DelMarVa breweries

Agree with RAR. Stupid name but damn, the Nanicoke Nectar may be the best IPA in state of MD (maybe Double Duckpin arguably as best DIPA as well). Didn't have a good dining experience there though. All about the quality IPA.

I moderately enjoyed the beers and experience at Burley Oak. Solid samples I had there. Stopped by around noon for liquid lunch after doing some morning surfing down at Assateague (what a great day overall)!

Haven't been to Mispillion yet but absolutely loved the one beer I had by them at a restaurant in Rehobeth this past summer.

Evo in Salisbury, been there 2x. Very nice place and good atmosphere and food. Beers are just so/so.

DFH (been to the pub at Rehobeth 2x and Gaithersburg once) I always love visiting. Love the brewhouse rarities and general atmosphere of their restaurant/pubs. The Jumbalia at Gaithersburg location is to die for (not DELMARVA though, sorry).

 

Probably have to forgive him, too many Mispillion Reach Arounds would be my guess...

 

No they make several. I got a 5 flight sampler while there. Their Double IPA (ChopDank?) was a mess of a beer IMO although it has their best ratings. Can't figure that one out.

 

Rubber Soul is opening in Salisbury, MD... does that count as DelMarVa?

 

Sure does.

 

Assawoman Bay Brewery in Ocean City is a really nice spot. Right on the bay with huge outside patio overlooking the water. I tried 5 of the beers and only one, the red rye, was less than average. Decent Belgian PA, porter, BIPA, and brown. In addition to the 10-12 or so that they brew in house, they have about 20 other Delmar locals like RAR Nanticut Nectar, Burley Oak Sorry Chicky, etc.

They brewpub has only been open a few weeks now but is definitely worth a stop in. Plus, all the Assawoman Bay beers are $3/pint. Best deal at the beach. It is in he same complex next to 45st taproom.

 

OC Brewing has made no improvements, which is a bummer as they're 1 block from my condo.

The beers with roasted malt are acrid. The hoppy beers are malty but have a harsh bitterness, with no hop flavor/aroma. Virtually every beer has a perceptible off flavor.

They have a lambic which can't possibly be a lambic. It is the lowest rating I've even given a non-infected beer. Whoever classified that a lambic should never be allowed to make beer again. It is 11% abv, with a metric buttload of ginger, and sweet as hell. The only 4oz flight pour I couldn't finish, ever.

You can buy one of their 22oz BA beers, that are well below 10% abv, for $22 though. So there's that.

 

OK so I will chime in. Have been here in Salisbury 18 years this August. Until EVO opened it was DFH or nothing. Actually a guy was brewing and serving a very eclectic line in Ocean City about 13 or 14 years ago.....I digress. LOVE EVO they were great from right out of the gate. Burley Oak is killer as well. Tall Tales is mediocre at best, their Sasquatch RIS is not bad but you can hide so many flaws in there what do you want? I get the feeling they suck people in for the wood fired food and the half ass beer. De Lazy Lizard was ok, they are moving down to Snow Hill. Backshore-I was just there for a re-visit for the OC Air Show-meh. A brown ale with cinnamon is ok at first but overall no I dont see it being a viable option. 3rd Wave is very good they have come a LONG way since they opened. It is on my way home every day I need to stop more often. Always nice people working and drinking in there. 16 Mile?-I just dont get them-want to like them but every time I have their beer I am like "huh"? Fordham/Dominion-good beer I just dont buy any as there are others out there. OC Brewing-now I like these guys. Sure they are all about the OC brand as shown by their gift shop but the beers are not all that bad for my money. A bit gimmicky but again the hazel nut brown and some of the others I have had in tasting sized glasses I quite enjoyed. RAR in Cambridge-does not get any more solid than these guys. The Nanticoke Nectar is a killer brew and the Bucktown Brown well I wish more US brewers did a brown this solid. It's all about the hop let's get back to a solid ale please!!! Eastern Shore brewing in St. Michaels-average homebrew sort of beers. Rubber Soul in Salisbury opened this weekend and the High Wheel IPA was damn solid as well as the honey ale at 8%...very dangerous and smooth. There is also a brewery down in Crisfield and if their offerings are anything like the ones I had at the Salisbury beer fest do not turn right off of 13 keep going south....Have not been to Assawoman but here very good things about their porter. Dewey Beach Beer Co is open have not been.

 

FWIW, I went into OC Brewing with an empty growler and had lunch, but I could not find one thing I had the slightest interest in taking home with me. Overall it struck me as an expensive tourist trap and I felt like I had been had. Because of that, I resisted trying Assawoman this week for fear that it would be the same experience. Sounds like I should rectify that.

It also sounds like I just missed Rubber Soul - I stopped there earlier this week but they weren't open yet.

 

Any other thoughts on Dewey Beach Beer Co.? Staying in Dewey later this month and will check them out. Curious what you guys/gals think.

 

At the worst, pints of Assawoman beers are $3/pint and free unlimited tastes. If you don't like any, get a RAR naticoke nectar (fantastic Mosaic bomb) or something good from the other locals in town and call it a day. All in all, I thought most of the Assawoman beers were pretty decent (of the five I tried) and worth a stop. Hell for $3 pints of natty light with the view they have would be worth it, let alone for craft that doesn't suck.

 

We did not ... just made it to DFH and Burley