Growlers

GrowlersGrowlers
GrowlersGrowlers
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

227 East Diamond Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.82
Beers:
19
Ratings:
54
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.64
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
27
pDev:
11.54%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by slander:
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Really kind of totally out of the way from where I was to where I'm going ultimately, surprise, surprise. But if you get out early enough, you can do the long day the long way around taking your time, which is how this goes. Now in a town called Gaithersburg, the suspiciously dodgy watching my car all too well for me, I think they call it "casing". And can I get a seat at the bar where I can watch them watching...

Corner place, as so many not halfway down the street are, in an old building that's housed every kind of business imaginable over the years, preparing the space for the inevitable brewpub. "L" shaped wood slat bar with a metal piping foot rail seating 14. Barback holds a something in the shape of an old fireplace, pressed tin sided, with shelving inlayed all boozed up and glassware laden, and a logo piece atop. Counter space to both sides with tiered booze and growlers hooked above from a rack piece in the windows offering slight views of the peek-a-brewroom behind it. Draft list blackboarded above and flatscreens in the corners.

Walls are painted a certain marblesqueness in yellow ochre orange. Big windows up front over East Diamond alongside and over the tall doors. Lino floorings and wrought iron details; drop chandeliers with tri bulbs over the bar & larger circular ones with twice the bulbage over the floor. Spinny fans, too.

Something of a divider behind me with 9 small tables in a pen there, the sills above lined with old beer cans. Some coaster display pieces nicely done, and a large framed 1910 Gaithersburg pic on the end. Through the pen to a side dining room, about 15 tables marbled there and more of the same décor. Decent brick play, steins & cups on the window sills, framed brewery pieces of the same, and some cool glass pieces with candles. Kitchen to the rear with a chef's table to one side and the mezzanine above holding 8 tables. Wall cased beer can displays, and views out over the room for the looking. And up upstairs or upelevator as it is, a big bar hooking with 18 seats and scattered bar table seating. Displays of micro bottles and arcade games about. On the far end, an area for the band to set up and on the far wall, access to the outside bar. Seating for 9 on the "L" there, with bar counter seating along the perimeter offering views of my car (it's still there). It's chill, and hey, did I mention it's a beautiful goddamn day? Well, it is. Here comes the sun, which reminds me, they've been playing good tunes since I got here.

9 individual copper cylinder taps extending from the bar in a row on center. 4 house beers up (because wouldn't you know it, the IPA kicked last night) and 3 guest taps; Magic Hat #9, Leinie Sunset Wheat & Guinness (Um, yeah, guest again). As such, I navigated 6oz samples of the house beers only. Kingpin Kolsch Ale, 5.1%, dry with a nice hoppiness; War hammer Scotch Ale, 8.0%, has that bandaidiness that I do not like; Broken Shovel Stout, 5.4%, thin & bitter, not full bodied as described, tastes burnt or something; Willamette Pale Ale, 5.5%, spicy, citrus, good hoppiness. Kingpin Kolsch & Willamette Pale Ale were easily the best as the other 2 were just not, you know, good.

I was looking for a bite, I guess I always am. Was fenced on the blackened chicken sandwich but opted not. Hmmmmn. The soup today is chicken & chorizo gumbo, I accept your terms. Oh yeah, that's all peppery love, uh huh.

It's a good scene here, the building itself is a marvel. Ira tending, service was served, no complaints. Food was good but the beer was so-so, some much better than others and I woulda liked a few more of them. And now out and onward, I'm just barely halfway between points where was there and where I's gots to be.
Jul 09, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.73 by Boone757 from Virginia

Jun 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.23 by SpAiReArGsEonNE from New Jersey

Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by ECsurfattic from Virginia

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Jan 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.35 by dexterk1 from Illinois

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by pivoichamiz from Maryland

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by BigRizz62 from Maryland

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by TheMudMonkey from Maryland

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by BuffaloBrewFan from Maryland

Jun 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by yourefragile from District of Columbia

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by JakeDebus from Maryland

May 22, 2014
Photo of hAle2theWort
Reviewed by hAle2theWort from Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Downstairs is a more refined bar, dining experience. There is a decent variety of food, which has been hit or miss, but never disappointing. The best place to hang and drink their wide assortment of craft brews is upstairs. Love the beer, love the atmosphere, highly recommend Growlers!
Oct 23, 2013
Photo of wrightst
Reviewed by wrightst from Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +10.7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
This is a great brew pub! I love that they are experimental with seasonal beers. Their year-round selections are solid, offering something for nearly every beer taste. I come back to this place whenever I can, even though it's a bit out of the way for me. Love it!
Oct 05, 2013
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Reviewed by Chessmaster from Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -18.1%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Been here twice with my wife.

The first time was much better than the first. On the first visit, the restaurant featured
several varieties its own house made sausages which we enjoyed. The beer we sampled --
the stout and a Belgian dubbel clone -- were actually quite good. The stout had dark roast,
coffee notes and the dubbel was pretty true to the style (although they served it in
a regular pint glass instead of a chalice). The server was efficient but a little condescending.

About 6 months later, we decided to visit for lunch. This time, it seems they have
gotten rid of making house made sausages, which disappointed my wife. It seems the
menu has been modified to contain only very standard bar fare. The food we ordered was
good, but not great. Tried an "imperial hefeweizen". It was only fair, nothing great or amazing and
didn't taste much like a hefeweizen. Noted that half of their regular (non-rotational) beers were crossed out on the menu as not available, including the stout which I would have liked to try again.

Tried to order one of the rotational beers and it was also unavailable. Tried samples of their ESB and kolsch. The kolsch was okay, fairly close to the style.

The prices for beer are quite high compared to other craft brew pubs/microbreweries.

The scores given take into account both trips. The first trip would have been rated a bit higher.
Aug 12, 2013
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Reviewed by summerlightning from Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Very disappointed in this place. Came from out of town a couple of months ago and visited. Food was good and enjoyed the sampler selection of beers. Came this weekend and thought I would pick up a Growler to take and share with some colleagues. $16+ for the bottle and then $16+ for the fill. Now I will be back in town one to two more times this year and could have come in for a refill, but that price is outrageous. If you are looking for place to sit down and have beer I will give them some kudos, but they certainly do not live up to their namesake. No value at all. No reason to come back.
Oct 13, 2012
Photo of WillyDee
Reviewed by WillyDee from Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
I visited this place at the recomendation of a regular, and found it to be a nice spot. They have their own selection of their craft beers on tap, and for an affordiable price. I got the sampler (six 8oz glasses) for 10 bucks. The beers were not crazy good, but made excelient session beers and had enough flavor to keep me happy. The stout was by far my favorite, with nice coffee notes. The atmosphere was interesting, with a rooftop bar for smokers and a indoor bar for non-smokers. The food was solid with good bar food and enought of a menue for you to find something you could eat. There was a stage, and a band played. Not my musice, but still fun.
Jun 27, 2011
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Reviewed by bum732 from Lesotho

2.54/5  rDev -30.2%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 3 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3.5
New to the area, looking for good happy hour spots, thought i would try here. Located in the "old" part of Gaithersburg, downtown that looks a little like the wild west. First floor has an old, but large bar. Went upstairs where the young crowd was hanging out and noticed a 3% bitter on draft. Sounded good, ordered that. Came back as a hazy yellow, i asked our waitress (who was smoking hot) if they accidently poured me their wheat beer. Nope, it was their "bitter". I say this in quotations because the goal of this beer was a "light" beer, not a traditional English bitter which upset me. The beer was awful, bland, almost like old dish water.

I next ordered a sampler tray, i got their "bitter, a brown ale, a wheat, rasberry kolsch and then Harpoon IPA, Old Dominion BA stout and one other i don't remember. Their beers are pretty terrible, the brown had an artificial taste to it, they advertised it as a "German brown ale", whatever that is supposed to mean, this was no alt.

At least the atmosphere was nice, very chilled, open space and our waitress was smoking hot which always helps. I just wish they had better beers, the wheat was actually ok, but the rest were borderline awful. Not sure if i would venture here again, depends on what beers are on tap. Oh yeah, had their crab dip and it was really good, can't say much more about the other food.

Edit 7-29-11:

So after conversing with the head brewer, i decided to give it another shot. For those reading the above review, i was told that the roof had ripped off of the establishment, effectively shutting down the brewery, hence the bad beer selection and quality.

Met my girlfriend there upstairs. Was pretty packed around 6pm, there was a band setting up full of kids with all of their parents and accompanying camcorders recording the show. Bizarre. Beer menu was much different than the first time i was there. They had an IPA, Cognac aged brown ale, Kolsch, Blueberry Wheat, a big ESB and maybe something else. Service was good upstairs even though we just had a railing to set our beers. Started getting loud with the band starting, so decided to go downstairs and chill.

Pretty crowded downstairs as well, a different crowd as well, definitely older, definitely locals. Some drunk asshole was walking around harassing people which was fun to deal with. I noticed they had a wider selection of beers downstairs and were pouring a couple of them (a double IPA and something else) through a keg, through a cooler box and into pitchers. They were also pouring beers into pitchers directly from the taps, so i guess their CO2 system was messed up? Lots of foam. Anyway, get to the bar, and try and order a beer. Latino bartender doesn't greet me, doesn't acknowledge me at all while closing out the "locals", helping them, all while continuing to ignore me despite me sitting right next to them. I literally waited there 10 minutes, the locals seemed amused. I proceeded to move to the otherside of the bar, where finally the manager (i think) quickly got me the ESB. I've never been so disrespected in my life at a bar, i was pretty pissed.

As for the beers, better than my first review, but nothing great. The IPA was pretty good, but i could tell it was older. Girlfriend really liked the blueberry wheat. My ESB was ok, nothing special. Kolsch my gf had was not that good. We actually put our name in to eat, waited 20 minutes despite there being clear tables we could sit at in the dining area. That was pretty much the last straw and we quickly left.

I adjusted the numbers to reflect the second review to be fair, but wow, i've been to a number of establishments in my life, this was one of my worse. To have it happen to me twice at the same establishment makes it even worse. There seems to be an attitude throughout that caters to the locals, so fuck it, I won't bother.
May 03, 2011
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Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

3.23/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Situated off a railroad depot in Gaithersburg, MD. I came here twice to celebrate a friend's birthday and to see a band play. This is a historical building - two stories that boasts a roof top terrance. I recommend to park at the garage across the street from the brewpub. Their beer selections are usual - pale ale, ipa, stout, kolsch, and something light. Beers are just mediocore at best. Bartenders are cool and laidback. Can't vouch for the waiters as I have not eaten in the dining area yet. Food was just okay - I've had the wings and burgers. It can become noisy and packed here - young adults playground.
Feb 24, 2011
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Reviewed by ZimZamZoom from West Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
I had a business meeting in a building literally right behind this place. Funny since I was planning on hitting it for dinner with my brother. Well the group I was with at the meeting wanted to go for lunch, so I went twice in one day.

Let me say this..the food is great! Between our party of eight for lunch and my brother and his wife in the evening, everyone said their meal was excellent. Burgers, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches...all good.

No beers for lunch, but upon my return in the evening I had a sampler that included six or eight beers...memory fails me. These beers were all also very good. Three different pale ales, a wee heavy, a Kolsch, and maybe others. I was impressed with all of them.

Atmosphere is cool enough, nice bar area, three different eating areas. Old beer cans everywhere which is very cool since I used to collect them. I saw many that brought back memories.

Service...is horrible! I thought lunch was an anomaly, but dinner was a repeat. Could not get drinks or water refilled at lunch, could not get water refilled at dinner. Server passed by table several times without a glance on both visits. Never asked how the food or beers or anything was, never asked sister in law if she'd like another glass of wine. Hand waving to get attention failed. Checks took forever to come out. Beer samplers took forever because "the bartender was backed up". Lunch waitress looked hung over and unhappy to be there, and even more unhappy that we were there. Dinner waiter was slightly less grumpy but still treated us as an inconvenience.

The food and beer might bring me back to this place once or twice more, but if the service is always like that it would then be off my list. Next time I will sit at the bar and see how it is there.
Mar 21, 2010
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Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Drove to Gaithersburg to check this place out the other night. It is pretty cool looking. A big bar up front and several tables in an adjoining room. The bar is decorated with some old beer bottles, old beer advertisements, kind of a cool, saloon-like feel to the place. They did use Miller Lite coasters at the table and that really annoyed me a lot. This place has no reason to be advertising for BMC, except all those beers were available via bottles.

I ordered a sampler of the beers, which was either 6 4 ounce samples or 6 6 ounce samples. I asked the waiter since there were only 5 beers produced by the bar currently what would I get as my sixth, he seemed annoyed and confused, I ended up getting a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as my sixth. The beer and our food came out quickly. The beer was mediocre and the food was good. As our stay wore on, the waiter seemed more cheery and more attentive, maybe he saw me keeping notes in a notebook and that made him shape up.

I had a burger (since it was Tuesday and ti was half off burgers) and my wife had a lobster wrap thing. My burger was correctly cooked to order, juicy, and the lobster wrap was tasty and the lobster was cooked well. I had decent french fries (although they tasted a little peanuty) and my wife had sweet potato fries which were greatly improved with some salt. I liked the food. The beer was just OK. I recommend the stout, or the kolsch and my wife really liked the pumpkin beer. Everything else was just OK or worse.

If you are in Gaithersburg and don't want to go to the Dogfish head pub there, go check out Growlers. Its OK.
Nov 04, 2009
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Reviewed by Daniellobo from District of Columbia

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A rather recommendable brew pub, family friendly, with good food fare, and well above average beers. Moreover, it is one of the few places in the Washington DC metropolitan region where one can have filled up a growler to go. Just note that their own growlers needs to be used, probably part of a county regulation, and purchasing one is currently $18, which you can use in following visits, and the refill of fresh beer from any of their taps is $11.

Last time we had a chance to stop by for late lunch on a Sunday after a visit to a farm nearby. The place was almost deserted so in this occasion the atmosphere was not particularly memorable. But service was adequate, and the visit was pleasing. A generous two level area acts as the main space, with an additional terrace supposedly used in warm weather and for louder patrons and events. The decor works well with some breweriana on the walls, and the brew tanks displayed behind the large bar where growlers hang on top of it.

Table for four, including a kid and immediately we had a high chair, crayons, and standard children's menu. We ordered two different and rather tasty burgers, a half rack of ribs that was forgettable, and a very blah salad, alongside some chicken tenders for the kid. A berries and ice cream cobbler was the absolute highlight. Best cobbler all on the table remembered ever having.

They offered 8 beers on tap.

House brews:
Razzputin Kolsch
Kingpin Kolsch
Red Kilt Ale
Seneca Pale Ale
Brass Lantern IPA

Guest Beers:
Widmer Hefeweizen
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout

The beer menu offered short but adequate and informative description of styles and character. We ordered a 6 4oz. beer sampler with all the house brews and the Widmer. All felt very fresh and quite tasty.

Although I personally would have called the Seneca PA an IPA, and the other way around for their IPA, it was the one I preferred, and enjoyed a nice pint during the meal. In fact, it was my choice of beer to fill up the growler I took home.

Unfortunately growlers is a bit off my regular catchment area and I am sure won't be visiting very often in the future. But when I know I'm going to be nearby I'm sure to carry the growler just in case I have a chance to fill it up.
Oct 07, 2009
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Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I was recently in Rockville, MD for a vacation trip so we decided to go here for dinner one evening (Thank you BeerFly!). The atmosphere was really nice, interesting 2 level setup with a nice bar and viewing area of all the equipment. Seating was nice, lots of craft beer paraphernalia on the walls which I thought was cool. The waiter was really nice and knowledgable enough that if he didn't know something, he admitted it and offered for us to come back and meet the brewer when he was in. I declined only because I wasn't in town for very long. Great service, speedy and very friendly.
The beer was very good. Better than what I was expecting. Excellent IPA, Stout, and Kolsch which might have been my favorite. I was going to get a growler, but since I did not already have one, it would have been $30.50 for a new growler and beer fill which I didn't feel like spending.
The food was also excellent. I recommend the Sweet Potato Fries as they are a hit at the place. The entrees are fair priced and really good. I thought it would have a chain-like quality to the food judging by the menu, but the quality was excellent and exceeded my expectations.
Overall a good place and when I am back in the area, I will be going there again.
Sep 15, 2009
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Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Located in a building that is considered the oldest commercial property in Gaithersburg, Growlers is an impressive place that appears to offer something for everyone. On the very top floor is a large bar with a stage area, several TVs and a large outdoor deck for those more interested in the party bar atmosphere. The ground and middle levels however, offer a more serene and conservative setting for diners and beer enthusiasts alike.

I sat at the large downstairs bar and caught game 4 of the Rangers - Capitals playoff series on one of two medium sized flat screen TVs located at either end of the bar. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist was getting shelled by the Caps and practically had to stand on his head to keep the Rangers in the lead, but in the end the Rangers prevailed.

The brewpub's fermentation tanks sat blind glass with iron bars, while an extensive beer can collection adorned many of the 1st and 2nd floor walls. On tap, Growler's offered:

D'Rail Lite Ale (4.3% abv) - very light. Not much taste, but not in any way offensive.

Kingpin Kolsch (5.5 % abv) - a very pleasant beer.

Dominion's Lager (5.6 % abv) - a good flavorful German style pilsner.

Engine House Ale (5.2% abv) - another very drinkable beer with a nice hop bite.

Brass Lantern IPA (5.9% abv) - an interesting IPA, but not my favorite take on the style. A little sweet up front but then nicely balanced by hops in the finish.

Dominion's Oak Barrel Stout (5.2% abv) - A smooth, creamy, slightly sweet and chocolaty stout with a nice dry finish.

Also on tap, but not in my sampler, was the Widmer Hefeweizen.

For dinner, I ordered the mushrooms stuffed with crab special and it was delicious. The service was good, the music was good and the atmosphere inviting. I would go out of my way to go back to Growlers again.
Apr 23, 2009
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Reviewed by unibrew from New Hampshire

4.47/5  rDev +22.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I had no idea this place existed until yesterday, but, I'd call it a diamond in the rough. Good brewery brewpubs are hard enough to find, but, literally stumbling upon one is just awesome when the beers are this good. They have about 8 homebrews on tap.. I tried the 4 I was most interested in, and found some excellent beers. The Irvington Pale Ale was the best IMO -- I even brought a growler back to Brooklyn with me (currently imbibing it as well). It's a less hoppy than usual but extremely well balanced brew... incredibly easy to drink. The growler won't last past the early evening for sure. Other offerings include the Sabertooth Squirrel Nut Brown Ale - A.B.V. 5.1% and the Brass Lantern I.P.A. - A.B.V. 6. I found both of those to be excellent. I especially liked the caramel flavor of the Sabertooth.

The atmosphere was helped by the music playing, mostly rock, friendly staff, which included Matt, the brewer. A very enjoyable place!
Apr 10, 2008
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Reviewed by holzmann from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Short and to the point, Growlers is a solid prew pub.

As far as beer is concerned, the tap list may not be that impressive, but the beers brewed in house are all very fine examples of their styles. I personally would like to see more beers on the "guest beer" list and see that list rotate more frequently. This lack of selection is made up for by the fact that their regular brews such as the Harding's IPA or Irvintgon Pale Ale are excellent beers.

Another nice feature about Growlers is the atmosphere. The building has a nice split between upstairs (Bar & Stage) and downstairs (Restaurant) to cater to both moods. The kitchen is one area where the owners have not skimped. Depsite modest prices, the sandwiches are excellent! With happy hour from 4-7 and $2.25 pint night at least twice a week, there is usually always something going on.

I'll be the first to admit that I am a Dogfish Head fanboy and with the Dogfish Head Ale House a mile down the road, the choice is sometimes tough. However, DFH tends to be more of a restaurant than a pub and quite often can not match the atmosphere and people that you will find at Growlers. Especially considering the dirth of bars in Gaithersburg, on most nights, this is the place to be.

To sum it up...
Pros: Good beer, decent prices, great food, good atmosphere, awesome roof level deck,
Cons: Minimal tap list, lack of guest beers
Nov 07, 2007
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Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Having been a regular of the two previous sites (Old Towne Tavern and Summit Station) I made several visits before inserting my own two cents (or two pints). First thing, Brewer Joe Kalish’s beer is still here. He offers 8 taps, including Belt’s ESB, Harding IPA, Irvington IPA, the highly alcoholic Centennial, which is brewed every 100th batch, a Kolsch, a Blueberry Wheat and two guest beers (currently Dominion Octoberfest and Shiner Hefeweissen). All well-bodied ales at excellent prices – and a bargain for this area. Growlers will continue Happy Hour prices at the bar and have been honoring Summit Station Mug Club Cards through the end of the year. They now have a $2.25 night on Wednesdays and food specials during football season. Since Joe regularly rotates certain styles, you should call ahead for the latest on tap – especially if seeking the head-knocking Centennial. I recommend Growler's.

UPDATE - 11/27/07: Joe Kalish retired on September 14, 2007. Growlers' new brewer is Matt Hagerman formerly of Old Dominion.
Oct 09, 2006
Growlers in Gaithersburg, MD
Brewery rating: 3.82 out of 5 with 54 ratings