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Beth Vita and her hand- crafted hard ciders at B.C. Brewery in Hunt Valley, MD
A Not So Super Bowl Sunday
Beth Vita will never forget Super Bowl Sunday 2018. And not because she was a Patriots fan living in Boston and her team was favored to win. Walking to the bar to watch the game with friends, Beth got a call from her Gastroenterologist with results from her Endoscopy: the damage to her small intestine was consistent with that of Celiac Disease.
Walking through the door of the bar, she knew so much had just changed, not the least of which was the way she socialized with her friends. Starting right at that moment. No beer, no bar food. It seemed like a glimpse into her future social life.
College Life with Celiac
As college senior, and Resident Assistant living on campus at Emerson College, Beth jumped at opportunities she could escape her campus life and job. Going off campus to eat with friends was a big treat and, Beth says, “made me feel like a human.” After going gluten free, though, she sometimes felt like she was burden to her friends. Finding safe places to go out began to feel more like a chore then treat.
Beth knew getting diagnosed was a good thing. She experienced fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and joint pain for a while but chalked the symptoms up to life as a busy college student, eating school cafeteria food. Thankfully, her body began to heal. As she began to feel better, she couldn’t shake the idea of having a cool place to hang out with friends while enjoying a safe drink.
Beth, Baltimore and B.C. Brewery
Beth Vita among the beer and cider tanks at B.C. Brewery in Hunt Valley, MD
Back in her hometown of Baltimore after graduation, Beth’s mission was to find a place she would love to hang out with friends. One that had delicious, crafted beverages on tap. She determined that if couldn’t find that spot, she would carve it out in a place that already existed. That place turned out to be B.C. Brewery (10900 Gilroy Rd., Hunt Valley, MD). She approached the Brewery with her interest in learning the craft of beer and cider making. Her goal: to make gluten free cider and gluten free beer. She hoped owner Rich Mak and Head Brewmaster Jim Wagner would give her – a recent college grad – a chance.
“They took a big gamble with me. BCB was only open for 4 months and then I came in, someone with very little knowledge, asking to make beer too. Rich and Jim really put their trust in me. And that’s something I am forever thankful for.”
Gluten Free Cider on Tap
Beth started with making cider. And while cider is naturally gluten free, there’s a cross contamination risk if it’s made using equipment shared with beer making. Because of Beth, the brewery now has dedicated tanks and brand new hose lines that have never been contaminated with gluten. She develops, sources ingredients, tests the recipes and creates names for each. Then the fun part: production. Beth’s first two ciders used a peach extract. Peach Slapped has a fuller peach flavor and Writing Degree has a bite from being dry-hopped. She’s currently working new ciders. One is Pawpaw, which utilizes the pawpaw fruit grown in Maryland at Deep Run Pawpaw Orchard. She describes it as tropical flavor – a blend of banana, mango, and pear.
Beth’s Gluten Free Cider on tap at B.C. Brewery
As a writing for film and television major in college, Beth enjoys naming the ciders and laughs that now she can say she’s using her writing degree. She called her first gluten free cider Writing Degree in homage to her Mom and Dad. “My parents have given me the support to figure this out versus getting a traditional job right out of school. I am very lucky and thankful.”
Despite Beth’s relatively short time from diagnosis, she is extremely knowledgeable and exacting about the cider making process. She does extensive research on ingredients to assure there gluten free status. Her Cranberry Orange Cider is a perfect example. “I couldn’t find an orange or cranberry extract that I felt confident was safe so I’m hand zesting the oranges and pureeing the cranberries myself. Using my gluten free cooking equipment of course.”
To date, Beth has created a total of 4 ciders.
Is Gluten Free Beer Next?
In true Beth form, she doesn’t plan on stopping with gluten free cider. Stay tuned for more flavors and possibly a gluten free beer.
“I haven’t had a beer on tap since my diagnosis. I’m very excited that I can be the one to make it!”
B.C. Brewery in Hunt Valley, MD
B.C. Brewery is just the place college senior Beth would love to hang out. Think large tables and a fun, community atmosphere. Besides being celiac friendly, B.C. Brewery is family and pet friendly too. They sell dog treats at the counter and their expansive space has games like corn hole, darts and a giant Connect 4, big screen TVs and a classic Space Invaders video game. Their robust events calendar is filled with trivia nights and even yoga classes.
Cider at B.C. Brewery from the self-serve tap
Beer and cider is dispensed via two large self-serve walls that allow customers to pour as much or little as they want. Can’t decide what to try? No problem! Just take a little of everything and create your own flight. Simply stick a payment card in and that keeps track of your tab and pour away. The ciders are dispensed through taps 22 and 23, which are new and dedicated just for Beth’s cider creations. Signage clearly marks and describes the beverages above the taps along with a photo.
At the time of publication, the Brewery is expanding the kitchen and may include gluten free menu offerings. The kitchen is slated to be completed December, 2018. Check back then for menu updates.
B.C. Brewery’s mission is clear and simple: Building a Community through Beer. Beth knew the mission needed to include everyone in the community. Now, thanks to Beth – it does!
