Dinsmore and Larry Garcia discussed the idea of forming a brewing club based out of the Brew Pot (since closed) in Old Bowie. Gene and Elenora owned the store and were very kind hosts to MALT’s founders. Many a MALT meeting was held in the cozy little homebrew supply store known as the Brew Pot.
In late summer of 1993, a meeting was held at Steve Barbour’s to discuss forming a club. This meeting was attended by Mike Harrington and Don Dinsmore, Mr. Garcia & Mr. Link. The club was born that night and temporary officers were subsequently selected for interim terms until the first elections could be scheduled.
The first officers were:
President – Steve Barbour
Vice President – Mike Harrington
Treasurer – Larry Gracia
First elections were held in March of 1994 and the club has prospered and grown over the years. We have become incorporated in the state of Maryland. We have a club name that was provided by Jack Mowbray and a logo was provided by Mary Ann Barbour.
Steve Barbour is the only official lifetime member of MALT. That title was bestowed on him when he moved to Indiana several years ago. We still see Steve from time to time. Mike Harrington is up in New Hampshire and Larry Garcia predates most of the current members.
Lately
Somewhere along the line we started a couple traditions. First came the annual bus trip. Every year we fill up a bus with both members and non-members on a trip to visit beer establishments. Often in Pennsylvania, sometimes Virginia, maybe Delaware. It is usually either presidents day weekend in February or the weekend before or after it. There will always be at least one brewery on the tour, home brew on the bus, and good beer at every place we visit.
The Turkey shoot happens in November. This is our annual BJCP sanctioned beer competition. We get a very good selection of judges including Grand Masters and National rated judges.