Tell me about Baltimore

Would be nice if they posted prices as well, but I know it's always a surprise with Max's. Do others have experience buying geueze like the LPG and 3F there and have a guess at an expected price? Not trekking up there and waiting in line to over pay for bottles I can buy online...

 

At the Belgian Beer Fest, Max's typically has Cantillon 750s for $40-50. Too rich for my blood but to each his own. If you're coming from DC, I'd probably just buy a bottle at The Sovereign sometime.

 

Ran past Max's at about 8:30 this morning and there were probably 10 people already in line. Just FYI for anyone considering going to the bottle sale.

 

there are a couple of places worth checking out in locust point/fed hill area
1.wiley gunters on fort ave which is walking distance to diamondback
2. barflys has great pizza and 6 taps
3. metropolitan in fed hill
4. go O's

 

Just wanted to report back on my trip (returned home this morning):

As usual our plans went sideways, didn't really get to a proper restaurant for the duration of our stay. We hit Yard House in southern Jersey, the same I hit for my solo trip to NoVa last fall. Great spot to have a Kane Head High or Over Head. Our second stop was I happened to need gas at the Elkton exit and it was still before closing at State Line Liquors so we went in. Wow, they have expanded since we stopped here 6 years ago! The beers used to go to the right as you entered, and now the beer shelves and coolers go straight back to an apparent new addition. I made a mix a six with an RAR IPA included as well as Yonder Cities. Also picked up a So Happens It's Tuesday from the Bruery as I've never seen this on my local shelves. Ended up getting a $100/night rate on a suite room in Owings Mills so we stayed there for our visit.

Where we first got off track is we went to Boordy Vineyards Friday late AM. We had gone here around six years ago on a different trip when seeing the highway sign stuck in standstill traffic on 695. Back then we had met some folks there we actually ended up going to dinner with at Fells Point later that evening. Pretty memorable times there.

Anyway we had a tasting at Boordy and got some bottles to go, then my wife asked if there was a brewery in the north of the city that looked good. I found Independent Brewing in Bel Air, around a 20 minute drive away. We went there and I was very impressed with the taproom. I had a sampling of a few IPAs and a saison, my wife had their darker selections and a barleywine. It speaks to how good their product is that she is not a fan of hops, but despite the 105 IBU in this BW she enjoyed it. The malts really balanced the aggressive bitterness. We had a few dishes from the food truck parked right outside the back as a snack to hold us over til BMore.

I got a $13 garage at the Inner Harbor through Parking Panda, and after parking at 4 and debating where to go we figured just stop at the Pratt St. Alehouse for dinner since it was on the way while walking over to the Park. Our food was pretty good there, nothing ground breaking but nice. The double IPA I had there was a quality beer, as well as the BA barleywine my wife had (you sense a trend?). Anyway around 5:15-5:30 we walked over to Pickles/Sliders area. Upon seeing the crowd barriers and a mass of humanity after turning the corner we said nuh uh and just went inside the Park at that point.

We had seats in Section 56 so the 3rd base side tavern was about 50 steps from our seats which worked out great. My wife went crazy that they had Peg Leg there as that is one of her binkie beers. I went with a few tall cans of Snake Dog IPA during the course of the game.

On Saturday morning we were slow in getting going...we were going to stop for breakfast but instead decided to go straight to Max's for the bottle sale. After getting there around 10:45 we were probably 50-60th in line. I'm not even a huge sour/wild fan, so all I was really looking for was some Evil Twin variants which don't see the light of day in my state. And as expected, the Cantillon bottles sold out very early. There was a Diablo Doughnuts place several doors down that we snacked on while waiting...eventually knowing that the limits weren't going to drive how much I bought and my wallet would, I told my wife she can just go inside and start getting the draft choices while I wait. It seemed to take forever but finally got inside the side bar at like 11:40-11:45. Got some Evil Twin stuff and a few other bottles, still ran me over $100 but the event was run very well. I then had a flight with a number of the options, including the Greener Machine and TPS Reports from Diamondback. The grapefruit IPA from RAR was awesome as well.

The "original plan" was to hit up Miss Shirley's for brunch, however we ordered an appetizer at Max's and figured let's just hit Diamondback. Got there around 1:30 I believe, it was a madhouse like I thought due to the weather pushing people indoors. However we didn't mind being outside. I grabbed a few 4-packs and after having the first can just now wish I got a case! Fantastic beer.

Anyway, I got a firkin of the Greener and we stood outside. Then happened to chat with a father of one of the founders of the brewery for around an hour and he gave us a rundown of the trials and tribulations of getting going, what a nice guy. DBC is definitely going to be a constant visit on our future trips, but we never got to Union and I'd like to get there next time.

So all in all a great trip but could not hit all of our highlights in that short a time. We keep adding new destinations to where we can't cover everything within a week nevermind 2 days. Thanks everyone for the input...

 

Glad to hear you made it to Independent. That place is about 4 miles from my house and I stop in kinda regularly. It is still flying under the radar outside of the Bel Air area.

 

We were on a very similar schedule Saturday. We did the wait at Miss Shirley's, enjoying a few mimosas and bloody marys to carry us through. Went straight to Diamondback afterwards. I bet we arrived around 2:00. We were lucky enough to stumble upon a few seats at the bar. I'm sure we crossed paths. Greener Machine and Gone Till November are delicious!

 

I also got in line at Max's around 10:45, possibly right next to you? I was chatting with the older guy with the golf umbrella. Anyway I ended up leaving with...

- 3F Oude Geuze Golden Blend 375ml
- 3F Golden Doesjel 375ml
- Tilquin Oude (Gueuze Tilquin)² à l'Ancienne 750ml
- Grimm Double Negative
- Grimm Sumi Ink

Cheers!

 

Bump.

Anyone have feelings about Wet City? Will be in that area and was thinking about checking it out.

 

I would definitely stop by for a few. Check out their Instagram account beforehand for the latest updates. Their website is usually pretty up to date as well.

 

Anyone know of any places close to Inner Harbor that will be showing the GGG vs Canelo fight that has a decent taplist?

Doesn't seem like craft centric bars will be showing it

If I can make it out and don't go to a bar showing the fight I am close to Alewife and Pratt Street Ale House...anyone prefer one over the other for just beers?

Or, if I go to Max's would they have anything other than German beers on tap? This weekend is their annual German fest

 

Sounds like a great reason to go to Max's.
The Germans are pretty good at making beer.

 

Sure, I'm just so lost looking at a huge tap list of Of German beers though...a bit overwhelmed

I think I'd prefer a tap list with a good bunch of local stuff not accessible to me at home...Diamondback,Union, RAR, Burley Oak, etc.

 

Wet City is so under the radar, but I always find a lot of good choices when I stop by. Burley Oak, RAR, Goonda often on tap there.

 

In reading through the thread, looks like Max's is the place to go. We'll be in Baltimore for the Bears/Ravens game. Go Ravens! We're staying two blocks from Camden Yards...we'll be with another couple and we're looking at the beer fest happening the 14th..short trip though .Saturday to Sunday. .so Saturday would be the day to venture out. Thanks

 

If you can, check out Union Craft. They are open Saturdays noon til 5. Easy trip on light rail, getting off at the Woodberry stop with a 2-3 minute walk. If the talk of Wet City intrigues you, thats easy off light rail as well. Cultural Center stop, and about a 4-5 minute walk to the south and left on Chase St. Open at 5, I believe

 

Thanks, we'll actually be there until Monday afternoon. The other couple has a car, so driving there might work better.

Thanks

 

Big Burley Oak event at Max's tomorrow night, should be plenty of the IPAs left for the weekend.

 

^just wondering if they'll keep them on through the weekend or only have German beers on tap for their German fest

I would love to try the berry cherry Jream if I can get there Saturday and it's still available