| The
Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Bars |
| Annapolis |
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For the rest of Maryland, see our Maryland page
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Rams Head Tavern Rams Head Tavern used to be one of Maryland's most well-established brew pubs, however, now all their beer is brewed in Delaware. Their fare is pretty standard...lager, ale, stout, light, and a seasonal. In addition to their house beers, their guest taps bring the draft total above 20, and they stock about 120 bottles. Things can get pretty hectic in the bar when busy, and the bartenders, though seeming to move at warp speed, may take a while to serve you. If this happens, try the Down Bar in the basement; it's friendlier, and you may want to soak up the lore of old Annapolis, or join the World Beer Club. Adjoining the tavern is Rams Head On Stage, a national entertainment venue and one of the best places to see live music in the region. A very nice beer bar if no longer a brew pub, Rams Head also has a location in Savage Mill.
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Heroes Pub A beer bar in a firefighters-themed sports bar...can't wait to see this, says I. What a surprise! 48 taps, neighborhood atmosphere, and a friendly staff all made the visit a pleasure. The taps presented indeed a colorful array, and featured many regional micros along with 14 or so imports. Heroes is a lively place. The interior is spacious, and includes a very long bar and dartboards. Carie, our barmaid, was knowledgeable about the beers, and could not have been more helpful. We consumed 4 drafts, all of which were fresh and well-cared for. Include Heroes in Annapolis on your list of great beer bars with one of the largest draft selections in the state. |
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Old Stein Inn 410-798-6807 How far do you have to go to find a cozy little German bar and restaurant, featuring 10 taps with imported German drafts and authentic German cuisine? That all depends on how far you live from Edgewater, MD. Located roadhouse-style right on Central Avenue in this small maritime suburb, Old Stein Inn is about 15 minutes south of Annapolis. The drafts come in either .3 or .5 liters, and if one of these doesn't suit you, they have about 25 German bottles.The bartenders, in this case, Dathan and Lee, went out of their way to be friendly and informative, as did Mike, the owner. The clientele knows their beer...that's why they come here. There is also a Biergarten for warmer weather. |
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Castlebay Irish Pub 193-A Main Street Up until early 2010, Castlebay was Maryland's smallest brew pub. They made one beer, an Irish ale known as Three Nuns. Sadly, they no longer brew. According to owner Vincent Quinlan, the cost became too great. Castle Bay is still a great pub in which to have a beer, but those of us who were acquainted with Three Nuns will mourn its loss.
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Galway Bay 63 Maryland Avenue Galway Bay is a great little pub adjoing a fine Irish restaurant. Slightly off the main tourist path, Galway Bay offers about 12 well-cared for taps and as many bottles. The bartenders are friendly and know their craft, especially Hoss and Dave. The crowd seems mostly a mix of professionals,both tourists and locals. They sometimes have acoustic music, but no raw oysters. If you're in Annapolis ask for directions...it's a short and very nice walk from the Main Street corridor, and you get to see the Governor's Mansion and the State House. |
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