BA's Top Rated Beers: Maryland (US)

GGW did show up a few weeks ago. Still some sitting on shelves at the store I frequent.

 

The 10 reviews thing kills that list. So many other great beers from Union, RAR, and Burley Oak that just don't have the reviews

 

There is one for every state, if you go to top beers and look to the right. They have regions too.

 

This comment is correct. Third stone from Union and BA Brewtus from Monocacy immediately came to mind. However, the Maryland beer scene overall is a rather sad state of affairs.

 

Damn. Brewtus is fantastic, I need to get my hands on BA Brewtus!

 

Anyone have Burley Oak Secret Sauce lately? I recently bought a six pack and it is not at all what I remember from the first time I had it last year. It went from like a 4.5 to a 2.5. I don't know when they were canned, but I bought them about a month ago. I'm hoping it was just a bad batch because it was one of my favorite DIPAs in the area. A buddy of mine said the same thing but he might have had the same batch.

 

Ive had some bad luck with the secret sauce cans as well. Loved that beer on draft at the brewery but was not the same beer at all from the cans Ive had, and Ive had it from a couple different batches. Not sure if this is the case with all the cans or only a few of them but sounds like your sixer tasted like the few ive had.

 

What has caused Maryland to have such a terrible beer scene when we are so close to places Like Philly which has probably the best beer scene anywhere.

Also, would Stillwater really be considered a MD beer? The beers are brewed in CO and CT and the brewer is all over the place. Not to disparage him just a technicality.

 

The first time I had it was out of a can some time last year and I was blown away. Actually liked it better than Double Duckpin. Not even close now.

 

Not all of Maryland, but Montgomery County certainly was hamstrung but an absurd distribution system and regulations that essentially prohibited the opening of a brewery in the state's most populous county. Baying Hound (ahem...) was the first brewery to open in 2009 and the only one as far as I know until Denizens opened in 2014, and a couple others opened doors in the past few months.

 

Interesting thoughts on Maryland. Back in the day at least Baltimore was pretty well ahead with Sisson's, DeGroen's, The Wharf Rat, The Brewer's Art... what happened?

 

Ahhh, and there's the truth of it, "as it was in the beginning, so shall it be now". I forgot to include Oxford Ales in my first response to this thread, but they were a perfect example - only The Brewers Art really progressed and stood out, and they were late on the scene (although I have to give Theo a nod for following German style).

 

I am from Pennsylvania and am jealous of your beers in Maryland, Just had some RAR this past weekend and I would put it up against anything in PA with exception of Tired Hands. I think Heavy Seas can compete with Troegs and Victory and hold its own. Double Duckpin - not sure any PA beer makes a DIPA any better....Maryland seems to never get it's 'due' in many ways, but outside of Vermont/Mass/CT, it is the state I tend to make sure I take coolers into to fill up on when I visit. Compare MD to VA, NC or OH and I don't think it is even close, MD stands way ahead....

 

Guess you forgot about DirtWolf then. Heavy seas really just has Loose Cannon which is pretty good. Whats with the focus on IPAs? All these new md breweries just seem to be doing IPAs as their focus. If you look through the MD list all the farmhouse beers are Stillwater. All the beers on that list just seem so heavy and most aren't very exceptional. Luckily Union is doing things like Old Pro which I don't think anyone else in MD is doing. Manor Hill has their grisette which is really good but they keep focusing on IPAs. RAR same thing.

 

RARs 1st meal will be near the top if it is remade, it was very good.. Hoping for a similar result from 10 layers.

 

Anyone who has 1st Meal left doesn't love themselves enough.

My parents live down the County. Let's do a trade sometime when I'm headed down for the weekend.