A nation-wide ranking compared cities of at least 50,000 across two key categories: Business Environment and Business Costs for opening a craft brewing establishment. Within these categories, cities were scored for: percent of population age 21 or over, number of breweries per 50,000 people, self-distribution allowances, median income, state excise tax per barrel, and brewery license costs. Frederick received a score of 78.1 -- 12th in the nation.