About Us

Twelve years ago, Greg Clabaugh (left) and Tom Flores (right) began exploring the possibility of establishing Maryland's First Malthouse and Farm Brewery. Each of us provided a unique, time-proven skill: Greg, a lifelong knowledge of raising and harvesting small grains, and Tom, a distinguished career as a Brewmaster, each complimenting the other. We believe that by maintaining control of the grain from the field to the brewhouse, we can increase flavor at the tap.

In the Spring of 2000, we began to educate ourselves in the area in which we both lacked experience-- malting. In November of 2001, we conducted our first trial brew on the farm. While we were successful in making beer, we realized we were nowhere near the goals that we had set for ourselves. Over the next ten years, we conducted countless malts, many trial brews, and developed numerous malting and drying vessels. In the Spring of 2011 at Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery in Frederick, MD, we introduced "Amber Fields Best Bitter", an English-style Best Bitter, which was the first commercially-brewed beer in over 100 years to exclusively use Maryland raised and malted barley. The following July, we released "Amber Fields Saison", a Belgium farmhouse ale. Both beers showcase a rich, malty flavor, and were very well-received. We were invited later in the month to the Governor's Buy Local Cookout in Annapolis, an event intended to showcase Maryland's Best in Agriculture; our Saison did not disappoint! We, at Amber Fields Malting & Brewing, are proud to be the first and only Malthouse and Farm Brewery ever invited to this event.

It is hard to believe that after twelve years, we stand at the beginning of an exciting future in malting and brewing. Now we don't just think we can develop rich, full-flavored beers, we know we can. It is our belief that the name Amber Fields will become synonymous with flavor, and we look forward to proving it, beer after beer.



About Greg Clabaugh
Greg Clabaugh is a fifth generation dairy and grain farmer. He operates three farms totaling 400 acres in Keymar, MD. He has dedicated his life to continuing the family agricultural legacy that began on the original home farm in 1837. This year marks the 175^th anniversary of that farm. Mr. Clabaugh earned an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Frederick Community College and attended American University. He is a member of the Frederick County Farm Bureau and also serves on the Frederick County Agri-Business Council. In addition, Greg and his wife Loree' are the proud parents of three children-- Alyssa, Dalton, and Connor-- and two loyal dogs.


About Tom Flores
Tom Flores is the Brewmaster for Brewer's Alley Restaurant and Brewery in Frederick, MD and has ben a part of the Maryland brewing scene in 1991. His first job in a brewery was at the Wild Goose Brewing Company in Cambridge, MD. Even though his interest in brewing began as a home-brewer in the summer of 1986, his pursuit of a career in brewing began in earnest while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of California, Davis. He is an active member of the Master Brewer's Association of the Americas and the American Society of Brewing Chemists. He served as the first Brewmaster at Clipper City Brewing Company in Baltimore, MD, where he developed the Chesapeake Gold Ale for Baltimore's 200^th anniversary celebration. Mr. Flores began his current position with Brewer's Alley in 1997 where he has earned a number of brewing industry awards at the Great American Beer Festival, the Chicago Real Ale Festival and the Maryland Governor's Cup, held by the Brewer's Association of Maryland Annual Oktoberfest at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. In 2009, Brewer's Alley was commissioned by Historic Saint Mary's City to brew the official anniversary beer for the State's 375^th anniversary; the resulting product was 1634 Ale, a special beer with ingredients which reflect colonial brewing techniques. He has been working with Frederick County Dairy Farmer Greg Clabaugh for more than ten years to develop a local malting operation, with the intent of opening a farm brewery in Frederick County, Maryland.