Wico Street Beer Co. Now Open in Pigtown
Brewery Wico Street Beer Co. opened in November at 1100 Wicomico St. in Pigtown. The brewery, which was built in a 4,200 sq. ft. space on the first floor of the 1100 Wicomico office building, is part of a future marketplace of tenants on the first floor of the building.
Wico Street Beer Co. is owned by cousins Jordan McGraw and Michael Richardson. McGraw has been working in brewing for 14 years. He helped open Hysteria Brewing Company in Columbia, later ran operations at Full Tilt Brewing in North Baltimore, and last worked at Oliver Brewing Company in East Baltimore. McGraw introduced Richardson to craft beer and the two wrote a business plan for their own brewery six years ago.
Wico Street Beer Co. has a video game theme which can be seen in its beer can artwork, beer names, and its murals in the taproom. It also has Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 tables in the taproom.
Artist Marshall Adams painted all the murals at Wico Street Beer Co, designs the beer cans, and does all of the branding for the brewery.
Fellow 1100 Wicomico business Silver Canon, a gaming store, helped Wico Street Beer Co. get all the right cables to set up the Nintendo stations.
Board games are also available at Wico Street Beer Co. The taproom has a stacked 2×4 backsplash behind its bar and on its columns, a look inspired by the game Jenga. McGraw and Richardson made the design from leftover wood from the build out.
The interior of Wico Street Beer Co. has concrete floors, a concrete ceiling, a concrete bar top, columns, exposed brick, several murals by Adams, several televisions, a brewing system next to the bar, and fridges with beers to go. It also has an outdoor patio.
Wico Street Beer Co. does not have a kitchen or serve its own food at this point, but brings in food trucks most days. McGraw and Richardson plan on adding a wood-fired oven in the future for pizzas and wings.
The signature beer for Wico Street Beer Co. is its Steez Lager as well as its Mexican lager El Steezo. The Steez mascot is seen on its cans and on murals within the taproom. Wico Street Beer Co. also has a large focus on sour beers and IPAs.
Wico Street Beer Co. is the third brewery to open in Pigtown, joining Suspended Brewing Company and Pickett Brewing Company. Checkerspot Brewing Company will be moving this year to Carroll-Camden Industrial Area, adjacent to Pigtown. McGraw told SouthBMore.com there is a comradery between the breweries and he has spoken to Pigtown Main Street about a “pour tour” and brewery map to promote brewing in the area.
Wico Street Beer Co. is open Thursday and Friday from 3pm to 10pm, Saturday from 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm.
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
