What should I check out in this area? Best beers to look for? (Not available in vt) Bottle shops? Thanks guys!
For bottle shops within a 15-20 minute drive of Towson, you should check out the Total wine at Joppa and Loch Raven Blvd. They should carry most of what you can find on the shelves in MD. If headed north, check out Shawan Liqours, or if going into the city be sure to stop by the Wine Source for a great bottle shop. Can't personally recommend any good craft bars in Towson, but if you make a trip downtown be sure to head over to Max's Taphouse in Fells Point. Their website has a fairly up to date draft list, and they have a huge selection.
Can't vouch for this place myself, but have been told that this is a solid place in the Towson area. http://www.pinehurstwineshoppe.com/
Standard MD disclaimer: if you're coming via I95, stop at State Line Liquors in Elkton, MD. Every six-pack in the store can be sold as single-bottles, you can grab one of everything not in VT if you want.
went there last week, cool spot. i would recommend it. shawan, total wine and the wine source are all cool as well.
A little bit of a drive from Towson, but The Perfect Pour has an awesome selection of craft beer and growlers....worth the drive. I was like a kid in a candy store there. I also second Total Wine and More, its like a walmart sized liquor store
Rather than starting a whole new thread about the Perfect Pour, I would simply advise the OP to take a look at the reviews of the place on BA. The selection there is undeniably outstanding, but to say the least, there are "issues" with the PP. My understanding is that the place is under new ownership now, and that apparently there have been some recent improvements in the pricing there. That being said, the PP is a good half hour to 45 minute drive from Towson, and that's in good traffic (it can take well over an hour to get there in bad traffic). Rather than making the drive to the PP, I would recommend that the OP make the much shorter drive to either Shawan or the Wine Source. For that matter, the recommendation from RichardMNixon is the best advise of all. State Line is arguably the best store in the state, and frankly, one of the best stores in the country.
I agree that the prices are high, but the staff is very nice and knowledgeable and the selection is great. I'd really like to check out state line liquors
Was at Perfect Pour last weekend and hitting State Line for the 4th or 5th time tomorrow. State Line is a better store and is where I stop every time I find myself between Baltimore and Philly. Perfect Pour is a solid store with a good selection and is definitely worth a stop if you are between DC and Baltimore, but State Line is a far superior shop
State Line is great. I've found so many great beers there that I can't find at my local shop. The Perfect Pour is pretty sweet as well. They almost always have better beers on their growler station than State Line. The Total Wine in Towson is huge and has so much stuff, but I get annoyed at their organizational scheme there. Drives me crazy. Smaller store, but really great and the staff is awesome - Honeygo Wine & Spirits in Perry Hall, about 15-20 mins from Towson. I go there several times a week and buy 95% of my beer there.
Dulaney Wine and Spirits is a decent hole in the wall right across the street from Towson Town Center. Nearby there is the Liquor Pump (there is a snowball stand nearby, you can't go MD snowballs outside of the state to my knowledge) and Harford Beverage Co..
I totally agree with this. It's so confusing and arbitrary. It feels like a cruel joke or a hidden camera show. They need to stick to what they know - selling wine and cheap booze. Shawan has a good selection especially seasonals. But they lost my respect when I saw them play favorites with a customer, pulling out BCBS from a back room.
Pinehurst Winne Shoppe. They have an awesome growler station, and they get a few rarities every once in a while
