The UnCapped Podcast

09/26/2026

Spooky season is officially here! 🎃
Join Adventure Park USA on October 24th for an After Dark party guaranteed to wake the dead. They are bringing live music by The Few, specialty cocktails, and all your favorite indoor and outdoor attractions. And yes, you can absolutely ride the go-karts, roller coaster, and carousel while actively fleeing a zombie horde.
Tickets are in limited quantities, so get yours now before the zombies get you! 🎟️🏃‍♂️💨 (link in bio)

Follow Chris Sands | Podcaster & Content Creator and It’s Your Boy Casey for more awesomeness in Frederick!

09/24/2026

Baltimore friends: You only have one week left to try the “Hollywood in Baltimore” menu at Magdalena (Magdalena, A Maryland Bistro ) located inside The Ivy Hotel (The Ivy Hotel ) — where each cocktail is inspired by a movie that was filmed in Baltimore.

* 12 Monkeys (1995, dir. Terry Gilliam) — Dr. Bird Pineapple Rum, Creme de Banane, Miso Caramel, Lime, Herb Oil
* ...And Justice for All (1979, dir. Norman Jewison) — Pisco Capurro, Creme de Cacao, Citrus Cordial, Delaforce Tawny 10 Year, Egg White
* Hairspray (1988, dir. John Waters) — Conniption Barrel Aged Gin, W**e Collective Dry Vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino, Heirloom Genepy, Absinthe (Make it Divine + $1)
* The Sum of All Fears (2002, dir. Phil Alden Robinson) — Montelobos Mezcal, Clarified Orange, Carrot Ginger Grenadine, Lime, Culinary Crystals
* Diner (1982, dir. Barry Levinson) — Bacon Fat Washed Aspen Vodka, Espresso, Magdala Orange Liqueur, Maple Syrup, Toast

Hat’s off to bar manager Max Burge for crafting five amazing cocktails. You don’t want to miss these!

Follow Chris Sands | Podcaster & Content Creator for more delicious drink content.

09/23/2026

The award winning UnCapped Podcast is being honored and celebrated for wrapping up a decade of episodes as I, Chris Sands, interviewed owners and innovators in the craft b**r and beverage industry.

Yep, UnCapped is taping its final episode. And instead of a nice, heartfelt send-off, a bunch of brewery and distillery owners will roast me live on stage. People I’ve shared hundreds of pints with, who know exactly where the bodies are buried and have apparently been waiting a decade for this.

Ten years ago, UnCapped had Olde Mother Brewing on as its very first guest. So it only feels right that on Saturday, October 17th, we head back to where it all started to end it.

Brandon Thompson will be our MC, which means there will be absolutely no one in the room on my side.

To dull the pain, I brewed 3 collaboration b**rs for the night with Olde Mother Brewing , Cushwa Brewing , and MONOCACY BREWERY || Taproom & B**r Garden in Frederick, MD . These b**rs turned out great, and trust me, you’ll want one in your hand when the jokes about my hairline start.

Come laugh at me, drink some great local b**r, and help send UnCapped off the right way. Ten years, one last episode, zero dignity left.

🍻 UnCapped: The Roast of Chris Sands (Live Recording)�📍 Olde Mother Brewing Company�📅 Saturday, October 17th�🕕 6pm

Thank you to everyone who’s listened, shared, and poured one with me along the way. Let’s make the last one count.

07/22/2026

Join Second Helping Books for their pop up at RAK Brewing Co. Saturday July 25th from 5pm to 8pm.

A portion of the proceeds will support Heartly House

Heartly House is the only organization in Frederick County that provides comprehensive care to survivors of power-based violence such as domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse. We are dedicated to meeting survivors where they are, and providing essential resources, at every step of their recovery journey.

Empowered by the profound generosity of our community, we offer these life-saving services, like trauma counseling, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and a 24/7 hotline, at absolutely no cost to individuals in crisis.

Your support directly helps restore hope, provide safety, and fund the healing journey for survivors rebuilding their lives in our community.

07/15/2026

Welcome to the 400th episode of the The Uncapped Podcast Podcast! To mark the occasion, we’re celebrating an even bigger milestone in the local community: 30 years of Brewers Alley

Host Chris Sands sits down with Brewer’s Alley founder Phil Bowers and current co-owner Greg Brown to look back at the origins of Frederick’s oldest and largest brewpub. Phil shares what it was like leaving a stable software engineering job in the 1990s to take a leap of faith into a non-existent East Coast craft b**r scene, and Greg breaks down the intense daily differences between running a high-volume scratch kitchen and managing a brewhouse.
 
The guys also share the full rundown of Brewer’s Alley’s 30th-anniversary events this July, including throwback menu items (yes, we talk about the legendary Elvis pizza), their commemorative American Pale Ale, and the massive anniversary party happening on July 29th.

Finally, Chris shares a major update about the future of Uncapped. After a decade of focusing heavily on craft b**r, the podcast is officially pivoting to cover a broader scope of Frederick’s businesses, entrepreneurs, and interesting personalities. Tune in for the details on the shift, and get the scoop on Chris’s upcoming live “Roast” taking place at Old Mother on October 17th!
 
In this episode, we discuss:
• The evolution of the Uncapped podcast and the pivot to a new format.
• Details on the live Uncapped finale roast at Olde Mother Brewing (Oct. 17).
• Phil Bowers’ journey from software engineer to brewing pioneer.
• The realities of surviving 30 years in the Frederick restaurant scene.
• Executive chefs vs. brewers: The science of consistency and quality control.
• Brewer’s Alley’s anniversary celebrations, collabs, and the return of dishes from the original 90s menu.
• The history behind the Puppy Patio and the brewpub’s physical expansion over the decades.

05/17/2026

Join Chris on Tuesday for his spring cocktail class at McClintock's Back Bar.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/make-your-own-old-fashioned-class-spring-edition-tickets-1985406073010

04/18/2026

Listen here --> https://bit.ly/uncapped396
In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, host Chris Sands hits the road to Westminster, Maryland, for an on-site interview at Bear Branch Malt. Joined by honorary co-host Keith Marcoux (Olde Mother Brewing Co.), Chris sits down with proprietor Brad Humbert to explore his fascinating journey from engineering and hop farming to bringing a 4-ton malting operation to his family's historic farm.

The group dives deep into the science and craft of malting, discussing the intricacies of working with local grain varieties like Violetta two-row barley and Danko rye. Brad shares his insights on supplying roughly 50 local breweries, the adjustments required when brewing with locally grown malt, and the importance of supporting the regional agricultural ecosystem. Plus, Chris and the crew crack open "Straight Up Grizzly"—a hazy pale ale collaboration showcasing Bear Branch malt—while reflecting on the vital connection between farmers, maltsters, and craft brewers.

Tune in to hear Chris uncover the hard work and passion that goes into the foundational ingredients of local craft b**r!

Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland

In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, host Chris Sands hits the road to Westminster, Maryland, for an on-site interview at Bear Branch Malt. Joined by honorary co-host Keith Marcoux, Chris sits down with proprietor Brad Humbert to explore his fascinating journey from engineering and hop farming t

04/16/2026

My article about is in 72Hours today (online and print).
Link in bio to read.