STONE SILO
Stunning farmland views and brews
Photo : wib middleton
In the beautiful countryside on the northern edge of Montgomery County ’ s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve , things are changing . In Damascus , a dry town up until 2013 by an ordinance predating Prohibition ( 1920-1933 ) by 40 years , an exciting part of that change is evidenced by the newly established Stone Silo Brewery , the town ’ s first farmcrafted brewery .
The brewery ’ s bucolic farmland setting dates back to the 1790s and is rich with six generations of family history . Wide pastoral fields face west and roll up to a stand of mature trees in the distance . If you ’ re taking in the sunset with a cold beer on the outside patio , you ’ ll gaze out upon row after row of grape vines in a sun-tipped wave of golden green as far as the eye can see . They belong to 61 Vineyard , just a stone ’ s throw from the brewery . Now , unique to Montgomery County , are two side by-side places
by wib middleton
for reconnection to farm country , family gatherings and good neighborly cheer .
Stone Silo owners Susan and Don Katzenberger have done everything right , and the process from their initial vision to opening has gone fast and remarkably well — thanks to in no small part to Jeremy Criss and Mike Scheffel from the Office of Agriculture . They guided the Katzenbergers who were ultimately able to protect the farmland in perpetuity as part of the Maryland Agricultural Land Protection Foundation .
“ What we have found is that people are longing for community again . They just love coming here to connect with old friends , new friends ... and they love the history of this place ,” says Susan . Its reimagined dairy-barn-turned-tasting room is as impressive as the views . Don , CEO and co-founder of regional S & K Roofing , Siding and Windows , now in its 44th year , is excited to talk about the repurposing of the massive barn beams and wood siding . “ Everything here was built on site . All the woodwork was milled right here , through the woodworking mastery of Dwayne Mills ,” he explains . “ The unusual curved silo doors are handmade , sourced from the original dairy barn rafter ties .” The highly polished custom bartop was also refashioned from the barn beams . Beautifully crafted stonework behind the bar uses the same fieldstone that envelopes the outside of the tasting room building and the original silo , saving it from demise . “ I really didn ’ t want to do a lot of decorating in here ,” affirms Susan . “ I wanted the windows and the outside to be the art — simplicity without distraction .” She explains further , “ We both come up with ideas but I get the last say ,” Susan laughs and Don agrees . Su-
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