A group of friends and I are planning a Maryland/Delaware bar tour. So far we have Flying Dog, Clipper City and Dogfish Head on tap. Any other recommendations? Also, has any one ever been to Flying Dog or Clipper City (Heavy Seas) Breweries? I know they do tours, but do they have an open tap-room and gift shops?
When I'm in Maryland I usually hit up Ellicott Mills Brewing Co in Ellicott City. I'm heading down there again in a few weeks and will also hit up DuClaw's in Bel Air and Bare Bones also in Ellicott City. There is also Ramshead/Fordham in Annapolis. Will have to con my non-beer geek friend's that I'm visiting to swing by there.
i live about 5 min from flying dog, i dont know if u made tour reservations but you might want to the tours get packed pretty quick you can make reservations on their website, the tour is 5 dollars and with the tour you get a free tasting glass and 6 free beer samples, they do have a pretty nice giftshop offering shirts, glasses, they also have a cooler of vintage beers if you search the cooler you will find great stuff........While you are there you can buy up to 244oz of beer bottles/growlers ect.......They do have a great tap room there in the brewery its only open to brewery employees and people on the tour........Its a great tour just make your reservation and enjoy
My understanding is that Cliipper City/Heavy Seas does not have an open tap room, if by that you mean a place where you can hang out and enjoy their beers by the glass (like you can at the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton). I believe you can purchase growlers and other merchandise there, but I think that's it. On the other hand, there is a new Heavy Seas alehouse in Baltimore that you might want to consider going to. They typically have around 12 different Clipper City/Heavy Seas beers on tap, including several cask items. IMHO, the prices there are a bit on the high side, but they do have a nice selection of Clipper City beers, including on occasion some limited release, one off stuff. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28485
Clipper City does what most breweries that I've been to do. They give you "tokens/tickets" and you use those to purchase glasses of beer. I'm pretty sure they give you five tokens for your admission fee, but I'm almost positive they only have year-round beers on tap. When I was there there they did have a room with tables and benches that you could hang in if you want to. They do have a gift shop and six packs you can buy. I think Clipper City is the best brewery I've been to out of the handful or so that I've visited.
Yes, I had heard that they gave out samples during/after the tour (much like DFH), but had heard that there was no bar per se where you could hang out and drink full glasses of CC/HS beer (which I think is something you can do at the DHF tasting room/gift shop in Milton). I know you get a pint glass with the tour price ($5), which I understand you have to have in order sample beers there. Full disclosure... not having any interest in attending any more brewery tours, I have to confess I've never had any interest in going to CC. Their beers are very easy to find in and around Baltimore, and now with the new alehouse, they're even easier to find. However, my understanding is that if you are interested in taking a brewery tour, they do a nice one at CC.
