October 27, 2026 · North East, MD Cecil County has a new spot for a beer and a bite. Elk River Brewing Company, the Elkton brewery, is now open at its new TapHouse at 18 South Main St. in North East, Maryland, after a soft opening in mid-October. The TapHouse fills a house built in 1904 as a duplex, which is why the address is often listed as 16-18 South Main. For decades it held offices for the First National Bank of North East, and the old bank vault is still there. Inside, expect warm wood, exposed brick and plenty of small-town Main Street character. The big change from the Elkton taproom is food. Chef Matt Mobus runs a full kitchen, and there is a full bar alongside the beer. Families are welcome in North East, while the Elkton brewery stays 21 and over. Note that pets are welcome in Elkton but not at the TapHouse. Beer is still brewed in Elkton, and the TapHouse is getting its own North East themed beers, starting with Northeast River Pale Ale. Elk River favorites such as Elk River IPA, Chucktown Brown, Susky Stout and Dun Rite are on tap too. The TapHouse is open noon to 9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The kitchen closes an hour before the doors, and seating is first come, first served, so check the brewery's website or social pages to get on the wait list on busy nights. A good local brewery, a real kitchen and a century-old bank building on Main Street add up to an easy reason to spend an afternoon in North East. Sources: Elk River Brewing TapHouse page (elkriverbrewing.com) and the Cecil Whig (October 15, 2026).A house with a story
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