Early May Greatness

1)Crab season here in Maryland!

2)The Kentucky Derby this Saturday, one of my favorite days of the year

I'm a sucker for Mint Juleps and all that derby tradition but I gotta ask, whats a beer you would associate with the Derby?

Demography -- And Geography -- Is Destiny

More updates coming in a bit, but I wanted to highlight something I read in The Brewmaster's Table by Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewing. Summer of Beer Steve has loaned me this for the week so I'm trying to hurry through it before returning to him.

This passage jumped out at me, in a broader discussion of beer history and its history in America.

While the mid-Atlantic colonies [generally speaking thats us - Maryland - as well as Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, lower New York, probably Northern Virginia -ed] sprouted breweries left and right, the southern colonies were slower to establish them. Hotter weather hampered brewing operations, and businessmen saw better opportunities in growing and selling tobacco, rice, cotton, and trees. The northern colonies had the opposite problem -- colder weather precluded good barley crops, so Massachusetts Bay Colony and other northern colonies concentrated on fishing and whaling, preferring to import beer from England, New York, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey.

Frederick, The Beer Town

Sort of old news, but I recently found this entry on a beer blog called Hop Talk. The June 2007 issue of Beer Advocate Magazine named "Nine Great Beer Towns You Didn't Know Were Great Beer Towns".

No. 4? Frederick, Maryland.

The combined Flying Dog and Wild Goose operations are headquartered there, as well as Brewer's Alley and Barley and Hops. I'm at a loss for what else is out there, but it's nice recognition for Frederick which is just a bit out of the way for most of us in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

I neglected to stop in at Brewers Alley or Barley and Hops in my last visit to Frederick, but I did dine downtown not far from the Alley and had one of their beers at the tapas restaurant. I also visited the Flying Dog Brewery (of which I need to write a review at some point on here). Hopefully those places hint at more "on the way" as far as breweries and brewpubs.

Does anyone know of any other beer stops in Frederick? I don't have a copy of the magazine so I'm not sure what else they mentioned other than those three places.

Maryland Breweries

Maryland Beer/Brewers Map

Google Map (Created by Baltimore Beer Guy)

Breweries (strictly beer)

Clipper City
Flying Dog/Wild Goose
Hook & Ladder Brewing Company
Clay Pipe Brewing
Eastern Shore Brewing
The Raven (B-W Beer Works)

Brew Pubs (grab a Pint and some grub)

The Brewer's Art
DuClaw Brewing Co. (4 locations)
Pratt Street Ale House
The Wharf Rat/Oliver's
Brewer's Alley
Ellicott Mills Brewing
Dog Pub (2 locations)
RamsHead Tavern (4 locations)
Rocky Run Tap & Grill (3 locations)
Johansson's
Red Brick Station
Rock Bottom (Bethesda)
Gordon Biersch (Rockville)
Bare Bones
Franklin's Brewery
Growlers
Barley and Hops
Ruddy Duck Brewery

In-House Brews

Bertha's
The Owl Bar
McGarvey's Saloon
Castle Bay Irish Pub
Ale Mary's
Rusty Scupper (Amber Ale contract brewed by Clipper City)

Miscellaneous

Dogfish Head Alehouse (Gaithersburg)

Historic Local Beers

National Bohemian (AKA Natty Boh)

Links
Maryland Brewer's Association
BeerFly: Maryland (Beer Advocate)
BeerFly: Baltimore (Beer Advocate)
Beerfly: Washington D.C. (Beer Advocate)
Beer Me!: Maryland

Notes

--> Feel free to contact me with additional breweries that should be mentioned on this listing, particularly places that have their own "house" beer but aren't necessarily a commercial brewer (think Bertha's with their Bertha's Bitter made by Oliver's).

--> Dogfish Head does not brew in Maryland and ships its (fresh) beers to the Gaithersburg location from the main brewery in Delaware.

Baltimore Beer Guy Reviews

Pending

Cluster of Events This Weekend

Max's First Annual Germanfest

If you've been to their Belgian Beer Fest you know the drill. This thing will run from Friday to Sunday, with an unbelievable number of German beers.

Mahaffey's 7th Annual Block Party

In Canton, I assume (this is listed in Mid-Atlantic Brewing News). "With bands, craft beer, & food. (410)276-9899

10th Annual Capital City Invitational Beer Festival

Held in Harrisburg, PA, featuring samples from 20+ breweries in PA, Md., Delaware and New York. Three sessions, tickets $30-$35 (designated drivers $15)

Thirst and Ten: Maryland Terrapin Style

Any Maryland Terrapin football fans? Or Navy fans for that matter, my question to you as it relates to The Wizard of Odds' "Thirst and Ten" series: where do you go before/after a game for a good brew? Particularly craft beers.

Let me know via email or in the comments section below.

Brewer's Alley Beer Dinner

They're calling it "A Taste of Italy"

Tuesday September 9th, first seating 5:30 (Bookend Room), second seating 7:30 (Mayor's Room on 2nd floor overlooking downtown Frederick). It is a "culinary tour through Italy prepared by Executive Chef Joseph Canlas".

$45/person (6% tax and 18% gratuity in addition), call (301)631-0089 for reservations which are required. Menu pasted below. Nice touch using nothing but house brews.

They have also announced two more beer dinners before the end of the year: October 14th and December 2nd.

Belgian-Style Wit Beer Welcome Beer

Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto Vanilla Lobster Broth and Baked Parmesan Crisp Kolsch

Oatmeal Stout Potato Gnocchi Truffled Pancetta and Blue Cheese Cream Sauce Oatmeal Stout

Tuna Picatta Rosemary Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with White Wine Caper Sauce and Tomato Orzo Pilsner

Petite Filet Marsala Grilled 5 ounce Hereford Beef Tenderloin with Crimini, Oyster, Black Trumpet and Portabella Mushrooms in Rich Marsala Wine Sauce Smoked Porter

Chef Christine's Individual Tira Misu Ginger Sabayon and Toasted Coconut Black Frost Barleywine

DuClaw Real Ale Festival 2008

Just found this on the DuClaw website.

DuClaw Brewing Co. Real Ale Festival 2008
Saturday Sept. 6th 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
DuClaw Brewing in Bel Air Md.
$45 for tickets
Live music, free buffet, rain or shine
Portion of proceeds to Fallston Animal Rescue Movement
Sale of individual Colossus (21%) bottles

12 participating breweries:

Barley and Hops, Brewer's Art, Clipper City, Pub Dog, DuClaw, Flying Dog, Franklin's, Growlers, Olivers/The Wharf Rat, The Raven, Red Brick Station

For The Resurrection Fans

Not sure how many of you out there are fans of "Resurrection" made by Brewer's Art, but I'm absolutely in love with this beer.

Most of us don't live in the city so a trek to Brewer's Art, although desirable, is not a frequent thing. Luckily I've found at least two places in Columbia that regularly feature it: Frisco Grille (which is a GREAT beer place that I'll discuss later on) and the Greene Turtle.

Feel free to argue with me, but I think it's the best regular beer in Maryland (made by Maryland brewers). Its refreshing with some sort of subdued Belgian candy sweetness as well as some tartness/sourness and complexity that makes it incredibly drinkable and enjoyable no matter the weather.

Oh, bytheway, Brewers Art's "Ozzy" is now available in bottles at The Perfect Pour. I doubt they'll stay on the shelves long so be sure to trek over there and grab one or two.

(Image via Baltimore Sun/Google Image Search)

Brew Review: Clay Pipe Hop-Ocalypse IPA

Poured this Maryland native from a 12 oz bottle into a standard point. Sort of a weird, bright white, crunchy head. Mild aroma. A watery IPA. Reddish-amber in color.

This didn't fit the West Coast massively hopped IPA taste profile despite the ominous name. It kind of flies solo as far as IPA's go, not West Coast, not East Coast, not British IPA (flavor-wise), which I sort of appreciate. I actually liked this beer, but it's just quite watery and mild for an IPA but the flavor, while challenging to describe, was suitable.

Folks new to IPA's might like this beer, as it doesn't kill you with the sort of tart, potent hop bitterness of most IPA's, particularly the more popular versions. My notes from last night said "highly drinkable". The flavor was more pine than citrus as far as the classic IPA "pine and citrus" definition goes.

Worth a try, feel free to let me know in comments what you think of this Maryland native! It earned a B- (3.49 average) at Beer Advocate.

Events

Something popped up and I'll be out of town so BBG won't be able to report or review these events sadly. I encourage any of you out there to attend, however, and be sure to report back via comments or email what all went down.

Maryland Beer & Foodfest
10-5 Saturday and Sunday (4/26-4/27)
Ripken Stadium Aberdeen, MD
$15 adults, $10 designated drivers 21+, $10 ages 13-20, FREE 12-under

City Paper Brewfest
1-5 Saturday (4/26)
Broadway Square/Fells Point downtown Baltimore
$25/$20 in advance

In conjunction, DuClaw Brewing
After the Brewfest, walk down to DuClaw's Fells Point location, they'll be tapping two special firkins (Blueberry Bare Ass Blonde Ale and their new American style IPA, Hellrazer), plus the last of this year's Venom Pale Ale on their NITRO tap.

10th Annual Manayunk Brew Fest Extravaganza
12-4 Saturday (4/26)
Manayunk Brewery, Philadelphia PA

Beer Tastings at The Perfect Pour
Friday: TommyKnocker Brewery (4:30-7:30)
Saturday: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel (4-8)
New Arrivals: Brewer's Art Le Canard, Harpoon Summer, Arcadia Ales

Customer Appreciation Day at Your Wine & Spirit Shoppe
Saturday (4/26), 10am to 6pm wholesale pricing on virtually all items in stock

Happy Hour Kick-Off at Victoria Gastro Pub
Friday (4/25) from 4-7 pm with free Passed Hors D'Oeuvres and $2.95 "extraordinary beers".