Mayan Monkey Brewing Co. has opened a new brewpub in Gaithersburg and is now officially producing its own beer. Last year, the latest idea from the same group that brought us Taco Bar El Guero, Ixtapalapa, and La Gula Mexicana opened at 227 E. Diamond Ave, the old location of Growlers.
Since starting operations on-site earlier this summer, the brewery has served 12 of its own concoctions. Brewer Matt Furda, a former employee of Landmade Brewing with a background in chemical engineering, is in charge of the beer program. Furda, a perfectionist committed to ongoing development, calls all the brews his babies and wants to reignite interest in beer. His personal favorite is the De Lujo, but Chula, Mayan Monkey’s version of a Mexican lager, is currently the best-selling.
Among the family’s four restaurants, the new brewery has the largest kitchen, enabling an enlarged menu that inventively combines American and Mexican cuisines. Authentic gorditas, tacos, and wings are served with traditional cheese curds, pretzels, and burgers, among other food alternatives.
The venue itself is set up for both dining and entertainment, with a full-service dining room on the first level and live music scheduled for the upstairs area. Mismo (Hazy IPA), Chula (Mexican lager), Sunborn (West Coast IPA), Opaco (Hazy IPA), De Lujo (Deluxe lager), Bodega Ambar (Amber Kellerbier), El Mateo (Hazy Pale Ale), Yax (Extra Hoppy Wild Ale), Lupa (Cold IPA), Raku (Rice lager), La Lumbre (Smoked Helles), and Jag (Nitro stout) are among the beers on the list. The brewery serves a wide variety of wines and cocktails in addition to beer.
