Back in February, I vended (and attended!) my first ever BrewBit festival at Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland.
The brewery itself is steeped in rich Baltimore history, as it is the former site of Oriole Park V. This location is the former home to a few notable baseball teams between the years of 1914 and 1942. These teams included the Federal League Baltimore Terrapins, the International League Orioles, as well as the Negro National League Baltimore Elite Giants. The park eventually succumbed to a fire in 1944. Peabody celebrates its history through the decor and beers and by also playing a pivotal role in its local community.
I’ve been a loyal patron of Peabody since the pandemic. Over the years, the team has created some memorable beers, including Old Oriole Park lager, Nightmare on 30th Street West Coast IPA, and Eutaw Street Hazy IPA. They also host a myriad of events through the year – so much so that it can be hard to keep up! From horror events, chess clubs, flea markets, family music classes, to of course gaming events.
For three years, Peabody has been home to BrewBit, a local festival that celebrates video games. Each year has seen growth, thanks to social media and word of mouth. I vended at this event, as my partner and I own our own small business! This event mimicked a hyper small convention. There was a dealers' room (with roughly 7 of us through the weekend), pinball tournaments, video tournaments, import arcade cabinets, a dedicated pinball room (which is there year-round), as well as access to The Dugout, Peabody’s in-house arcade. For $20, you had access to hundreds of video games, all on free play, allowing gamers to try new domestic and import games.
This year, BrewBit saw over 500 people attend through the weekend. The general consensus from people I spoke with was that they would absolutely come back next year. Despite the crowds, Peabody never once felt over crowded. There was plenty of space inside and outside for gamers of all ages, as this is a family-friendly event.
From a dealer's point of view, this was a great event to vend at. Every single person who stopped by my table was excited and happy to be there. Set up and tear down went without a single hiccup, and the ebb and flow of traffic was good. We brought a mix of vintage and modern games for both domestic and import consoles. Our best sellers were the Nintendo Famicom games, followed by Sega Saturn games. Out of all of the events I've done in the last year and a half, this was my most profitable.
This was a well-run event, and I don’t have a single complaint. Peabody offered vendors a discount on the beer we bought through the weekend, which was extremely generous of them. I even got to spend time with their brewery cat, Jeppson, who, I am happy to report, is indeed employee of the year. This was my first year attending, and I will absolutely go back.
BrewBit will return in February 2026, so if you’re interested in attending, keep an eye on their Instagram page. I also urge you to check Peabody out. The Dugout Arcade is a hidden Baltimore gem that houses dozens of vintage and modern arcade games and pinball. If you like Japanese arcade games, they have a ton of those as well. Their dedicated pinball room is also impressive and showcases vintage and modern games. This brewery has become my home away from home, and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!
