Union Craft Brewing Company

Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

1700 W 41st St #420
Baltimore, Maryland, 21211
United States

(410) 467-0290 | map
unioncraftbrewing.com

Beer is the union of water, barley, hops and yeast. A brewery is the union of beer, its brewers and the community it serves. Beer Unites! is not just a tagline, its the underlying philosophy of everything we believe in as a business. Good beer brings good people together for good times—and good works.

Situated along the Jones Falls river, in the historic Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore, the Union Craft Brewery makes great beer and great company. With reverence for tradition and place, we brew beers that unite old and new ideas, the science and craft of brewing, and boldness and balance of flavor. Founded in the fall of 2011 by Kevin Blodger, Adam Benesch and Jon Zerivitz, brewing operations officially began in the spring of 2012 with the installation of a 20 barrel brewhouse and the initial launch of Duckpin Pale Ale.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.88
Beers:
82
Ratings:
2,865
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.17
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
82
pDev:
8.63%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mjmadden:
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Rated by mjmadden from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

Nov 28, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.1 by RickyBfromCT from Connecticut

Oct 22, 2022
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Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
I have been a fan of this brewery since I moved to Maryland six years ago so it was cool to visit for the first time. It was rainy the afternoon Allison and I showed up and not as cool to hang out out front but I can see that being cool in good weather with all that room and outdoor bar. Inside is big, almost cavernous, with a central bar and the pizza kitchen across the picnic tables. Pizza was good and served up super fast. I was driving so settled for a Zadie's and a Thirst Monster later with the pizza, but the beer menu mostly leaned towards the Summer offerings, although they did still have Snow Pants. Maybe next time. Solid first visit. I plan on being back.
May 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by Budlum from Maryland

Jan 02, 2020
 
Rated: 4.57 by Chris_n_Rod from Massachusetts

Nov 12, 2019
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Reviewed by bl00 from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75
Got to visit the new brewery recently, glad to see the huge upgrade it space since the last location was tiny. This location has a ton of long communal tables along with a couch area and a big outdoor space with a bar that has a few taps. There was plenty of parking, which was great. The vibe was ok, though something was missing that I can't quite place. Though it is directly adjacent to I83 noise was not bad at all. Service was quick, though there was no distinct area to line up for a drink if you weren't sitting at the bar, this is a huge pet peeve for me in a taproom this size. Offerings largely include their staple beers, along with seasonals which you can find in the area on draft. They have a rotating series of 'Rough Draught' beers which have historically been decent, though not eye catching. I would love a bit more variety, brewery exclusives, and rotation in their mix.
Jul 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by gabe71tx from Virginia

Jun 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.36 by rodlavers from Maryland

Apr 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by jkrug5 from Maryland

Apr 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by Matt23 from Virginia

Feb 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by Djon1rpt from Pennsylvania

Feb 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by NotAlcoholicJustAHobby from Vermont

Nov 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.82 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

May 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.48 by macshark from Virginia

Apr 23, 2018
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
I don't know if this place is in Hampden or adjacent to Hampden. It's right across a little wooden bridge from Nepenthe, and right around the corner from Blue Pit, and then maybe a 5 minute walk to all the places on 36th street--you can have a really nice beer weekend without ever leaving the area.

Union is friendly and almost always bustling. Their beers are probably the most consistent of any Baltimore brewers. Their older school, maltier options are usually okay, and their IPAs shine.

They have about a dozen taps going at all times, with most options available for takeout either in can or growler.

Like the rest of Hampden, the clientele skew white, upper middle class, and usually between mid-20s to mid-40s. It's a friendly vibe, though: if the weather's not bad, they open up the front patio and you can sit out there and drink and play bags.

My biggest complaint is that the hours kind of suck (5-10 Thursday-Friday; 12-5 Sat-Sun), but that's understandable since this is a full-scale production brewery. The prices are also a little steep for house beers--their flagship Duckpin cost more here than it does in most bars miles away. But this is still a nice place.
Sep 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Sep 06, 2017
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Reviewed by TominGermany from Germany

3.21/5  rDev -23%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.75
The place was packed due to the Bikes & Beers event so I should probably go back to see if I have a better experience. There were four of us in the group and no one was really impressed with our beers.
Jun 25, 2017
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Reviewed by mzrebiec from Pennsylvania

4.84/5  rDev +16.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
What a great place to visit. Comfortable, blue collar and industrial vibe throughout the building. Large selection of Union beers with options on how to get them home (Crowlers are the way to go).
Apr 10, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by spacewolf from Maryland

Jan 27, 2017
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Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
The wife and I drove over to the Hampden/Woodberry area of Bawlmer to check out Union Brewing.

The place is by the light-rail tracks and it was mighty hopping on a Saturday afternoon. Beautiful people and hipsters spilling out of the brewery on picnic tables outside and crowding the small bar area.

11 taps + 1 cask at the bar. I got a Double Duckpin for the wife and a most excellent barrel-aged Chessie barleywine for myself.

They have a good variety of styles here, including a rauchbier and a winter IPA. Prices struck me as slightly high for Bawlmer- I paid $20 for a bottle of BA Chessie. But the beers are excellent and are well worth the crowds and the prices (some other times we've visited and the place is almost empty)
Jan 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Furley80 from Pennsylvania

Dec 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by qcbrewer from North Carolina

Dec 01, 2016
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Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.07/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Top notch brewery situated in the old Union Mills/Falls Road area of Baltimore. A little tough to find first time...even with gps. Once there...decent space and parking with plenty of beer on tap waiting for you inside. Various mainlines and special releases/one offs; one cask. Small tasting room/bar area with side room and a few tables/chairs. Also with outside table area. Good people and a fun place. No food, but food trucks serve the tap room at times. Plenty of glasses and stuff to buy. Only real downside is that tap room is only open Saturday and after 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Things can get busy fast, and thoughts about sipping a beer and discussing with the UC crew disappear pretty fast. Place ends up being a fun local stop with a bunch of tasty beers. Worth a visit if in area at the right time.
Sep 10, 2016
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Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25
Review of new facility:
Much larger than old spot, there is a main bar that seats about 20, and two serving bars, one in a smaller room (likely available for parties) and one outside. Seat in the main area is at 12 half-community high tops, a few sofas, and a couple regular tables. Outside appears to seat about the same. They also have a kitchen in house now, as well as a stage for musical acts.

Service is fairly quick and friendly at the main bar. The music (not live) was a bit loud from the speakers, though the general noise level wasn’t bad.

The beer selection was about the same as their old place. They had flagships, seasonal, experimental, and a couple of barrel-aged beers on. Most of the beers were in the middle of the ABV scale. Styles included a few each of a variety of lagers, IPAs, and sours, and a handful of one off styles, totaling about 20. The quality of the beers was quite good, as experienced in the past.
Aug 06, 2016
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Reviewed by Kubishark from Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
Visited on a Friday night where it was fairly busy and seemingly understaffed. Only one guy behind the bar and several people at all times waiting to order. The brick is pretty and the outside tables and lights are nice, but not much to comment on besides that vibe-wise. Great beer and lots of good options available when I was there. I'd go back if I'm in the neighborhood. I do wish there had been a food truck or something around though. Enough people were there on a Friday night to make it worth it.
Jul 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by WheelsPSU from New Jersey

Jun 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by Capsfan90 from Maryland

May 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.35 by Mohawkhitchhiker from New York

May 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by wossle from Maryland

Feb 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by TedStrosser from Pennsylvania

Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by Tomkob11 from Maryland

Feb 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.07 by gustavmahler-09 from Maryland

Jan 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.72 by k3lso from Maryland

Jan 15, 2016
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Reviewed by JamLand from District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25
In a surprising turn of events, this brewery is located in an industrial park. Plenty of parking on weekends, but if the other businesses in the park aren't as generous during the week, then parking might be more challenging.

Good vibe, more space inside than you'd expect and several tables outside. A few board games to spur conversation, if you're interested.

Service could've been better, but they had a steady flow of customers.

Selection was solid. They had their traditional lineup with a few one-offs, which I think is what you hope for out of most breweries. Overall, their beers are solid with Double Duckpin and 3rd Stone being the standouts.

If you're in Baltimore, I'd recommend checking this place out. However, unless they have Double Duckpin or 3rd Stone on, you won't be blown away.
Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by DoovisMG from Maryland

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by John_Beeryman from Virginia

Sep 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by PuppyClawz from Maryland

Sep 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by dexterk1 from Illinois

Aug 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by DerekE4750 from New York

Jul 29, 2015
Union Craft Brewing Company in Baltimore, MD
Brewery rating: 3.88 out of 5 with 2865 ratings