Howard County Pub Crawl

Looks AMAZING and since hitting Howard County's four elite beer bars as your own driver is not advisable try this option to check out some really cool beer bars in one swoop. The proprietors and bartenders at all four spots are great people.

Click on the image for more details but essentially, sign up at T-Bonz for the trip with other beer lovers ($50/head) and have them provide a ride to four of the great beer bars in Howard County -- T-Bonz, Frisco Grille, Victoria Gastro Pub and The Judges Bench.

You'll be able to hang out at the various establishments and sample (5 oz) four beers at each stop (more if you wish, on your dime) and then be escorted back to T-Bonz for some delicious grub.

That goes off Saturday May 22nd as part of the annual American Craft Beer Week.

Coincidentally, Saturday is also "New England" day at Victoria Gastro Pub with selections from Harpoon (MA), Smuttynose (NH), Allagash (ME), Otter Creek (VT) and Wolavers (VT). That's some good stuff to try while on the bus trip!

Clipper City Update

Their full list of events is available at the Baltimore Beer Week website, but a couple stand out:

-- "Back to our Roots" (Thursday October 16th 6-8 PM at Ryleigh's in Federal Hill) Clipper City returns to its roots, at Ryleigh's which was originally Sissons. Enjoy oysters while learning the history of brew pubs in Maryland.

-- Pyrates Plan Raid of The Judges Bench (downtown Ellicott City Friday October 16th 5-8 PM). They'll have 10 Clipper City beers on tap along with special cheese pairings. The highlight will be a rare 2008 Below Decks on draft plus its a keep the pint glass event.

Judges Bench Pic

Items

--- The Judges Bench in downtown Ellicott City earned mention in Sunday's Howard section of the Baltimore Sun. It was mostly about owner Mike Johnson (pictured in the article) and his encyclopedic knowledge of beer and brewing.

It happens to be one of my regular stops and I swung in there yesterday to give congrats to Mike and staff. In my view its the second best beer bar in Howard County, behind Frisco Grille and certainly one of the best in Maryland with its 17 consistently rotating and versatile taps and excellent, underrated bottle fridge.

--- Everyone loves Brewer's Art Ozzy, even those all the way across the country.

--- Clipper City has now released its "Hang Ten" weizen dopplebock, a hefty 10% ABV unique brew.

--- Be sure to check out Just Beer News, a growing compendium of beer items and news releases.

--- Also, check out Pizza Blogger, who appreciates good brews as well as great pizza. Great site.

--- The great HowChow reports the opening of a place called Dog House Pub & Grill in Columbia, apparently similar to the Pub Dog near Frisco Grille also in Columbia. I'm curious the beer situation there, as a reader emailed of $3 pints for beers like Flying Dog and Dogfish Head. Hopefully a website arrives for them soon.

Cool new blog find, "Drinking the Chesapeake" from a Fordham brewer (as seen at Beer Activist)

--- The Brewing News has updated its calendar feature, its more customizable now.

--- New Atlanta-based but hopefully nationally and globally inspired beer mag, The Beer Connoisseur.

--- Any reports from the new 13.5% winbar as far as beer goes? Pizza Blogger says they've got eight beers on tap and dozens of bottles. Sounds a bit like the excellent, underrated Grand Cru in Belvedere Square.

--- Great writeup of D.C. beer stops from the Washingtonian. I've been to Birreria Paradiso, District Chophouse, Granville Moore's, RFD and Rustico. Thoughts on them at a later point, but email if you're curious in the meantime.

--- DC Beer says there will be a new and improved Pizzeria Paradiso opening August 17th in DuPont. Look for 12 drafts, over 150 bottles. Woohoo!

--- Relentless Thirst spoke with Patrick Rue, CEO of California's The Bruery, which is working to get some placement in Virginia (Maryland next? Pretty, pretty please?). They make excellent, unusual Belgian inspired beers.

Elsewhere in Ellicott City

1) Het Anker's Gouden Carolus Ambrio (fascinating taste!) at The Judges Bench

2 & 3) Outside shots of the Ellicott Mills Brewery

Real Time

Other notes at The Judges Bench:

- Other goodies include Delerium Tremens, Racer 5, Victory Golden Monkey tripel, Tripel Karmeliet on tap with Avery Maharajah and St. Bernardus Prior 8 on the way.

- Cheese plate now on the menu

- Kwak glass at the bar, thats new, plus Kwak bottles in the fridge

- Update: Forgot to mention they had Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA on tap. They operate on a "pin" system so the beers tend to kick a lot more often there, selection tends to change quite often.

Real Time

Duvel Green at The Judges Bench in Ellicott City, one of a limites handful of places in Maryland.

Tastes like a less bright, slightly zippier Duvel, a little creaminess to it as well although it has the clear yellow to gold of a pilsner.

Real Time

Saison DuPont at The Judges Bench as Chicago plays in the background and the old man enjoys his Avery Maharajah

Real Time

Russian River/Avery Collaboration Not Litigation at The Judges Bench

Real Time

Beautiful day turned rainy. Dinner (no drinks) at La Palapa in Ellicott City which was recently reviewed in The Sun.

Ellicott Mills Brewing in fine form but off to Judges Bench. Mmm Allagash.

Hops!

From a visit to The Judges Bench a few weeks ago.

Miscellaneous

-- Tonight (Tuesday) is Max's weekly Beer Social night starting at 6 PM. This week they'll feature a cask from York Brewery (England) called Oakham Attila at 4.3% ABV. New drafts this week can be found at the bottom of this post.

Future Beer Social events include:

April 21st Dieu Du Ciel Equinoxe Du Printemps (maple scotch ale) and Dieu Du Ciel Solstice D Hiver (barleywine)

April 28th De Hoevebrowers, a "new little brewery in East Flanders Belgium", featuring Toria (blonde) and Kekelaring (brown ale).

-- The Brewer's Art now has the much-anticipated Charm City Sour Cherry on tap as well as the Green Peppercorn Tripel. I thought the Sour Cherry wasn't as good as last year but I'll be back to try it again soon. The Green Peppercorn Tripel, on the other hand, was spectacular, vastly superior to their bottled version and absolutely lively and delicious. Do not miss either.

-- Wednesday is Stoudt's meet the brewery night at The Judges Bench from 7-9 PM.

-- Wednesday is also pint night featuring Virginia's Starr Hill brewing (with brewmaster Mark Thompson) at Frisco Grille.

-- Thursday is beer bottle night at Mahaffey's, $3 for most 12 oz bottles. Their bomber this week is Avery's Collaboration Not Litigation. Oddly, they'll be featuring a mead on tap this week. Finally, on Saturday will be Mahaffey's anniversary party, with a free catered buffet from 7-9 PM.

-- Thursday night at 8 PM is the nationwide one night only theatre event called Beer Wars. It is only being show in six Maryland theatres, I'll be at the Snowden Square one. Be sure to check it out, tickets are $15 and there's a hosted panel afterwards with several major brewers broadcast live from Hollywood. The movie's theme is about the ongoing battle between craft brewers and the major breweries while obviously providing some more general content about the brewers, the industry and whatnot.

-- Local Clipper City Brewing Co. just released its beloved Belgian-style saison ale, "Red Sky At Night". I'll have to pick up some bottles before its all gone. Anyone know if they plan to put it on tap?

-- American Craft Beer Week will be May 11-17 this year. This is an awesome nationwide event with local flavor.

Some of the goings-on:

May 11th-17th: Max's Craft Beer Week, weeklong selection of GREAT taps, approximately 80 throughout the week. More info as it comes in but there's a preliminary list at the bottom of this email. Do not miss this.

May 11th: Clipper City taps several firkins at Max's including Loose Cannon (great!), Peg Leg and Red Sky at Night

May 16th: Clipper City's Real Ale & BBQ Fest at Clipper City noon-4 PM, $49/ticket

-- Clipper City is hosting a home brew competition. Anything goes, so long as the beer is above 7% ABV in keeping with their Heavy Seas line, and they'll favor those which are big and assertive. Entries must be submitted between June 8th and June 19th, winner announced July 3rd.

-- Clipper City is also having a beer dinner at Sotto Sopro in Mt. Vernon on April 30th. On May 7th they'll have a beer dinner at The Melting Pot in Gaithersburg. On May 11th they'll be part of a Meet The Brewery event at Max's. On May 23rd they'll participate in the Kayak, Tunes and Brews event at the Wisp Ski Resort in western Maryland. And on May 30th they'll be at the Maryland Brewer's Spring Fest.

-- Reminder, City Paper's Brew Fest is April 25th in Fells Point.

-- The Brewer's Association just released its annual top 50 craft breweries list (by sales) and Maryland's own Flying Dog checks in at No. 30. Congratulations to Flying Dog! They also check in at No. 41 overall in the United States once you factor in the mega breweries.

-- Max's new drafts this week are: Abita Purple Haze, Allagash Black, Allagash Curieux, Cazeau Tournay Black, Cazeau Tournay Blonde, Contreras Valeir Blonde, Contreras Valeir Divers, Dogfish Head Black & Blue, Dogfish Head 60 Minute, Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Dominion Spring Buck, Ommegang Rouge, Peroni, Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar, Redstone Sunshine Nectar, Rogue Dead Guy, Southern Tier 422, Southern Tier Unearthly, Southern Tier Uber Sun, Stone Pale Ale, Stone Russian Imperial Stout, Whitemarsh Station Bitter

-- Max's anticipated drafts for Craft Beer Week: Allagash Four, Allagash Interlude, Allagash Black, Allagash Dry Hopped Barrel Aged Mussette, Avery Collaboration Not Litigation, Avery Maharajah, Cape Ann Eclipse, Cape Ann Green Horn Double IPA, Cape Ann Tea Party, Dogfish Head 120 Minute, World Wide Stout, Black & Blue, Red & White, Fort, Midas Touch, Burton Baton and Palo Santo Marron, Ommegang Rouge, Redstone Nectar of the Hops, Southern Tier Chocolate, Southern Tier Gemeni, Southern Tier Jah Va, Southern Tier Oaked Unearthly, Troegs Mad Elf, Uinta Barleywine, Victory Abbey 8, Victory Rauchbier Porter and casks of Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Old Ale, Magic Hat Bob's First Ale, Heavy Seas Red Sky w/spices, Heavy Seas Peg Leg w/oak chips.

-- I'll be back with another miscellaneous email soon, but wanted to get these items out tonight.

Freeze Frame

At The Judges Bench

2nd Anniversary celebration, got there early, Mike was handing out shirts. Nice.

Uinta Monkshine (BPA) and Unibroue Maudite (BSDA)

Apparently the Dobs distributorship will no longer carry Uinta (out of Utah). They make some good stuff, so this is disappointing. Judges Bench had been a consistent carrier of Uinta, sad to see them go.

Freeze Frame

Potentially a regular feature here. Basically, whats available or what was imbibed, wherever I've gone that day. Where possible I'll try and provide pictures as well, my camera phone is decent enough.

So today's freeze frame:

The Judges Bench -- Unibroue Trois Pistoles and Troegs Nugget Nectar

Hard to go wrong with those Belgian darks which I think is a small portion of why Unibroue is so successful. And most of us are aware of the cult-like appeal of Nugget Nectar which for the most part lives up to the hype.

Judges Bench Second Anniversary Celebration

Not sure what all will be going on, but The Judges Bench in downtown Ellicott City will hold a 2nd anniversary celebration on April 1st (yes, April Fool's Day).

Be sure to congratulate owner Mike on transforming the place into an excellent stop for craft beer nuts.

Clipper City Meet The Brewer at Judges Bench

I might actually attend this, its nearby and I've fallen back in love with The Judges Bench in downtown Ellicott City.

Clipper City will be there on March 25th for a "Meet the Brewer" event from 5-8 PM.

Judges is a tiny place, but it has 17 taps and flies through them because it doesn't use a normal keg system but something smaller so things go on and off with great frequency providing great variety.

Back to the Real World

IPA week at The Judge's Bench, Monday is Randallizer night at Frisco Grille and I need to replace a broken Brewer's Art chalice -- not naming names but it wasn't me.

More Diamondback Tavern Info

We've written a bit before about the Diamondback Tavern, a Maryland-themed eatery and bar in downtown Ellicott City.

One of the managing partners, Lee, emailed yesterday to clarify some things about their beer program. As suspected, Guinness and Yuengling probably aren't going anywhere, but they've got four other taps to work with and continue to rotate things in (Lee mentioned Rogue's Dead Guy Ale is on right now).

They're doing their best to not simply sell out to big sellers of the Bud/Miller/Coors variety, which is admirable especially at a new place in a bad economy in a location that simply hasn't done as well in Ellicott City for whatever reason. Their efforts are risky and should be applauded in that department.

They'll also be working on hopefully acquiring at least one very recognizable and popular local tap, I'll leave that to them to announce if/when that happens. In the meantime, they've made it clear they care about good beer and are putting their money on some good taps. I encourage you to visit them.

First enticement: $2 draught beer all day on Sunday. You know you want it. Parking is in the lot just across the street from the Tavern, just off the main drag. The Tavern itself is up the hill a touch from the T-intersection at the center of downtown Ellicott City. I strongly recommend visiting them to grab a bite and a beer as a pregame of sorts before strolling the Ellicott City shops or taking on its other beer wonders: Ellicott Mills Brewing and The Judge's Bench.

More Updates

This is what happens when I skip town for a bit ... backlog.

The 2nd Chance Saloon, newly opened in Columbia, is now blogging. Or, we hope they're blogging, its just one entry right now from January 7th.

Hair O' The Dog Wine & Spirits in far out Easton, Maryland, also has its own interesting blog. Not being a born/bred Marylandian (sp?) I don't have much affinity for parts beyond the Chesapeake and they're a bit of a hike but its still Maryland and well, they care about good beer so they'll soon be merrily indexed here.

And just so we're clear, Maryland is up there with two-piece Michigan among the oddest shaped states in the union. Any other favorite oddly shaped states worth mention?

So Yeah Dood has finally launched. Interesting, informative and thoughtful beer blog, it is.

File this under muddled and confusing: Wharf Rat is sold, but stays open, the original Fells Point property stays in the hands of the old owner, the newer property on Pratt Street stays open with the new owners. Except there was a rumor it closed and Beer Advocate noting it as "closed" added to the confusion. But now it really is closed starting January 30th, for renovation you see.

Got all that?

Beer In Baltimore's on top of things though, so keep track of all that, over there.

Blob's Park has officially opened. Here's the dates/times (and entertainment schedule):

Friday & Saturday doors open 630 PM, music from 8 PM to midnight, closes at 1 AM
Sunday doors open at 2 PM, music from 4-8 PM, closes at 10 PM

Mark your calendars, the first week of February is "IPA Week" at The Judge's Bench in downtown Ellicott City. I haven't been there in a while (or Ellicott Mills Brewing), should make my way over especially since its so close. Its a nice place, if a bit tiny, with really easy parking and 17 above average taps and a well-organized bottle list. They also do some take-home beers, kind of cool.

Greg from the Food, Wine Beer & Culture website continues to do some excellent beer exploration, hitting up Flying Dog and Brewer's Alley in Frederick, Red Brick Station in White Marsh which I need to visit at some point, Kooper's in Fells Point, and Red Star in Fells Point.

Its an interesting and versatile blog he's put together discussing home brewing, dining, cooking, wine and the like.

And this, from my friend Dan in California who passed this along -- Coors celebrates the 50th anniversary of their introducing the brewing industry and the world to the aluminum can. Environmentally friendly, replacing the old -- now collectable -- tin cans. The can is making a comeback in craft brewing, and I support the movement.

Its more portable than bottles, does a much better job of protecting the beer and its flavors from light, no longer imparts odd flavors, and can be reused and cheaply. Botters are more aesthetically pleasing and easier to display and collect and don't give off that cheap look aluminum cans do, but they're not as good for the beer.

Thanks Dan.

And finally, I'll have a discussion about downtown Ellicott City's Diamondback Tavern in an upcoming entry. They sent a nice email along which I need to respond to (as well as Dan's, actually), but I'll tease with this:

$2 tap beer, all their tap beers, all day Sunday at Diamondback. Not bad, hm?

Help HowChow: Best Beer in Howard County

Our friend at the HowChow blog is doing a great series on Howard County dining and related. Check his site for the whole series but right now he's inquiring about best (burgers and) beer in Howard County. Be sure to leave a comment.

Frisco Grille is atop my list, but the Judge's Bench and Victoria Gastro Pub do excellent work with their taps and bottles as well. The Perfect Pour is an amazing bottle shop in the area and I have to at least mention the two breweries, Ellicott Mills and Bare Bones although Bare Bones really doesn't get much love from the beer geeks although their Hef has always been decent enough the few times I've been there.