Maryland

[Iliketurtles]

Does anyone know if we will be getting any Abraxas? I am assuming we won't get any bottles. Kegs?

 

[kmello69]

Hey sorry to be "that guy" but I've been watching this thread looking to see if a Baltimore Guide came out of it, but I havent seen one and needed some advice.

I'll be in Baltimore for the first time in a LONG time this weekend (work conference) and wanted some advice on bars and bottle shops. Staying Inner Harbor at Hilton Baltimore and most of my time will be spent at the convention center and in that area.

I know about Max's and Alewife, but is there anything else in that area worth checking out? I likely wont have a car, but could cab or walk reasonable distances. Also, best place to look for bottles to take home? Again, same parameters apply, although one day I'm having dinner with a friend who lives in the suburbs so might be able to convince her to drive me somewhere close.

Thanks for any help you can offer, and if any of you are even in the Austin area and need advice or want to grab a beer, dont hesitate to ask!

Ken

 

[hanajibu]

kmello69 Which suburbs? Basically, North or South of the tunnel/key bridge?

There aren't really any great bottleshops in the region you are staying in. TBH there aren't that many even in the city. There is Federal Hill Liquors, which is right near the Brewer's Cask (a decent bar). Metropolitan is also in that area. With a cab drive, you get access to the best concentration of decent bottleshops: Loading Dock Liquors, Canton Market, Bo Brooks' Lighthouse Liquors, Mahaffey's (bar) and Hudson St. Stackhouse (bar). All of them are literally within walking distance of each other.

 

[kmello69]

kmello69 Which suburbs? Basically, North or South of the tunnel/key bridge?

There aren't really any great bottleshops in the region you are staying in. TBH there aren't that many even in the city. There is Federal Hill Liquors, which is right near the Brewer's Cask (a decent bar). Metropolitan is also in that area. With a cab drive, you get access to the best concentration of decent bottleshops: Loading Dock Liquors, Canton Market, Bo Brooks' Lighthouse Liquors, Mahaffey's (bar) and Hudson St. Stackhouse (bar). All of them are literally within walking distance of each other.

Thanks for the insights! Dont mind a cab ride at all.

Yeah, forgot to mention which suburb. She lives in Hanover, which looks like its south of downtown, about 11 miles out.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Stillwater's Of love and regret and Heavy Seas ale house are newish and perhaps worth a walkthrough. The wine source in Hampden is alright in terms of bottle shops.

 

[alysmith4]

You mean preservation society, right? That's the disconnect we've been having.

You said Reserve, so that's what I was speaking about. I can't say I know much about the Preservation society, so perhaps your math is correct!

 

[hanajibu]

Thanks for the insights! Dont mind a cab ride at all.

Yeah, forgot to mention which suburb. She lives in Hanover, which looks like its south of downtown, about 11 miles out.

Then, you are right near Cindy's Skylight Liquors (1.6 miles from Hanover). They are quite nice, but if you want to go to one of my favorite spots and one of the top 3 spots in MD, then head over to Dawson's in Severna Park (17 miles), which is also near Fishpaw's, another great spot in MD too. Might be the best spot in Maryland south of Baltimore.

 

[cdmillard]

Have to agree on Dawson's and Fishpaws. Good selection. Prices are better at Fishpaws, in general. If you're in Hanover, you aren't too far from The Perfect Pour. Great selection, just expect to feel violated if you buy anything...

 

[cdmillard]

Hey sorry to be "that guy" but I've been watching this thread looking to see if a Baltimore Guide came out of it, but I havent seen one and needed some advice.

I'll be in Baltimore for the first time in a LONG time this weekend (work conference) and wanted some advice on bars and bottle shops. Staying Inner Harbor at Hilton Baltimore and most of my time will be spent at the convention center and in that area.

I know about Max's and Alewife, but is there anything else in that area worth checking out? I likely wont have a car, but could cab or walk reasonable distances. Also, best place to look for bottles to take home? Again, same parameters apply, although one day I'm having dinner with a friend who lives in the suburbs so might be able to convince her to drive me somewhere close.

Thanks for any help you can offer, and if any of you are even in the Austin area and need advice or want to grab a beer, dont hesitate to ask!

Ken

How long will you be in B'more? Just for the weekend?

 

[kmello69]

How long will you be in B'more? Just for the weekend?

Yeah, just today and tomorrow. I leave at the crack of dawn Monday morning, unfortunately!

 

[hanajibu]

Yeah, just today and tomorrow. I leave at the crack of dawn Monday morning, unfortunately!

Well, Max's has some great beer on tap right now. You're probably gonna wanna shoot for stuff that isn't available in your state. Burley Oak makes the best beer in MD, and they currently have 3 on tap (Aboriginal Gangster (year-round IPA), Sour Trip (excellent berliner weisse), and Super Fun Stout (decent oatmeal stout)). They have the Imperial Biscotti Break Natale (super surprised they had this, but I didn't get a lot of cherries, still good though). There are a bunch of great Mikkeller's on tap as well: Lemoncello (collab and probably my favorite on tap, it tastes like they soured an IPA, but it remains quite citrusy and tastes a bit like the name), hot rod habanero, beer hop breakfast, mosaic, rauch geek breakfast, and saphir wet hop.

 

[alysmith4]

Well, Max's has some great beer on tap right now. You're probably gonna wanna shoot for stuff that isn't available in your state. Burley Oak makes the best beer in MD, and they currently have 3 on tap (Aboriginal Gangster (year-round IPA), Sour Trip (excellent berliner weisse), and Super Fun Stout (decent oatmeal stout)). They have the Imperial Biscotti Break Natale (super surprised they had this, but I didn't get a lot of cherries, still good though). There are a bunch of great Mikkeller's on tap as well: Lemoncello (collab and probably my favorite on tap, it tastes like they soured an IPA, but it remains quite citrusy and tastes a bit like the name), hot rod habanero, beer hop breakfast, mosaic, rauch geek breakfast, and saphir wet hop.

Really, you think Burley Oak is MD's best? (Genuinely curious, not being an ass.)

I'd vote for Evolution, particularly their Lot. 6 and Rise Up.

 

[hanajibu]

Really, you think Burley Oak is MD's best? (Genuinely curious, not being an ass.)

I'd vote for Evolution, particularly their Lot. 6 and Rise Up.

I really do. Their beers all seem to be extremely flavorful and nuanced. I think that they realize how important mouthfeel is (especially with carbonation). They aren't afraid to put out different styles all the time and are constantly trying new things. Sour Trip (there berliner weisse) is phenomenal and they make excellent IPAs. I wasn't a big fan of Lot 6 or Rise Up Stout, but that was before I started writing down my thoughts (reviews) and thus was early on in my introduction to craft beer. Now, if you were to say the best brewery that actually does production bottling, then I would probably say Flying Dog (single hop & brewhouse rarities) or Evolution (better 750s). But at the end of the day, it might be better to say that Burley Oak is my favorite MD brewery, but I will say that they have very few sub-par beers, and even those are usually in styles that I am new to or not a fan of yet. So, yes I believe they are MD's best and their brewery is quaint but a lot of fun (very inviting and fun people).

 

[alysmith4]

I really do. Their beers all seem to be extremely flavorful and nuanced. I think that they realize how important mouthfeel is (especially with carbonation). They aren't afraid to put out different styles all the time and are constantly trying new things. Sour Trip (there berliner weisse) is phenomenal and they make excellent IPAs. I wasn't a big fan of Lot 6 or Rise Up Stout, but that was before I started writing down my thoughts (reviews) and thus was early on in my introduction to craft beer. Now, if you were to say the best brewery that actually does production bottling, then I would probably say Flying Dog (single hop & brewhouse rarities) or Evolution (better 750s). But at the end of the day, it might be better to say that Burley Oak is my favorite MD brewery, but I will say that they have very few sub-par beers, and even those are usually in styles that I am new to or not a fan of yet. So, yes I believe they are MD's best and their brewery is quaint but a lot of fun (very inviting and fun people).

Huh. Didn't see that comin.

I'll agree on mouthfeel alone (kinda can't believe we're discussing this ), but the rest of their stuff falls way short, imo. I would also add that while "quaint," their beer/brewery is a *tad* on the offensive side with Just the Tip, Assawoman, Cougar Juice, Hugs 'n Nugs, and ****** - not that I offend easily, but found it hard to take my family there to celebrate a recent birthday as I didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

Yes, Flying Dog has a solid single hop series, and they're certainly leading the charge in MD production brewing, but I'd argue that DuClaw has the upper hand as far as 750s are concerned.

 

[hanajibu]

Huh. Didn't see that comin.

I'll agree on mouthfeel alone (kinda can't believe we're discussing this ), but the rest of their stuff falls way short, imo. I would also add that while "quaint," their beer/brewery is a *tad* on the offensive side with Just the Tip, Assawoman, Cougar Juice, Hugs 'n Nugs, and ****** - not that I offend easily, but found it hard to take my family there to celebrate a recent birthday as I didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

Yes, Flying Dog has a solid single hop series, and they're certainly leading the charge in MD production brewing, but I'd argue that DuClaw has the upper hand as far as 750s are concerned.

I would say that I am definitely a bit biased here seeing as they are the second brewery out of two I have visited so far (the first being DFH and it was all on the same OC trip). I do go into drinking their beers being very excited, but I haven't enjoyed everything they have put out. I agree with the name of their beers, but I am a guy and at times I can forget about how it comes across (I've only heard of/seen/had Just the Tip though). I guess I have a tendency to either ignore the names and focus on the beer or just accept it as tongue in cheek. I've talked to Bryan the head brewer a few times just at Max's and during the tour and found him to be a really nice guy and quite humble. That might just be their humor, but it's not really mine. I feel that some breweries do utilize outlandish/sex/drug names to sell their beer (most readily seen in MD while browsing, when you overhear people laughing at the name Sweet Baby Jesus, and then saying they gotta try it). Finally, I haven't really found a DuClaw beer that I've liked outside of Colossus and Chai Tea Retribution (but I'd only had them once at the 2013 MD Craft Beer Fest). But I haven't had a lot of their stuff. I will in time though. Whereas with Evo, I've had most of their 750s and enjoyed them.

 

[cry me]

I'd place Evolution and Brewer's Art way above both DuClaw and Burley Oak. Particularly because DuClaw and Burley Oak seem to have a major disconnect between beer quality and pricing, IMO.

 

[mtalley999]

Anybody have a price on Retribution? Cindy's has a few bottles but no price tag, and I always forget to ask someone.

Variants seem to go for roughly $25, so curious about the regular. If it's more than $12-$15 then it better be life changing, or F that noise, especially with BCBS hitting shelves soon.

 

[cry me]

I saw both Regular and Pumpkin for $26 at State Line.

 

[mtalley999]

I saw both Regular and Pumpkin for $26 at State Line.

So F that noise it is...

 

[cry me]

So F that noise it is...

Agreed. I was lucky enough to try this year's regular on draft, but I'm certainly not interested enough in Pumpkin to drop that kind of money on it

 

[mtalley999]

Agreed. I was lucky enough to try this year's regular on draft, but I'm certainly not interested enough in Pumpkin to drop that kind of money on it

Seriously. Not sure wtf the folks at DuClaw are thinking with pricing like that. When a 4-pack of BCBS is $24-$26, bombers of BCBCS last year were $18, and Parabola and Sucaba were around $18, I can't think of any reason Retribution is priced that high.

 

[hanajibu]

I've seen regular Retribution go for under $12 (or at the most $15). It is fine, but there are much better stouts for that money. They seem to add on about $10 for any of the variants. Pumpkin Retribution is not worth the price at all, but I got to try it on tap. It is literally just Retribution with pumpkin spice in it, and at $26 is the most expensive "pumpkin beer" that I know of. I haven't had any of the other bottled variants, but they did have a Creme De Menthe cask during BBW; however, I had plans that night.

 

[hanajibu]

I'd place Evolution and Brewer's Art way above both DuClaw and Burley Oak. Particularly because DuClaw and Burley Oak seem to have a major disconnect between beer quality and pricing, IMO.

I'm assuming you mean the few bottles that Burley Oak puts out. They have only put out 5 beers (BBA Bunker-C (no idea on pricing, since that was like a year before I knew about them), 2x Lower Class Barleywine ($17 at the brewery for the second one), BC Rude Boy (cheapest yet, $12?) and SummaRye (I got on sale for $15 at Fishpaws)). I can't comment on the taste for any of them because I have yet to open any of them, but Rude Boy is quite good normally. They are expensive, but they are also quite limited with each one easily being <1000 bottles. Obviously, there are smaller bottle releases out there but this is MD only. Give them time to grow and they are already starting a sour program with a lot of barrels. They are not as bad as DuClaw, but for them you can find some of the stuff for decent prices depending on the store. Brewer's Art has the best prices on 750s and Evolution is right behind them. Too bad Flying Dog doesn't really put out any great 750s with any consistency (the Brewhouse Rarities series is hit or miss, and they never seem to bottle the good ones IMO), but the BA Gonzo is good.

 

[cry me]

Well, I was generally speaking about the pricing of the bottles, but their tasting room prices have increased, and the quality of the beer has not increased commensurately, IMO. I still visit regularly but I'm certainly not going to cosign a statement enshrining them as MDs best brewery.

 

[runner440]

Anybody have a price on Retribution? Cindy's has a few bottles but no price tag, and I always forget to ask someone.

Variants seem to go for roughly $25, so curious about the regular. If it's more than $12-$15 then it better be life changing, or F that noise, especially with BCBS hitting shelves soon.

Cindy's price for the regular is $15. Those are last year's bottles also. I don't think they got this year's in yet.

 

[mtalley999]

Cindy's price for the regular is $15. Those are last year's bottles also. I don't think they got this year's in yet.

Thanks! A little tougher decision now, but I'll probably still pass. A lot of really good beers priced at our below that.

 

[mtalley999]

Anybody have any info on when BCBS will land? I heard mid-December, but that was just a guess. The person who I spoke to said the GI rep seemed to be less than open.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Anybody have any info on when BCBS will land? I heard mid-December, but that was just a guess. The person who I spoke to said the GI rep seemed to be less than open.

I called a number of stores on Wednesday. Most seemed to believe they would get the drop early next week.

 

[Iliketurtles]

Well Pinehurst Wine Shoppe got a case of regular BCBS Wednesday that is on sale today. One bottle limit. They also have 32oz growlers of BCBBW available. One growler limit. It will probably be gone by the end of the day. I don't know of any other stores that have it yet. Not exactly sure why Pinehurst has it and no one else.

Let's keep this page updated for BCBS. Thanks.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Well Pinehurst Wine Shoppe got a case of regular BCBS Wednesday that is on sale today. One bottle limit. They also have 32oz growlers of BCBBW available. One growler limit. It will probably be gone by the end of the day. I don't know of any other stores that have it yet. Not exactly sure why Pinehurst has it and no one else.

Let's keep this page updated for BCBS. Thanks.

Do you know prices, Pat?