Gaining Interest: Beer Tasting Group Baltimore

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by toplessnturboed, May 10, 2012.

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  1. toplessnturboed

    toplessnturboed Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2009 Maryland

    I've looked on quite a few sites to see if there are craft beer tasting groups in Baltimore, and I wouldn't mind starting one if there aren't any already.

    Mostly I'm talking from a house to house get together, but could meet at beer bars too. I would think each person would bring a mixed six pack of different styles of beers, maybe make one seasonal and one local each time, or have a type of beer theme once a month or something? We could all sample the types of beer.

    I'd be interested in hosting one if I have enough interest. This idea came up from the fact that two of my buddies are coming over to taste some beers, I have from Cigar City, and a buddy has some from his hometown of South Dakota. I'd like to grow the group a bit bigger and have a more diverse selection to try.

    Any thoughts?
     
    #1 toplessnturboed, May 10, 2012
  2. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    "but could meet at beer bars too"

    Apparently, this is something of a problem in Charm City. In the past, I approached Wayne at Mahaffey's and Mike at Judge's Bench about holding a tasting event in those bars, and they told me it was illegal for any beer to be opened that wasn't brought into the bar through a state licensed distributor. Casey at Max's allowed it, but we had to set it up in advance (I really don't think it a good idea to just show up with some friends and start cracking bottles at the bar), and the last time there was so little interest, I was too embarrassed to ever ask Casey to allow another one (he went to a considerable amount of trouble to set things up for us in a separate room, all at no cost to the group).

    That being said, I think your idea is a good one, and I'd be willing to attend and/or host a tasting group (as long as it wasn't too frequent), but I'd recommend holding these tastings in private homes.
     
    #2 John_M, May 10, 2012
  3. toplessnturboed

    toplessnturboed Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2009 Maryland

    I agree John. I think private homes would be nice too. I have two people I believe would be interested. Let's see what other interests we can drum up.
     
    #3 toplessnturboed, May 10, 2012
  4. duceswild

    duceswild Pooh-Bah (2,108) Feb 8, 2010 Heard & McDonald Islands
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am in for this, been looking for a tasting group as well. Depending on the size of the group, I could host as well sometime.
     
    #4 duceswild, May 10, 2012
  5. toplessnturboed

    toplessnturboed Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2009 Maryland

    I was thinking about 8-10 people max at a session, so that we can try the beers and it not get out of hand with too many people.
     
    #5 toplessnturboed, May 10, 2012
  6. mendvicdog

    mendvicdog Initiate (0) Sep 1, 2006 Maryland

    Count me in. It would have to be weekends though.
     
    #6 mendvicdog, May 10, 2012
  7. toplessnturboed

    toplessnturboed Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2009 Maryland

    Cool. Would definitely be a weekend. I'm going to Vegas in about a month. I'll try to bring some good stuff back from there, and maybe in July I could organize something at my house to start it off.
     
    #7 toplessnturboed, May 11, 2012
  8. DRBiser

    DRBiser Initiate (0) May 4, 2012 Maryland

    If there’s room for a novice, I’d love to join. In the process of refinishing a Fells Point home, but if I think it can handle the group I may be able to host later in the summer. Also, have a good friend in DC who’s a Cicerone (not sure if this designation means anything in this community, but he knows his stuff!) and perhaps I could get him to join on occasion.

    In the meantime, I’ll start accumulating
     
    #8 DRBiser, May 11, 2012
  9. oline73

    oline73 Pooh-Bah (2,968) Sep 18, 2009 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would love to be a part of this if it gets off the ground. We've had some small get togethers in the past, but something more regular would be great.
     
    #9 oline73, Jun 12, 2012
  10. AngusOg

    AngusOg Pooh-Bah (2,082) Apr 23, 2010 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    i would definitely be interested in something like this. Shoot me some details.
     
    #10 AngusOg, Jun 12, 2012
  11. sammy806

    sammy806 Pundit (834) Feb 29, 2008 Maryland

    If you have room for another newbie, keep me posted.
     
    #11 sammy806, Jun 19, 2012
  12. duceswild

    duceswild Pooh-Bah (2,108) Feb 8, 2010 Heard & McDonald Islands
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Never heard back from anyone on this either, but I don't mind trying to organize something for the summer time. If your interested shoot me a BM with your name/email and I'll get an email thread going so we can all try to iron something out. I'll give it a couple days for everyone to see this message before I send the email.
     
    #12 duceswild, Jun 19, 2012
  13. Crabbicuss

    Crabbicuss Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2011 Maryland

    I would be interested in this group, I reside in Bowie. I do some trading and have had the privilege of sharing some big boys recently (this year's 3F Bohemoth, 2010 Abyss, when fresh Hop *****, Heady, RR stuff, etc). Please keep me in mind though the afore mentioned are not always that accessible and very hard to keep around :wink:
     
    #13 Crabbicuss, Jun 19, 2012
  14. BaltimoreBeerGuy

    BaltimoreBeerGuy Devotee (390) Jun 7, 2003 Maryland

    I'd like to try and make some. I'm in Charles Village and I've got lots of diff stuff to share.
     
    #14 BaltimoreBeerGuy, Jun 19, 2012
  15. Beerontwowheels

    Beerontwowheels Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2009 Maryland

    I would not be able to host a tasting as I live in Rockville, but I do work in Woodlawn and would be more than happy to bring some bottles, either on a weeknight or a weekend.
     
    #15 Beerontwowheels, Jun 19, 2012
  16. duceswild

    duceswild Pooh-Bah (2,108) Feb 8, 2010 Heard & McDonald Islands
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All sorry for the delay in contacting everyone, I've been traveling a lot recently. That said I heard from a number of people who either posted here or sent me a BM. I am going to reach out to get a conversation going between us all in the next day or two. Hopefully we can find a day where some of us could get together for a tasting.

    Post here or send me a BM if you are interested and have not already reached out.
     
    #16 duceswild, Jun 28, 2012
  17. truckerock

    truckerock Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2011 Maryland

    Fells point. Keep me in the loop.
     
    #17 truckerock, Jul 9, 2012
  18. Sally

    Sally Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2012

    Are there any beer tastings or group that are in Baltimore? Keep in mind this is a girl who doesnt know much, doesnt have the taste for them (yet) and wants to know / learn more. I was hoping to have a co-ed group to meet new people and try new places? Please let me know if there is anything that newbies could join or come to that I wouldnt be laughed out of the place...
    Thanks,

    Sally
     
    #18 Sally, Sep 19, 2012
  19. Sally

    Sally Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2012

    ALso, if where to hold these is a problem, why dont we just meet up some designated place and just try some new or seasonal beers, see how we like them, taste, smell, whatever...just have fun?
     
    #19 Sally, Sep 19, 2012
  20. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hi Sally, and welcome to BA.

    We've had one tasting event so far and it was hosted at a private home (Ken - Duceswild). It was completely low key, and I think the level of knowledge among the participants ranged from newbie to hard core beer geek (I'm looking at you Online73...:-). The one event so far was an unqualified success and I think the next such tasting is in the pllanning stages. I don't think a set date has been set for it yet, but regardless, you would be welcome. While the last group was largely made up of guys, there's nothing exclusive about the group, and you would be welcome. No need to worry that you'll be laughed at... we're all there to learn, have fun, meet like-minded enthusiasts and drink some good beer. Most folks also brought snacks and appetizers, and all the beers were served in small tasters. It was more like a picnic gathering, except one where there just happened to be an inordinately good selection of beer.

    That being said, just my two cents on this, but no need to wait till the next tasting group gathering to start learning about good beer (whatever your definition of the latter term is). There are plenty of places in town where you can find an interesting, diverse range of beer (both in bottle and on tap), just use the beerfly/places feature on this site to look them up. IMHO, Baltimore is especially blessed by the presence of Max's in Fells Point, a multi-tap beer bar with an absolutely amazing selection of draft beer and bottles. The bartenders there are knowledgeable and helpful, and best of all, you can order small sample size glasses of everything they have on tap, regardless of how rare or expensive it is. It's a great way to explore the incredibly diverse world of craft beer, one that won't leave your wallet flat or send you home completely inebriated.

    Best of luck... cheers!
     
    #20 John_M, Sep 19, 2012
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