Check out the new Baltimore Beer Guy!

Hey all -- thank you for the visits and support over the years. I have now relocated to http://www.baltimorebeerguy.com

New digs, but everything else is the same :)

Stop on by and be sure to bookmark the new URL AND change your bookmarks if you have linked here on one of your own websites. Thanks!

Back!

Thanks for your patience during that extended break. Lots to come, soon.

Updates A-Comin'

Baltimore Beer Week is insane, heh.

Notes from where I've gone, plus a massive backlog of links for the next round of Beer Notes.

Hopelessly Behind

I've hit up a ton of beer-y places for the first time in the last few months, need to get crackin' on some reviews, notes, etc. at some point. Hopefully I can deliver on all that.

Managed to avoid the trap of sticking to my tried and true (great) local stops all the time. They miss me of course but while I still have a bit more get-around time in the summer (fall weekends mean football, both Saturday and Sunday) I've taken advantage.

Anyway, might just sneak in *another* trip to Flying Dog this Saturday, get a growler fill and hop over to Bonefish Grill. Or maybe not, no definite plans. Say hi or let me know if you're headed in that direction.

I really need to get that Clipper City tour review/notes up as well, don't let me slack on that! Keep following here and on the MDbeerspotter twitter I've set up (tweet me your interesting beer finds!). Thanks, as always.

Continually Evolving

Recently I was asked to provide tasting notes on various beers I've mentioned. Its a fair request but philosophically Baltimore Beer Guy is trending away from that for various reasons.

One, I'm no expert. Although I have opinions about beers, mine may not necessarily make all that much sense or sound vague to more developed palates. Speaking broadly no two people have the same impression on any beer. Speaking narrowly my impression doesn't matter all that much.

I think generally people have an idea what they're drinking, and expertise and understanding is gained not from reading others' sentiments but experiencing on one's own (plus there's the enjoyment factor). Now, there's nothing wrong with advance work and that is something I try to do in boning up on a new beer or a style I haven't tried yet.

In the absence of offering a bunch of tasting notes on here, I will say my general suggestion for those seeking more specifics about a particular beer or style is to use the popular tools out there like the reviews at Beer Advocate and Rate Beer. I definitely do this on my own, seeking out reviewers whose tastes seem to dovetail with mine. Additionally, I look for repetitive trends -- people saying the same thing about a particular beer as a guide for what to expect and reference when it comes time to try a particular brew.

Plus, there's that ever-expanding mental library of flavors and beers that comes from my heavy tasting over the years that is hard to put into words.

Again, experience comes in handy. It may not make sense until you've had a few examples (and then some) from a particular style how vast of a gap there is between say Avery's Maharaja as a Double IPA and Clipper City's newly released, sickly sweet Big DIPA. Others may quibble but I found these two to be divergent interpretations of the same darn style and it has to do with the malt and sweetness and approach to hop flavoring that isn't easily explained by a layperson like myself.

In the meantime I'm more than happy to offer thoughts if asked and will continue to offer opinions where I see fit, but yeah, not everything's necessarily going to get much in the way of tasting notes.

Back!

Back from a lengthy trip. Whatever, its summer in Maryland, lets talk beer!

Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

Please forgive me, still recuperating a bit from two lengthy trips, gotta get all those bearings adjusted a bit and get back to writing here.

Daily Beer Events

A daily calendar of *regular* beer events in Maryland/Baltimore. Send me an email if you'd like something mentioned on here.

Monday: Beer club at Victoria Gastro Pub, discounts, gear etc 5 PM-close

Tuesday: Max's beer social 6 PM+ usually upstairs new beers introduced

Wednesday: Pint night at Frisco Grille -- featured brewer and free glassware with featured beer purchase after 7 PM; 22oz bomber night at Mahaffey's; "Pinch the Pint" night at Max's 5-8 PM $1 off refills with glass; beer promotion night at Royal Mile Pub;

Thursday: Reduced price bottle specials at Mahaffey's;

Friday: Max's 32 oz "Big Ass Draft Happy Hour" beers excluding some "big" beers and Belgians for $6 in plastic cups; Semi-regular Firkin Friday events at rotating DuClaw locations; Jack's Bistro $20 beer dinners two courses one beer; "Firkin Friday" events at Muggsy's and Metropolitan Coffehouse

Saturday:

Sunday: SIN "Service Industry Night" at Victoria Gastro Pub 1/2 off 20 oz beers; Sunday Brunch $2 draft beer (excluding Guinness) all day at Diamondback Tavern;

Happy Hour:

$1 off Frisco Grille
$4 for 3x10 oz mugs excluding some beers
$3.75 beer (I believe?) Brewer's Art
$2.95 selected beers at Victoria Gastro Pub 5-7 daily, 10-12 S-Th and 11-1 F and Sat.
$0.75 off at The Judges Bench
$2 off beer at Jacks Bistro 5-7 and 11-1 daily

Real Time Error

Still working out the kinks in this new feature. I was at Frisco Grille last night but every attempt to send a picture along failed, something about busy networks or whatever.

Test

Test email post. Success?

Monday Open Forum

If you're up to it, open forum for conversation below. Bitch about the weekend's entries, discuss that upcoming Beer Wars movie, tell us where you've been and what you were drinking, the stage is yours.

Just so you know if there aren't any comments BBG is shedding some serious emo tears come Monday night.

Happy Anniversary, Baltimore Beer Guy

I almost didn't even notice, but Baltimore Beer Guy went live March 19th of 2008.

We're just now over a year into existence. Hooray (!) (?) (!).

So much more to do ... thank you, with great sincerity, for visiting.

New Beer Blog

Just discovered (via his posting a comment here) a new Baltimore beer blogger:

A Beer In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Fridge

Its now linked on the menu at right. Be sure to visit!

Back Again

My apologies, I got sick again and just decided to take a little break from BBG.

I've got some emails to get to and a backlog of links and items to address, so business as usual, hm?

Coming Up

Reviews of Flying Dog's tasting room and Growlers of Gaithersburg.

Good times.

Happy New Year

Er, Brew Year?

Anyway, hope your New Year's Eve festivities were safe.

Hopefully I don't take for granted that last year I was able to drink great beer all over the United States, from Florida to Maryland, to Washington D.C. to Las Vegas, Northern California and San Diego.

I can't wait to see what 2009 brings, particularly in Maryland!

Input and Suggestions Always Welcome

Many thanks to reader David for sending in two suggestions for the Howard County Beer Map, which I've since added (Pine Orchard Liquors and Village Wines and Liquors).

New Banner

You like?

Its a rough cut made by Baltimore Beer Guy friend Steve from Summer of Beer. I think it's pretty darn cool. We'll ponder it for a while before deciding its fate but its got a good shot at survival.

Update: Just added a modified version ... this Steve guy has some talent with the banners methinks.

Stock Up

Baltimore Beer Guy's Index: Where to buy great beer

Custom Google Map

"Stock Up" Locations Map (Created by Baltimore Beer Guy)

Famous Stops

The Perfect Pour (Columbia)
Wells Discount Liquors (Baltimore)
State Line Liquors (Elkton)
Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits (D.C.)
Shawan Liquors (Hunt Valley)

Downtown Baltimore & Beltway

Beltway Fine Wine & Spirits (Towson)
Chesapeake Wine Company (Baltimore)
Mt. Washington Wine Company (Baltimore)
The Wine Market (Baltimore)
The Wine Source (Baltimore)
Vineyards Elite (Pikesville)
Wells Discount Liquors (Baltimore)
Wine Underground (Baltimore)

Howard County & Suburbs

Carpe Vinum (Ellicott City)
Columbia Palace Wine & Spirits (Columbia)
Enchanted Forest Wine & Spirits (Ellicott City)
Jason's Wine & Spirits (Ellicott City)
Northridge Wine & Spirits (Ellicott City)
Spirit Shop (Ellicott City)
The Perfect Pour (Columbia)
Your Wine & Spirit Shoppe (Ellicott City/Woodstock)

Washington D.C., Northern Virginia & Southern Maryland

Bethesda Market Beer, Wine & Deli (Bethesda)
Burtonsville Crossing Beer and Wine (Burtonsville)
Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits (D.C.)
Corridor Wine & Spirits (Laurel)
King Farm Wine & Beer (Rockville)
Olney Beer and Fine Wines (Olney)
The Wine Specialist (D.C.)
Village Pump Liquors (College Park)
Whole Foods (Tenley Town)

Western & North Central Maryland

Cranberry Liquors (Westminster)
Total Discount Liquors (Sykesville/Eldersburg)
Ye Old Spirit Shop (Frederick)

Annapolis, Eastern and Southeastern Maryland

Baker's Liquors Inc. (Chester)
Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits (Annapolis)
Staples Corner Liquors (Gambrills)

Northeast Maryland

Calvert Wine (Hunt Valley)
Shawan Liquors (Hunt Valley)
State Line Liquors (Elkton)
Wine World Beer & Spirits (Abingdon)

Miscellaneous Links

Beer Advocate Profiles (Maryland)
Beer Advocate Profiles (Washington D.C.)
Beer Advocate Profiles (Northern Virginia)
Baltimore Beer Guy Reviews

Notes

--> Please feel free to contact me with notes about establishments on this listing or recommend others that should be added so as to make this as comprehensive as possible. Thanks!

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