San Fran Fest at Victoria Gastro Pub

This Monday, Victoria Gastro Pub is having a "San Fran Fest" featuring beers from San Francisco and parts nearby. The list as of Sunday evening is as follows:

1)21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA
2)21st Ammendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat
3)21st Ammendment Back in Black IPA
4)21st Ammendment Bitter American
5)He'Brew Messiah Bol
6)He'Brew Rejewvenator 2009
7)He'Brew Rejewvenator 2010
8)He'Brew Origin Pomegranate Ale
9)He'Brew Bitter Lenny's RIPA
10)Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA
11)Lagunitas IPA
12)Lagunitas Pale
13)Lagunitas Lucky 13
14)Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin
15)Schmaltz Human Blockhead
16)Schmaltz Sword Swallower
17)Schmaltz Lager
18)Schmaltz Freaktoberfest

San Francisco -- hill tops, steep drops, organic crops and fresh hops, CHEERS!!!

Flying Dog/Pratt Street "Bad Birds Good Beer" Orioles Pub Stroll!

Its here!

This Saturday I'll be teaming with Oliver Ales Brewing (Pratt Street Ale House) and Flying Dog's Matt Crow for a "Bad Birds/Good Beer" Orioles Pub Stroll.

The Orioles will be playing the Minnesota Twins at 7:05 PM.

The hook is we'll pregame (~5 PM) at Pratt Street AleHouse a few blocks from Camden Yards, enjoying their great beers (with special pricing!) along with brewmaster Stephen Jones.

And then its off to the game to root on our sad, sad baseball team. Good beer will again be available thanks to Flying Dog's IPA being served at several beer carts around Camden.

Afterward, folks are free to break out and take the party to nearby bars (Pickles perhaps, or over at Federal Hill) or head home or whatever suits them. The outing will be lowkey but built around good people and good beer.

I'll purchase group tickets sometime very soon so please email me or reply to this with a head count to RSVP if you'd like to join us for a fun afternoon and evening. Not sure which seating section but I'll try and keep ticket costs down but some of it will be dictated by overall head count and whats available for group seats in the various sections.

As far as ticket cost reimbursement, I'll take cash or PayPal or even a check if you are so inclined, at the time of the event.

Please join us, it will be a good time!

Flying Dog Woody Creek Wit, Meet Time Magazine

Time sat down with a Beer Sommelier in New York to try some summer beers, and local boys Flying Dog made the cut with their Woody Creek Wit. Local mainstays Southampton, Stoudts and Magic Hat are also mentioned.

Pints and Pancakes II at T-Bonz!!

It's here! The much-anticipated return of T-Bonz's wildly popular "Pints & Pancakes" event.

It will be on Sunday, July 18th from 10am until ... There will be a "Christmas in July" theme, complete with a select and tasty menu and a wide array of themed beers.

Plus, music from The Grilled Lincolns (11-3) and Maybe Not Even (4-6). I really enjoyed the first go-round and this one should be just as entertaining and tasty. There is a $5 charge that goes towards free pancakes but there's also an ala carte food menu as well.

The beers:

Troegs Mad Elf (Belgian Dark Ale), Affligem Noel (Belgian Dark Ale), Flying Fish Winter Reserve (Belgian Strong Pale Ale), Anchor Steam Christmas 2009 (Winter Warmer), Clay Pipe Pursuit of Happiness (Winter Warmer -- perhaps the last you'll ever see on tap in Maryland!!!), Heavy Seas Yule Tide (Tripel), Weyerbacher Merry Monks (Tripel), Flying Dog Coffee Stout (Imperial Stout), Oliver's Bishops Breakfast Stout (Oatmeal Stout in T-Bonz's brand-new beer engine!), Flying Dog Woody Creek Wit (Belgian Wit, try the "beermosa w/OJ"), Lancaster Strawberry Wheat (Wheat Beer), Boulder Kinda Blue (Blueberry Wheat Beer), T-Bonz 33rd Street Ale (Golden Ale) and Oskar Blues Gubna (Imperial IPA).

All beers are available in pints or 8oz sizes.

Food:

Christmas Dinner Breakfast $7 -- Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing topped with gravy and served with cranberry sauce

Wake N Bake $7 -- Two 4oz burgers on a glazed donut

Green Eggs and Ham $7 -- Yep ... green scrambled eggs with a ham steak

The Grilled Linx Sandwich $7 -- Grilled sausage links, eggs, and cheese

Shit on a Shingle $7 -- Sausage gravy n biscuits

Eggs Benedict Patty $7 -- Fried eggs, Old Bay sausage, served on an English Muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce

$4 sides -- sausage, bacon, hash browns, eggs

Home made baked pie by Ms. Carole Hood -- Pumpkin, apple and cherry $4

And FREE PANCAKES!

Seriously, you should go, it'll be a great time, with a lively crowd and music at a destination beer bar serving tasty food and some choice beers and beermosas.

Mahaffey's Latest

Normally I'll simply summarize the email but this week as a special treat for those who aren't on the email list (sign up at the bar) I'll reproduce in entirety one of Wayne's emails. They're odd but a nice treat at the inbox every midweek.

- - - - -

Wow. June 30th. Time is flying. Went to a weding over the weekend with college buddies and realized that we are now the age that their parents were when we met. What happened? How long have the IHOP syrup dispensers been plastic? I was looking forward to the sliding metal lids. And how long has boysenberry syrup been gone? Where have I been? It's like I've slept for 20 years.Captain Jean-Luc Picard said, "Make now the most precious time. Because now will never come again." Amen. It is a common mistake for boys of your age and athletic ability to underestimate men who have reached their maturity. Women frequently find older men attractive, strange as it may seem. I myself am over fify. I am a bachelor. And I do not, by any means, consider myself th-r-ough.

Anybody hear of the Cardinal Climax? It's the alignment of several planets with Earth that peaks on 8/1 of this year. This alignment hasn't happened for probably 10,000 years and is expected to cause things to get really wacky just as people are affected by full moons. Stocks could plummet. Stuff is predicted to hit the fan. You heard it here first, folks.

Special bomber tonight: Rogue John John Juniper Ale, which is their regular Juniper pale ale aged in spruce gin barrels. Crazy. A little cucumberish, a big blast of juniper and an oaky finish makes this beer truly unique. About 6%. Can't go any lower than $14. A steal!!!!!!!!!

Good with 50 cent hot buffalo wings.

End of the Trail Party tomorrow. The last keg of Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale and some other Troegs beers as well.

Fiery Pig Roast and Beer Dinner coming up on 7/10 at 4PM. $40. Make your reservations now!

Big announcement: Mahaffey's will be closed from Saturday, 8/14 through Friday, 8/20. We will be re-opening on Saturday, 8/21 at 5PM.

The winner of last week's movie line trivia was Ben Morris, who correctly identified "48 Hours". I'll take correct anwer #5 this week. For all of you beer club rookies, I sneak in a line from a movie in these E-Mails. So, if you read something really bizarre, it's probably the movie quote. Then again...

Big, big, big news coming soon. Have a safe week. Stay thirsty, my friends.

Wayne

DuClaw Growler Sale This Weekend

DuClaw is doing the patriotic thing and discounting their beer from Friday July 2nd to Sunday July 4th.

They'll take $1 off all growler refills and $3 off all new growler purchases.

Be sure to also check out their brand new interpretations of kobe beef burgers they've conjured up.

Max's Latest: TONS of Events Arriving

Christmas in July
July 13th 6 PM

Featuring both draft and bottled Christmas beers

Draft List (plus others TBA)
Troegs Mad Elf
Anchor Holiday Ale
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
RJ Rockers First Snow
Wintercoat Yule

Max's Mini Italian Fest
July 23rd and 24th 11 AM-close both days

They will have over 20 craft Italian beers on draft and a whole bunch on bottles

Draft List (90% done)
Del Borgo 25 Dodici
Del Borgo Duchessic
Del Borgo Genziana
Del Borgo My Antonia
Del Borgo Re Ale Extra
Del Borgo Rubus Lamboni
Baladin Al Ikir
Baladin Nora
Baladin Super Baladin
Del Ducato Chimera
Del Ducato Nouva Mattina
Del Ducato Verdi
Del Ducato Via Emila
Grado Plato Chocarrubica
Grado Plato Strada San Felice
Italiano Cassissona
Italiano Tipo Pils
Pausa Cafe Chicca
Pausa Cafe Tosta
Piccolo Chiostro
Piccolo Seson
Troll Stella De Natale

Max's World Famous Rare & Obscure Part III
August 12th-14th

"We have pulled out some real gems for this event. We will be doing casks on Thursday the 12th and Bottles the 13th and 14th"

Rare & Obscure Part III Drafts (50% Done)
BFM Douze
BFM La Torpille
Nogne O Imperial Brown
Nogne O Saison
Nogne O Sunturnbrew
Ommegang BPA
Hopfenstark Baltic Porter
Sierra Nevada Charlie, Fred and Ken
The Bruery Coton
Troubadour Magma
Petrus Aged Ale
Stillwater Love & Regret
Stillwater/Voodoo Jungle des Rues
Saison de Cazeau
Oskar Blues Oak Aged Ten Fidy
Mikkeller Yeast Series Lager
Mikkeller Yeast Series Hefe
Mikkeller Yeast Series Brett
Mikkeller Yeast Series Belgian Ale
Mikkeller Yeast Series American Ale
Mikkeller Rauch Geek Breakfast
Mikkeller Monk's Brew
Mikkeller It's Alive
Hof Ten Dormaal Blonde
Emelisse Witbier
Emelisse Lentebock
Emelisse Dubbel
Dieu Du Ciel Pesche Mortal
Dieu Du Ciel Aphrodite
De Molen Engels
De Molen Amarillo
Allagash Black Bourbon Barrel

Back!

Took a bit of an extended break and then went on a beer hunting trip to parts throughout California but BBG has returned. Might as well share some Baltimore beer items, hm?

-- The New York Times samples several pale ales and Frederick, Maryland's Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale comes out on top.

-- Speaking of Flying Dog, they've brewed the last-ever batch of Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout, which you can enjoy one last time at Alonso's starting this Friday.

-- Victoria Gastro Pub is hosting a beer dinner with Southern Tier on Tuesday, July 13th. The menu posted looks amaaaaaaaazing.

-- T-Bonz is proud to announce they have acquired a beer engine and have already put it to good use serving tasty real ales. Can't wait to see the results of their expansion whenever that comes to fruition. In the meantime, don't forget about Pints & Pancakes II! July 18th, it will be a blast.

-- At Ram's Head, they're having a release party for their new "Wisteria Wheat" on Thursday July 1st from 4-6 PM. It will arrive in commemorative glassware ($4) with refills just $1.

On Saturday July 10th there will be an "Kegs n Eggs" celebration marking the 11th anniversary of the Ram's Head Savage location. The event will be from 7am-1pm with the following:

$0.50 Fordhams (7-8 am), $7 anniversary breakfast menu (7-11 am), $1 Fordhams (8-9 am) and $3 Fordhams (9am-1pm)

-- Meanwhile Troegs has announced they are opening a second craft brewery in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Construction will begin immediately, with an estimated completion around fall of 2011. The new facility will include a new brewhouse, fermenters and kegging line.

You can expect a 5,000 square foot tasting room at the Hershey location, plus an outdoor seating area all within the actual brewhouse for a more up-close feel to how Troegs beer gets made.

-- Aaaand this bit of copy-and-past from the Mid Atlantic Brewing News Hop Tips newsletter:

Tuesday, June 29th: Beer Bites at Growler’s in Gaithersburg – 301-519-9400 or www.growlersofgaithersburg.com.

Wednesday, June 30th: Heavy Seas Beer Dinner at Mick’s in Frederick – Hosted by Heavy Seas founder, Hugh Sisson. Details at 301-662-0373 or www.frederick.com/index.php?action=sponsor&id=4458.

Wednesday, June 30th: Craft Beer and Artisan Cheese Pairing at Gilly’s – Belgian and US cheeses paired with Chimay, Allagash, Tröegs, Moylans, and Southern Tier. $20. 7pm. Reservations at 301-770-5515. www.gillyscbfw.com.

Saturday, July 10th: 1st Annual Summer Deck Party at Lure’s Bar and Grille in Crownsville – Outdoor grilling with BBQ chicken, sausages, ribs, kabobs, corn bread, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, mac n chz, collared greens, and more. $5 all 14 drafts, $5 tangerine or grapefruit crushes, $3 all domestic bottles, $4 cans of Caldera Pale Ale, live music, prizes, and giveaways. 11am-? 410-923-1606 or www.luresbarandgrille.com.

Friday, July 16th: Unibroue Beer Tasting at Fenwick Beer and Wine, Silver Spring – 4-8pm. 301-650-5770 or www.fenwickbeerandwine.com.

Tuesday, July 20th: Beer Club at Lure’s Bar and Grille, Crownsville – Featuring Mikkeller Brewing. $38.50 includes beer, buffet, tax, and tip. 6-8pm. 410-923-1606 or www.luresbarandgrille.com.

Friday, July 23rd: Goose Island Beer Tasting at Fenwick Beer and Wine, Silver Spring – 4-7pm. 301-650-5770 or www.fenwickbeerandwine.com.

T-Bonz Pints and Pancakes II

The first round of Pints and Pancakes at T-Bonz was so successful, they're hosting another one soon.

It will be called the Christmas In July Edition on Sunday July 18th. Its a free pancake breakfast starting at 10am featuring Christmas and breakfast style beers including:

Troegs Mad Elf, Anchor Steam Christmas, Affligem Noel, Weyerbacher Merry Monks, Clay Pipe Pursuit of Happiness (perhaps the last time we'll ever see this on draft?), Flying Fish Winter Reserve, Flying Dog Coffee Stout, Lancaster Strawberry Wheat and Smuttynose Short Batch (raspberry sour).

The Grilled Lincolns will also be on hand to add some tunes to the atmosphere.

American Craft Beer Week Events in Maryland

So, in summary:

Howard County Pub Crawl on Saturday 5/22 hosted by T-Bonz and hitting up four great Howard County bar stops. Let someone else do the driving.

Big, blowout multi-tap masterpieces at Max's and Victoria Gastro Pub.

Flying Dog and Troegs making their way around town.

And a brand new collaborative beer debut between local brewers Pratt Street Ale House and Stillwater.

Feel free to shoot me an email/link with summary of your unique event if you have anything planned for American Craft Beer Week and I'll add it to the list here.

Channel Crossing Release Party

Pratt Street Ale House's Stephen Jones and Stillwater's Brian Strumke have collaborated to produce something called The Channel Crossing, which will debut at a release party at PSAH on Thursday evening.

Festivities go off at 6 PM and for $5 you will get a commemorative glass plus $3 refills thereafter.

The beer will be on draft and cask in a firkin with French Oak. The three pins will be separately dry hopped with Czech Saaz, Kent Goldings and Bramling Cross hops!

Max's American Craft Beer Week Events

Brad's got it all covered at BeerInBaltimore.com but the gist ...

Monday: Troegs/Ommegang

Tuesday: Heavy Seas/Brewers Art

Wednesday: Harpoon/Victory

Thursday: Flying Dog

Friday: The Bruery/Lagunitas/Oskar Blues/Boulder/Great Divide/Weyerbacher

Saturday: Stillwater/Pratt Street Ale House/Evolution

Sunday: Smuttynose/Allagash

Victoria Gastro Pub American Craft Beer Week Events

Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia is having a huge selection of beers for American Craft Beer Week, broken up nicely into fun themes. You can find the full taplist (.pdf) available at their website with some very interesting offerings.

Here are the themed days:

Monday: "The Dog Fight On Draft" featuring Dogfish Head and Flying Dog taking up all 24 taps plus two firkins

Tuesday: "To Live and Die in P.A." featuring Troegs, Victory, Lancaster, Stoudts and Weyerbacher

Wednesday: "California Dreamin" featuring Sierra Nevada, Stone, Lagunitas, Anchor, 21st Ammendment, Anderson Valley, The Bruery and North Coast

Thursday: "Sleep is Useless, Welcome to New York!" featuring Ommegang, Southern Tier, Brooklyn, Saranac and Southampton

Friday: "Root for the Home Team!" with Pratt Street Ale House/Olivers, Heavy Seas, Brewers Alley, Flying Dog, Evolution and Stillwater's Stateside Saison on cask

Saturday: "Ahhhh fuh Pete's Sake This Bah Has Some Wicked Good Beaaa!" with Harpoon, Smuttynose, Allagash, Otter Creek and Wolaver's

Sunday: "Welcome to the Mile High Club" with Oskar Blues, Great Divide, Avery and Boulder.

Flying Dog American Craft Beer Week Events

Monday May 17th -- Victoria Gastro Pub with nine Flying Dog styles on draft and Raging Bitch and Snake Dog on cask, 6-9 PM

Tuesday May 18th -- Camden Yards suite (retailers) with Meet The Brewer Night

Wednesday May 19th -- Pint Night at Frisco Grille, five styles on draft including the rare Old Ale and barrel aged Gonzo Imperial Porter 7-10 PM

Thursday May 20th -- Max's Taphouse with Horn Dog Barleywine on nitro plus four other styles on tap 5-8 PM

Friday May 21st -- Sean Bolan's (Bel Air) three styles on tap including Coffee Stout 5-7 PM and Metropolitan Coffeehouse with Old Ale and Woody Creek Wit on tap

Also, be sure to check out their other events in Virginia and Washington D.C.

Troegs' American Craft Beer Week Events

Monday May 17th 5-8 PM at Max's Taphouse with a firkin of Javahead Stout, Scratch 27 Chocolate Stout, Scratch 29 Belgian IPA and limited Flying Mouflan on draft

Tuesday May 18th 5-8 PM Victoria Gastro Pub To Live and Die in P.A. Night

Pennsylvania Brewery Night with Troegs: Firkin of Hopback Amber plus Scratch 29 Belgian IPA and limited edition Flying Mouflan on draft

Wednesday May 19th 6-9 PM Troegs Pint Night at Firestone's Restaurant in Frederick, Maryland. Will include a firkin of Javahead Stout, Troegenator on draft, all year-round bottles and 22oz bombers of Flying Mouflan

Thursday May 20th 7-10 PM pint night at Racer's Cafe with all Troegs year-round beers on draft, Flying Mouflan on draft and the last pin of Nugget Nectar available in Maryland!

Flying Dog GonzoFest 2010

It's coming! Flying Dog's homage to good beer, good people, and Hunter S. Thompson will arrive on June 19th this year at the brewery grounds.

There will be a morning session and an afternoon session with beer, music, food, vendors and a Hunter S. Thompson lookalike contest. Purchase tickets and get more info at the GonzoFest website.

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!

The Barrel Aged Gonzo Is Loose!

After sitting on barrels since early September, Flying Dog has released its Gonzo Imperial Porter!

Look for this much-anticipated release on taps around town starting ohhhh ... now.

On That Whole Beer Tax Increase Thing

Belated, but still worth a mention ...

There was a proposal several weeks ago in the Maryland legislature to dramatically increase the tax on beer, wine and liquor. Fortunately it was defeated but knowing politics the same proposal is likely to return and perhaps even get enacted at some point if folks aren't more informed.

For beer, the tax rate per gallon would have been hiked from $0.09 to an incredible $1.16. Maryland is already a heavily regulated, high-tax state. Mix in the still-sluggish economy and its easy to see where this could have a disastrous effect on the health of the craft beer industry in Maryland.

We're fortunate to be in one of the top craft beer areas in the country, despite all the regulation and barriers to profit. We're not California or Oregon or Colorado but we're not a wasteland like Florida or Alabama, either. However, it wouldn't be too difficult to steadily bleed the craft industry here and bring us closer to the wastelands rather than the promised lands if foolish legislative proposals were to be followed through.

I don't buy the Mom and Pop nostalgia of the craft beer industry, but there is a grain of truth to the image, as most producers, however big or small, are driven more by their passion than profit. This makes everyone not named Bud, Miller and Coors (and their shell brands) more vulnerable than a careless legislator realizes.

This doesn't mean a small tax increase is unreasonable. But it must be small. Maryland last increased its tax on beer in 1972, so its been a relatively stable tax environment for almost 40 years. Perhaps this rate is now outdated and not up with the times and that's a worthy discussion in the legislature.

However, its clear the proposed hike to $1.16/gallon would have given Maryland the dubious distinction of having the highest beer tax in the nation! Next highest is Alaska at $1.07/gallon. The median beer tax in America is just $0.19/gallon.

I've spoken briefly a few times with people from highly regarded craft breweries from outside Maryland that are not doing business here, and almost universally they cite a frustrating dance with the three tier system in place here and sometimes other barriers. The tone I get is that Maryland is just a tough place to bring your beer into. That hasn't stopped many quality craft breweries from doing business here, but it has affected some and that impacts variety and having a more competitive marketplace. For the state they lose potential tax revenues when breweries choose not to sell their product here (and often end up doing so to the frustration of many in neighboring states).

Now throw in a potentially unreasonable tax hike on beer and the business environment here for craft beer could be even more troubled.

Just for comparison's sake I'm listing a few states' per gallon tax rate on beer.

The most famous craft beer states are California, Oregon and Colorado.

California $0.20
Colorado $0.08
Oregon $0.08

And here are Maryland's neighbors. Look at these numbers and try not to think of the Sesame Street 'which one of these is not like the other' skit if Maryland ended up at $1.16. Imagine the outflow of business? Yikes.

Delaware $0.16
Pennsylvania $0.08
Washington D.C. $0.09
Virginia $0.26
West Virginia $0.18

My point?

Maryland should not do what some of its misguided legislators have proposed. The proposed tax increase is punitive and anti-business, so thoroughly steep and outside of how we've been doing business, how our neighbors have been doing business, how the nation as a whole does business and how great beer states do business when it comes to the per gallon tax rate on beer.

There's a worthy discussion to be had on if Maryland needs some kind of reasonable tax hike on beer, but what's proposed doesn't come close to hitting the mark. We need to vote out legislators who are crazy enough to even propose such hikes and potentially cripple a sensitive industry (at the craft end) and the many small businesses involved with it and work with the ones who understand the craft beer environment better and can forcefully speak to its interests.

T-Bonz Movin' On Up

Hidden gem T-Bonz in Ellicott City keeps doing good things. So many, in fact, that I've had to adjust my Howard County beer stratification to include them. Gone is the Holy Trinity, arrived is the Big Four, the Mighty Rectangle of Liquid Delight the ... anything to do with four, basically.

T-Bonz has ascended and can now safely join Frisco Grille, Victoria Gastro Pub and The Judges Bench as craft beer elite in Howard County.

Besides being the home to some of my absolute favorite ribs, T-Bonz now serves up 12 craft beer taps (with more planned) which much like Frisco Grille, can easily be seen on their website updated instantly. No guesswork! Kudos for also adding the "on deck" section. Every beer bar should be doing this, but I digress ...

T-Bonz was also the very first place in the area to hold a "Pints and Pancakes" event (soon to be copied at Mahaffey's later this month), which was an absolute blast. It was so successful another one is in the works but featuring winter themed beers, set for a Sunday in July just as soon as entertainment can be worked out.

Also in the works is an expansion, with another bar area to be held in the basement as sort of a brickskeller, with an additional set of craft taps to enjoy.

Further down the road, a Friday The Firkenteenth is planned for August 13th. T-Bonz recently jumped on the firkin bandwagon and more firkin events are under consideration.

Finally, a Howard County pub crawl with T-Bonz is in the planning stages (set for I believe Saturday May 22nd). For a fee there would be a bus making stops at the fearsome foursome -- T-Bonz, The Judges Bench, Victoria Gastro Pub and Frisco Grille -- and have some kind of smaller sized glassware involved so as to not get too carried away. I like the concept, as the bars are all a relatively close drive to each other but obviously not walkable.

Apologies for any errors as my notes were terrible while talking to bar manager Chris -- who has helped make T-Bonz an excellent beer destination after he came over from Fells Point's Red Star. I'll check back for more concrete details on much of this but hopefully this is a good general overview of some exciting things happening at yet another excellent beer bar in Howard County.

Oh, and one more item about their beers: they have a house offering called 33rd Street Ale in honor of the Orioles' old Memorial Stadium. The actual establishment is well appointed with Ravens and Orioles memorabilia as well as beer taps along the walls similar to how Frisco Grille has made use of their unused handles.

Maryland: Home to World Beer Cup Winners!

Not only is Maryland about crab cakes and football, its about award-winning beers.

Several Maryland breweries came away with prizes at the 2010 World Beer Cup held this weekend. Notable:

Flying Dog
Silver: Gonzo Imperial Porter Vintage 2007 in the Aged Beer category

Heavy Seas
Gold: Heavy Seas Gold Ale in the Golden or Blonde Ale category
Bronze: Heavy Seas Marzen in the Vienna-Style Lager category
Bronze: Heavy Seas Pale Ale in the Classic English-Style Pale Ale category

Brewer's Alley
Silver: Brewer's Alley India Pale Ale in the English-Style India Pale Ale category

Rock Bottom (Bethesda)
Gold: Highland Courage in the Scottish-Style Ale category

Congratulations to our Maryland winners!

Pratt Street Ale House Invades Victoria Gastro Pub

Be sure to stop by Columbia's Victoria Gastro Pub (conveniently located immediately off Rt. 100 on Snowden River Parkway) for a neat Pratt Street Ale House event.

Victoria will be pouring eight (!) PSAH taps including Hot Monkey Love (first batch!), Cherry Blossom Ale and 3 Spires Ale.

Brewmaster Stephen Jones should be on hand at some point in the evening, as well as souvenir pint glasses.

April Flying Dog Bitch Session

Today is the first Thursday in April which means 'Bitch Session' time with Flying Dog. The Bitch Sessions are hosted at various locations around Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

The big one locally will be at Frisco Grille, featuring two amazing firkins (the Doggie Style Pale Ale which is ridiculous and a brand new firkin of Snake Dog IPA) plus two Flying Dog beers on tap: the Raging Bitch Belgian IPA and the In-Heat Wheat.

Plus, a top secret beer.

Festivities should commence around 6 PM although most of the beers should be on tap sometime before then.

Beer Notes

-- Heavy Seas' Letter of Marque 'Hop Rye Porter' will be officially released at Mahaffey's on Thursday April 1st from 5-7 PM. It was the creation of homebrewers Frank Butt and Neil Heinlein.

Heavy Seas will host another Ladies Night at their brewery on Friday April 16th from 6-8 PM. Tickets are $10 and registration is required.

And on May 1st there will be a Heavy Seas Beer & Tapas event at Alexander's, listed in Ellicott City (did they mean Alexandra's at Turf Valley golf resort?)

-- The Judges Bench in Ellicott City will celebrate its third anniversary with a Heavy Seas event and a Big DIPA firkin on Friday April 2nd.

-- Upcoming events at Victoria Gastro Pub include the Rogue Beer Dinner on April 14th, the Allagash 'Meet the Maker' event from noon-3 PM with a ton of Allagash taps, a Trappist beer dinner on May 11th and then 'Victoria Day' on May 24th with the raffle drawing for a trip for beer club members.

They've recently redesigned the bar menu a bit, with daily updates of whats on tap, information on upcoming beer dinners and featured breweries on Beer Club night Monday, and much more. Do seek those out.

-- April marks the beginning of IPA month at Mahaffey's, but they've already put 13+ IPA's on tap through late March! Be sure to stop by all month and celebrate one of the tastiest beer styles out there.

Also in April at Mahaffey's: 1)Anniversary Party on April 17th with free catered buffet 2)Pints & Pancakes breakfast on April 18th from 10 AM to 2 PM 3)Allagash Night on April 21st.

-- Timonium's Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival will be held on April 10th.

-- April Fools Day must be the most competitive beer day in a long time with so many events, and DuClaw is jumping in on the action with $1 beers ALL DAY. Much more info from them via their new blog -- bookmark it.

-- Fordham is releasing their Queen Anne Kolsch at Ram's Head Tavern on Thursday, April 1st. For $4 you get commemorative glassware and a first pour, with each additional pour just $1 from 4-6 PM.

There will also be a 'meet the brewmaster' event featuring brewer Walter Trifari at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits on Saturday April 3rd from 1-4 PM.

-- For those out in the Salisbury area, be sure to check out the brand new Specific Gravity Pizzeria and Bottle Shop. Its brought to you by some members of the Evolution Brewing team. I'm a big fan of the Evolution crew, hopefully that venture's as cool as everything else they've done so far.

Firkin Thursday and Friday

Frisco Grille will have Flying Dog's Gonzo Imperial Porter on the bar tonight and it will be full pours (16oz) as opposed to the chalices.

At Max's they'll have Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, Brew Dog Paradox Smokehead, Brew Dog Paradox Springbank and JW Lees Harvest Ale (on the bar).

At Metropolitan they'll have the last Troegs Nugget Nectar firkin of the season!

And on Friday a special firkin from Stillwater Ales, their Stateside Saison at Alonso's!

DuClaw is contributing two of their own: a Cinnamon Vanilla Sawtooth at all three locations and an etra Peppermint Infused Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter (tapped after the Sawtooth is finished) at the Arundel Mills location.