THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 s
Page A-15
Growlers hops on local scene Gaithersburg pub features flavors from county farmers n
BY
SYLVIA CARIGNAN STAFF WRITER
Gaithersburg’s award-winning microbrewery is working with Montgomery County farmers to bring local tastes to the table. Now approaching its third year, Growlers is turning out dozens of new brews annually, with names like “Rawktoberfest Oktoberfest,” “Your Mom’s Apple Pie Ale” and “Broken Shovel Stout.” Growlers’ brewmaster, Eric Gleason, said Growlers has released more than 75 different beers that have brewed on-site over the past year, and average one or two new releases per week across its 12 draft lines. Scheduling the production and releases of the beers has been a “daunting task” for Gleason and the staff, Growlers General Manager Chuck Blessing, Jr. said. The microbrewery uses a variety of local hops, and has already incorporated hops from Poolesville, Thurmont and Derwood in its beers. On Nov. 14, Growlers reintroduced an India pale ale of its own, called “Hop Blastard.” When it was first unveiled last fall, Gleason said it wasn’t brewed with local hops. Now, the ale incorporates hops from Poolesville’s The Owl Farm.
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Growlers Brew Pub General Manager Chuck Blessing at the Olde Towne Gaithersburg establishment. Growlers’ award-winning Yorkshire Porter was released Monday , with an Imperial Pumpkin beer to come on Thursday. “Growlers Yorkshire Porter” was entered in the first-ever Maryland Comptroller’s Cup competition, and won “Best of Show - Best Overall Maryland Beer” at the Nov. 4 event. Growler’s Yorkshire Porter “rose to the occasion,” eliminating 15 other beers in the Porter/ Brown category, then 12 more beers in other categories, according to Brewers Association of Maryland Executive Director J.T. Smith. “Growlers can confidently and officially state they have brewed the best beer in Maryland in 2013 and the Comptrol-
ler’s Cup has officially found its home for the next 365 days,” Smith said in an email. Almost 200 varieties of the alcoholic beverage were entered in the comptroller’s statewide contest. “We’ve been working really hard to put out quality food and brew, and we’re getting recognition for that,” Blessing said. Growlers was up against stiff competition from local brewers Gordon Biersch in Rockville and Frederick’s Flying Dog, which took home awards of their own. In the spirit of collaboration, Gleason is working with the brewmaster at Rockville’s Gordon Biersch on an unnamed new beer to be released early next year. scarignan@gazette.net
Lockheed plans to cut 4,000 jobs Decision could have ‘minor impact’ locally
n
BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
Federal budget cuts continue to take their toll on Bethesda defense giant Lockheed Martin, as executives said Thursday they will cut 4,000 jobs by mid-2015. The majority of reductions is expected to occur outside the Montgomery County-Washington, D.C., region. But there could be some “minor impact” locally, said Larisa Cioaca, a Lockheed spokeswoman. “We have no additional specifics to share at this time,” Cioaca said. Lockheed — Montgomery County’s and Maryland’s largest company by revenue with $47.2 billion in sales last year — plans to close facilities in Newtown, Pa.; Akron, Ohio; Goodyear, Ariz.; and Horizon City, Texas; along with four buildings in Sunnyvale, Calif. Those closures will result in about 2,000 fewer positions by mid-2015, CEO Marillyn Hewson said in a
memo to employees. An additional 2,000 jobs will be trimmed companywide from the Gaithersburg-based information systems and global solutions unit, the District-based mission system and training segment and the Denver-based space systems division. Those cuts are expected by the end of 2014. The Denver operations should actually see 350 more jobs in a combination of transfers and new hires. Hewson cited “an increasingly complex global security environment with rapidly shrinking budgets” in her memo. Lockheed’s customers “are expecting us to help them stay ahead of the threats by delivering innovative products and systems at the most affordable cost,” she said. The federal government implemented across the board sequester budget cuts this year, and more spending reductions are expected next year. Since late 2008, Lockheed has reduced facility space by 1.5 million square feet and slashed its worldwide workforce from 146,000 employ-
ees to 116,000 workers. The planned cuts will further reduce real estate by about 2.5 million square feet. Lockheed had 5,200 employees in Montgomery County and 8,000 in Maryland as of late last year, according to Maryland DBED surveys. Lockheed was Montgomery’s third-largest private employer last year, with Adventist HealthCare and Marriott International having a few hundred more employees. Despite the loss of employees in the past five years, Lockheed’s revenue increased by 15 percent in that time. In fiscal 2012, Lockheed was the government’s largest single contractor with $37 billion in contract dollars obligated to the company, according to federal figures. Lockheed received about 82 percent of its revenue last year from the U.S. government, including 61 percent from the Department of Defense, according to its 2013 annual report. Some 17 percent came from international customers and 1 percent from private and other clients.
132636G
kshay@gazette.net
Professional Services Call 301-670-7106
BANKRUPTCY THE LAW OFFICES OF
RICHARD B. ROSENBLATT, PG CHAIRMAN OF THE MD BANKRUPTCY BAR ASSOCIATION 1998-1999
LOAN MODIFICATION
www.rosenblattlaw.com
GD27056
• Chapter 7, 11 & 13 • General Litigation • Tax Debt • Divorce • Traffic/DUI-MVA • Criminal FREE CONSULTATION • PAYMENT PLANS SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
301-838-0098 THE BANKRUPTCY CENTER The Law Offices Of Erik G. Soderberg, Esq.
STOP Foreclosure, Garnishment, Repossession, Lawsuits & Creditor Harassment
FREE CONSULTATION * PAYMENT PLANS We are a debt relief agency.We help people file for bankruptcy relief.
GD27055
301-279-0303 ext. 368 Also representing clients in Personal Injury and DUI cases.
1905458 1912852