Finally: National Bohemian

The official old school beer of Baltimore, or something like that. I broke down and grabbed a six pack (cans) recently. In the absence of blue crabs, I'm having it tonight with some leftover homemade curried chicken. The flavors complement well, of course.

I can understand the love for this beer, as it tastes like all those cheap beers our fathers drank back in the day, sort of a Old Style if I were to reference a beer. Its crisp and refreshing if loaded with that awkward old school beer aftertaste. If nothing else I'd take this over a Heineken, believe it or not.

Gotta love that "From the Land of Pleasant Living" tag on the can.

More On Gunther Brewing

Gunther Brewing was in business from 1881-1959.

It was started in Baltimore by Bavarian Native George Guenther, in limited production. Eventually, the company gained popularity as it battled with downtown "Brewery Hill" rival National Brewing Company.

Of note, Gunther was an early proponent of canned beer They contributed to the area culture by sponsoring a "Quiz of Two Cities" radio show and heavily promoting the Baltimore Orioles when they arrived in 1954.

Gunther's has changed names several times, notably during Prohibition as the George J. Guenther Mfg. Company making "near beer".

The brewery was later bought in 1959 by the Theodore Hamm brewery, which immediately eliminated Gunther products in the local market. That lasted for three years before Gunther was sold to Schaefer. They then reintroduced Gunther locally as a budget beer, but operations stopped in 1976 and that appears to be the abbreviated Gunther Brewing Company story.

Nice piece of Americana/Baltimoria.

All information was found from the following sources:

Gunther Brewing History
Gunther's Ale: February 2004 Can of the Month

(Image via this website)

Introduction

First entries are always difficult in blogs.

Where to begin?

Let's just call this a beer adventure. I don't pretend to know a whole lot about beer, I simply enjoy the taste and the variety of flavors and, yes, the effect. In another life, I spent time in Illinois, Southern California and Florida's Gulf Coast. Now in my mid-20's, I currently call Baltimore, Maryland my home. To be more precise, I live in the Baltimore suburbs, in Howard County.

In my brief time in Maryland, I've quickly realized this is a place that loves beer!

Please don't laugh at the simplicity and innocence of that statement. I loved the Florida Gulf Coast, but when it comes to beers that's a Bud and Miller place. No thanks. Until convinced otherwise, I consider Southern California beer capital, USA. It's where I was first introduced to microbrews, and where I first developed a healthy appetite for actual flavor and variety in beer. Everything else has since been held to that standard.

Fear not people of Baltimore, you're doing great when it comes to beer. In fact, I'm itching to try more and more of what you have to offer.

My Baltimore beer experience is limited to date, but I've tried some of what Clipper City has to offer. I've been to Max's in Fell's Point (for the Belgian Beer Fest!). I've heard of Natty Bo, but have yet to try it (heresy?). I've been to some other places as well, and we'll address all of that in time. Point being: this is a good beer place, I'm happy to be here, and this blog is my (limited) record of that experience. Thank you.

So, where do we go from here?

Off the top of my head, this should be a documentation of my beer experience. Where I'm grabbing a pint. What I'm drinking. What's good. What's bad. What I'm doing right. What I'm doing wrong. And where I should be going.

If I'm fortunate to have a bright reader (or two, or ten), you can help me make this experience more diverse and worthwhile. I would love that. This entry is bordering on narcissism with so many "I"'s, so let us conclude with this:

Thank you for stopping by. Please please please contribute either in comments or email. Baltimore Beer Guy doesn't bite. Promise.