| The
Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Bars |
| Baltimore |
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For the rest of Maryland, see our Maryland page
Leinenkugel's Beer Garden We went to Leinenkugel's at Power Plant Live expecting lots of young people, tourists, and difficulty parking. What we didn't expect to find was not to be able to get in! |
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Joe Squared Joe Squared is hip, hep, and happenin'. Joe provides a refreshing anchor to the up and coming bar scene in Station North. Lots of red, and chicks in black. Yes, you can have elegant dining in a casual atmosphere. The crowd is young, urban, artsy, and diverse...and...must be here for the music...and the beer! Joe featured six very carefully selected taps (but one had kicked; if you only have six, you must be able to reload quickly). Power Plant Live! Joe Squared now has a location in Power Plant Live. They offer 16 micro taps and about 22 different cans. (You can't have bottles in Power Plant Live.) We were there on a Tuesday when they featured a free 10" pizza with the purchase of two beers. |
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Liam Flynn's Ale House Liam Flynn's Ale House is in Baltimore's arts district in an area known as Station North. |
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Alewife Alewife, a Baltimore beer destination, is housed in what was originally the Eutaw Savings Bank Building, dating from 1857. The bar's interior pays due homage to the stately structure, with lots of dark wood and tasteful decoraton. There is lots of seating on the first floor at the long staple-shaped bar, stools, and tables. A balcony overlooks the large bar room, and the third floor contains a second bar. The clientele seemed to be a mix of 30-plus beer sophisticates. |
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Alonso's Alonso's has been a fixture in Baltimore since 1931, but has recently put together an impressive beer portfolio. They offer 12 taps, 9 of which rotate, and also stock over 200 bottles. On our visit, the drafts included several locals, and Belgian styles seemed to be prevalent. The bartenders were plentiful and helpful. The crowd was a varied neighborhood Baltimore mix and the decor included Orioles, Colts, and Ravens jerseys ranging from Berry to McCrary. TV's were visible, but not overwhelming...this is not a sports bar, but there will be sports on television. Adjoining Alonso's is Loco Hombre, a Mexican restaurant. The bar serves both places. |
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Jack's Bistro You may remember this venue as Buddy's, but the beer selection and food quality have sure taken a step up since then. Jack's features 8 taps and about 65 bottles, a well-chosen assortment of Belgians, other imports, and microbrews. The staff members were knowledgeable and helpful in making selections. The bar seats a dozen; there are three booths and numerous tables for dining. The place was packed and hopping on a Saturday night. The food is gourmet quality, and prices were high for both food and beer...having stated this, what we ate and drank were worth the cost. Jack's offers a beer dinner for $20 every Thursday.
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Hudson Street Stackhouse Located in Canton just about a block and a half from beer-destination Mahaffey's, is the |
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Hamilton Tavern With the exception of Racer's, the Harford Rd. corridor used to be a beer wasteland. This is no longer the case with the re-opening of the Hamilton Tavern. One of the owners, Tom Creegan, is also a part owner of Brewer's Art, so it is not surprising that the fine beer is of primary concern. Specializing in American microbrews, Hamilton Tavern offers four taps and a stellar selection of about 20 bottles. The interior is unpretentious with an intriguing agrarian motif. The place was packed on a Saturday evening, indicating that the beer-appreciating populace of the region was waiting for a place like this. Cruise the corridor and check it out. |
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Elliott's Pour House Utilizing a 20-tap tower salvaged from the late Crabby Dick's of Fells Point, owner Jeff Mason has begun elevating Elliott's Pour House, located east of Canton in Brewers Hill, into a craft beer destination. Jeff now has 12 craft beers on tap, and plans to have 20 in the near future. Concentrating on American microbrews, EPH has the likes of Troegs, Smuttynose, & North Coast represented. There are also about 20 bottles. EPH has a neighborhood feel, with a pool table and other activities. Local beer enthusiasts owe it to themselves to throw back a few at Elliott's Pour House. |
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Metropolitan Coffeehouse & Wine Bar Located in Federal Hill, the Metro is a wine bar that takes beer very seriously. With 6 taps downstairs and six taps upstairs (when open), the Metro offers an excellent selection of microbrews, Belgians, and other imports. The taps are well-chosen and seem to be well cared for, and the menu also offers about 50 bottles. |
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Bertha's Bertha's is a great bar, pure Baltimore, and classic Fells Point. They have a tap selection of about 10 good ones, and several bottles. They don't bother trying to be a great beer bar as such, but there are always a few good locals and the well-rounded selection is always fresh. Bertha's is world-famous for mussels, and you'll see their bumper stickers all over the country. Great bar food, and an adjoining restaurant that is famous for it's fine food round out the Bertha's experience...oh yes...they have the most awesome urinal in the city. |
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Grand Cru Grand Cru is not a beer bar; it's a wine bar that's a great beer venue, and therefore merits inclusion here. Just look at their 6 taps, and you will see that they have been thoughtfully chosen. Just sample one, such as a Bitburger Pils or a Belgian, and you will agree that they are meticulously cared for. In the cooler, the Questor will find about a dozen 750-ml bottles of hard-to-find brews, and maybe six 12-oz. bottles of the same. The selection leans toward Belgians. |
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Ale Mary's 1939 Fleet Street Opened in March, 2005, Ale Mary's was a beer bar from its inception. Bill and Tom Rivers (right) and wife Mary, offer Guinness and five well-selected micros on tap, augmented with a generous list of about 35 bottles. The food is excellent. Located on the cusp of Canton and the fringe of Fells Point, a stop at Ale Mary's is a mandate on your next brew-hunting excursion. |
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No Idea Tavern No Idea is a friendly neighborhood watering hole with 4 taps and about 20 or so bottles. There is pool, shuffleboard, and other games, as well as lots of unbelievable beer specials. Regular drafts come in big 20 oz. glasses. It's fun and you'll want to return. |
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Max's on Broadway Max's is a steady fixture in Historic Fells Point on the corner of Broadway and Lancaster Street. With over 100 rotating drafts, several hand engines, and over 1000 different bottled beers, Max's claims the largest beer selection in Maryland, and is one of the top beer destinations on the East Coast. The taps are generally well-cared for too. The crowd? Mostly young, but with a healthy mix of true beer enthusiasts. Want to escape? Walk upstairs to the Mobtown Lounge. A laid-back, more relaxed atmosphere with numerous taps and bottles. Max's also features special events, like Belgian and German festivals, and Tuesday Beer Socials. |
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2706 Dillon St Wayne Mahaffey set out to run the best beer bar in Canton, and most patrons would agree that he has succeeded. With around 20 taps, a coupla hand engines, and maybe 50 different bottles, Wayne not only provides variety, but different and ever-changing variety. He moves unusual kegs through the establishment with astonishing rapidity and regularity. Most of the taps rotate. There is a 100-Beer Club, Bomber Night, and a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable about the beer. Food specials draw large crowds on many evenings. |
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The Wharf Rat The Wharf Rat is a bar with true character, embodied in its nautical memorabilia of Old Baltimore. Serves about a dozen of its excellent Oliver's Beers and has about 6 guest taps. If that's not enough, they can come up with about 30 different bottled beers. Two hand engines. The beer is superior, and they are served in 20-oz. Imperial Pints. Good jukebox, decent food, and a men's room you won't forget. Raw oysters the size of Big Macs. The Oliver's beers are brewed at the Pratt Street Ale House near which ain't a bad place to visit either. |
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Many Americans are in need of counseling as to how the leek should be worn on St. David's Day. |
The Wharf Rat is a superb bar with excellent ales, but, as the staff told us, "We're a bar...not a restaurant." On a busy night you may want to inquire before you order a snack as to how long the wait might be. This could prevent exasperation on both sides of the bar. |
Ropewalk Tavern 1209 S. Charles St.
Ropewalk Tavern has come a long way from the days when it was a one-room saloon. It now boasts numerous rooms, multi-levels, and more bars than I can sit at. Ropewalk offers a chance for customers to earn their Masters of Beer Appreciation, and brass plaques on the wall list those who have taken advantage. With 17 taps and 155 bottles, Ropewalk is a great beer bar as well as one of Federal Hill's liveliest night spots. The eclectic decor sports pool tables, murals, and statues of sailors, Indians, and republicans. The food is good, and the owners and staff will make you feel at home. |
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John Steven, Ltd. 1800 Thames St. John Steven Ltd. is so renowned for being a fine bar & restaurant, it may get overlooked for having a lot of fine beers. Don't make this error! With about 20 taps leaning toward local products, and maybe 25 bottles, John Steven is definitely a great place to go for a beer. And the food is great, too. |
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Growler's Pub Fleet St.& Potomac 410-276-7553 When John Bates left Racers to open his own bar, he brought with him the desire to provide a diverse and delicious variety of beers. He has done so. With 10 well-cared for taps and about 30 bottles, |
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Look for the understated storefront...its easy to miss but well worth finding. |
Racers Cafe Racers may have been Baltimore's first true beer bar. About 15 years ago they made the decision to eliminate all pedestrian bottles and serve good beer at reasonable prices. Taps rotate quickly, selection is diverse, and they have a 3-for-$5 special all the time. Beers are ordered by number. (see chalkboard below) Draft beers are micros and imports and they now have a selection of Belgian ales in bottles. Racers is unpretentious and substantial, like the neighborhood it resides in. The people are friendly. There are barrels of free peanuts and pretzels, and from time to time, Racers hosts a beer tasting or brewfest.
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Duda's Tavern 1600 Thames St. Fells Point A true neighborhood establishment, Duda's is nothing if it's not unpretentious. It's a super beer bar without even trying to be. Duda's has 16 taps featuring several locals, and about 70 bottles, including a number of specialty beers. The emphasis seems to be on their fine food, especially the hamburgers and seafood, but the staff is wise to the beer, too. Free pretzels with mustard...I also like the chalkboard listing draft beers with ABV's. |
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The Owl Bar One East Chase Street
What do William Howard Taft, Chaing Kai-Shek, Cab Calloway, and Henry Fonda have in common? They've all been to the Owl Bar. You won't see it advertised...you have to know it's in the back of the lobby of the historic Belvedere Hotel. As a speakeasy during prohibition, the two owls over the bar served to warn patrons when it was safe to drink. The Owl Bar has about 18 taps, leaning toward regional brews, and another 12 or so bottles. It may not be your quintessential beer bar...but its a darn good bar with plenty of interesting choices. It oozes with atmosphere of old Baltimore. While leaving, ride up to the 13th floor just to get a gargoyle's-eye view of the town. Still thirsty? The Brewer's Art is just across Charles St. |
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Pub Dog 410-727-6077 If you are looking for one of the most fun and friendly beer bars in Baltimore, look no farther than Pub Dog. Once known as Thirsty Dog, Pub Dog hasat least 10 different beers on tap, plus one seasonal. Fresh beer has always been a hallmark of Pub Dog, as founded by Steve Osmond, and now they make their own beer in Westminster. There should be a draft here to satisfy the taste of any beer drinker. If not, several bottles are available. The staff is always knowledgeable, helpful, and gregarious; and often very busy. The bar is dog-friendly, the pizza is excellent and diverse, and then there is the Dog Deal...all the drafts are 2-for-$4...all the time. |
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