Heavy Seas Brewery was founded in 1995, and has grown into one of Maryland's most well-known breweries.
The Halethorpe-based brewery produces 18 different beer styles and distributes in 17 states, and celebrated its 20th anniversary of business operations last December.
Heavy Seas was founded by Hugh Sisson, who began in the industry working at his family's tavern, Sisson's.
Sisson and his father worked to get a bill passed in the 1980s that would legalize brewpubs in Maryland. Sisson's officially became Maryland's first brewpub in August 1989.
Craft beer has a huge presence in Maryland. Check out other stories about Maryland beer here.
Hugh remained at Sisson's until December 1994, when he left to form a new company, Clipper City Brewing Co., now Heavy Seas Beer.
Sisson changed the landscape of Maryland beer, said Joe Gold, Heavy Seas sales manager.
"If you care anything about quality, you should care about craft beer," Gold said. "Local does matter in many, many ways, but local doesn't necessarily mean good."
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