About Us
The family behind Sandbox Brewhouse is close-knit, always prioritizing time together despite busy lives. Their journey to opening the brewery was a serendipitous one, fueled by their shared passion for community and connection.
In 2022, Alina and Josh moved from Baltimore and D.C. for a slower country life, but quickly became deeply involved in local business ventures, community service, and Rotary Club activities. They also run a farm and dog kennel, and saw opening Sandbox as another way to engage with and give back to their new community.
In fall 2024, Suni, Willow, and Nate—"The Philly Crew"—moved from Philadelphia to Frederick, bringing over 15 years of bar and restaurant experience. They're excited to introduce a blend of metropolitan energy and creativity to Frederick's beer scene, aiming to craft exceptional beers, host fun events, and create a welcoming space for all.
Our amazing Brewmaster, John Burroughs, is a longtime Frederick local who has over 15 (!!) years of experience brewing in the bustling Frederick beer scene. He has worked at just about every brewery in town, honing his skills to expert level. His style is very true to classic beer making techniques - but with a little twist! In other words, prepare yourself to be WOWED!
We should also mention that we are total dog people (if you couldn’t tell by now). So much so that our pup mascots are based off of our real dogs (can you tell that we’re obsessed with them??). Scroll down to meet our fluffy family members, and learn a little bit about each of them! :) <3
Meet our Pups
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Flare
The one who started it all, affectionately known as “Flare Bear Angel Hair,” is now a true angel. We lost him in July 2024 to old age, and what better way to memorialize him than by basing one of our mascots on him! His favorite activities included sleeping, long walks in nature, and “herding” his loved ones—chasing us around while playfully nipping at our ankles. Rest in peace, dear friend.
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Bonnie
Bonnie is our resident troublemaker! She joined Alina and Josh’s farm family in 2022 and quickly embraced country life. Her wholesome hobbies include eating (literally everything), playing fetch, and swimming (she is a Chessie, after all!). Her favorite not-so-wholesome activity is finding and rolling in anything that emits a strong odor. Don’t worry—if you ever can’t find her, there’s a good chance she’s rinsing off that stank in the lake!
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Sophie
Sophie is our most adorable Philly rep! Originally Nate’s bundle of joy, she has become a cherished mascot in our Sandbox family. This little lovebug’s favorite snack is peanut butter (beware—if you bring some around, she WILL find it!). She loves belly rubs, soaking up the sun, and sitting on her dad’s lap. Her special talent? Zooming around so fast that her head can’t keep up with all that momentum, getting pinned back in the process!
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Yoshi
Probably the cutest puppy on the planet (no, really), Yoshi is our baby Rottweiler who joined Alina and Josh’s family in the spring of 2024. He’s the chillest puppy in his natural state, but he has an excitable personality when you get him going. Like his big sister, Bonnie, he loves eating anything and everything he can get his paws on. When he’s not snacking, he enjoys playing with other dogs (he’s SO friendly) and exploring the great outdoors.
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Clyde
Oh Clyde, our little-big bowling ball! Like Bonnie (see what we did there?), he joined the family in 2022. A true homebody, he loves staying inside and napping. However, when he’s ready to socialize, he unleashes all that pent-up energy on the household by roughhousing with Bonnie and Yoshi. You wouldn’t guess it, but this boy is also a total diva. He loves being groomed and pampered—probably even more than he loves sleeping all day!
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Max
Max is one of our OG crew members. This little socialite craves attention above all else. While he’s a sweetheart with other dogs, he definitely prefers human company (he just gets us, you know?). He adores cuddling, devouring chicken, and enticing his humans into a game of chase (though he’s the one who ends up being chased). Honestly, he’s like a stuffed animal come to life, especially when his fur is all grown out and fluffy.