Brewer's Art, Max's Earn Baltimore Magazine Best Bar Honors

In its readers' poll. Ya dig?

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.

Brewer's Art Latest

Visited recently, along with the three standards (Beacon Pale, Ozzy and Resurrection) they had the Proletary dark ale, Cerberus Tripel and Sublimation on tap.

Just an FYI. Haven't seen a whole lot of movement from them the last few months and they produce a ton of good beers so I have a feeling a ton of good stuff is coming, and soon. Charm City Sour Cherry, anyone?

The Great Resurrection Bottle Chase

So the chase is on.

I went to The Perfect Pour in Columbia earlier today, and they didn't seem to have the Resurrection bottle shipment in. The employee I talked to seemed uncertain as to whether they'd receive it or not. Maybe that changes, and she said they take shipments daily until 5 PM so please report back if you locate it there.

Beer in Baltimore says Wells Liquors got in a shipment -- 10 cases, 120 bottles -- this morning. He also says they told him Bond Distributing got 400 cases, sold in two days to the various clients.

Personally I arrived at the source, Brewer's Art, at 4 sharp, to pick up a few bottles. Its a miserable day today, but thats alright, I got what I wanted. We'll see how long they last there.

Please report back here via comment or email if you find Resurrection anywhere else. Its a curiosity deal more than anything.

Update

HoCoJoe reports the following - Pine Orchard Liquors in Ellicott City has some in stock (5PM on 12/17/08)

Update #2

Reader Chodite also reports the following - Honeygo Wine & Spirits (aka import and craft beer heaven) as well as Swan Song Spirits. Both in Perry Hall, both have Resurrection in stock.

Thank you both!

Update #3

HoCoJoe adds: Perfect Pour now has it in stock.

Update #4

An addendum -- they're $12 at the source, just an FYI. PS its blistering cold out, I was at BA tonight they shut down the upstairs for a wedding but to/from my parking space about three blocks away just wow. Especially walking into the wind, you feel that kind of cold in your bones.

Update #5

Strawberriesinparis adds: My cousin got 7 bottles from Well's!

BBG says "excellent!" Should make for a hell of a party. I'm digging the label art, personally. Brewer's Art has a flair for the aesthetic with their tap handles, with the design on the bottle labels and the establishment itself.

Random Note: The Owl Bar

Stopped into the Owl Bar this afternoon, as I was a little early in advance of the Brewer's Art 4 PM opening. Its in the Hotel Belvedere (really, a converted hotel that is now home to condiminiums), across from the Brewer's Art. Nice place, I've written about it before, as has Beer In Baltimore.

It has that really cool prohibition feel, the usual taps were on and I went with an Owl Pale. Quick question since I forgot to ask today, who are they contract brewed with to make those, since I don't think they brew their own beer? Thanks.

Its not the biggest craft beer place ever, but I do recommend it if you're in the Mt. Vernon area before Brewer's Art opens or if for some reason you're at BA and don't enjoy it. Apparently the Owl Bar and sister property The 13th Floor in the same building are for sale though, not sure what that's all about if true so might want to enjoy it while you can if true just in case new ownership changes the theme.

Brewer's Art, A Picture

Nice picture taken by Yours For Good Fermentables' Tom Cisauskas at Brewer's Art's recent Holiday beer tasting (Dec. 6). The cross at far right is the famed Resurrection, to the left is the Beacon pale, to the left of that with the pitchfork is Ozzy, the one to the left being poured is the winter offering Coup De Boule, to the left of that is the 3-headed dog Cerberus tripel, and I'm unsure what the final tap handle is.

Whatever, they're beautiful, as is Brewer's Art.

Couple Brewer's Art Notes

Sounds like the Brewer's Art Resurrection bottles will be available as scheduled on Tuesday December 16th. No idea which retailers will have them, feel free to report back via email or comments where you see the Rezzie.

Also, the seasonal St. Festivus was not on last night, it had kicked but if I remember correctly it will be back on tap again Thursday as the second batch ages just a bit more. In the meantime the excellent Cerberus Tripel is on, as well as another wintery spiced beer (cinnamon, cardamom etc.) called Coup Be Doule, as well as a guest tap (something from Lancaster Brewing).

Back

Thank you for your patience. I'm pondering a way to package the rest of the trip in a way that doesn't just read and read and read and hits the key points. In the meantime its back to Baltimore/Maryland beer business (yes!).

Of note: I'll probably be at Frisco Grille tonight for their Troegs Brewing Pint Night. Look for me.

Also, I'm going to find a way to make it to my beloved Brewer's Art to try their Holiday seasonal, St. Festivus. Have any of you great readers tried it yet? Thoughts?

Brewer's Art To Bottle Resurrection

Its one of the worst-kept secrets out there but stupidly (maybe for the better) I forgot to write about it: Brewer's Art will soon bottle is signature brew, Resurrection. It has been solidly reported at Beer in Baltimore and Midnight Sun. The special day? December 16. As always seems to be the case, it will be in a 750ml bottle, corked and caged. Awesome.

The Resurrection is a fantastic beer and will go great alongside their other bottled offerings: Ozzy, Le Canard and Green Peppercorn Tripel. Unlike the Canard, the Resurrection bottles should be hot sellers so be on the lookout for them.

Here's Thinking I Need To Check Out the Annabel Lee Tavern

Nice photodocumentation of a visit to the Annabel Lee Tavern on the Eastern edge of Canton from "Strawberries in Paris".

Southampton Saison Deluxe on ice? What looks like Ozzy in an authentic Brewer's Art chalice? Mercy me ...

For other nearby options, check out my ever-expanding custom made Downtown Baltimore Beer map and Grab a Pint map. Feel free to email in suggested additions or changes to these maps.