Sep 29 2008
Best Places to Drink Beer in Baltimore
The most recent issue of Imbibe Magazine listed the top 100 places to drink beer in America, and two of Baltimore’s favorite watering holes got the nod. One would think that Baltimore would have a few more on the list, considering the number of great places to throw back a pint around here, but the two Baltimore picks are spot-on.
http://www.imbibemagazine.com/
First Brewer’s Art (one of my favorites) at 1106 N Charles St. in Mt. Vernon was noted as having one of the best bottle lists. That might be true, but whenever I’m there I can’t pull myself away from their heavenly Resurrection Ale. Imbibe gives a shout out to Resurrection as well, and notes that it is essentially three bars in one: “the hipster-packed rathskeller; glit-edged upstairs bad; and formal, Tudor-inflected dining room”. I must also say, from my own experience, that the food at Brewer’s Art is as delectable as the beer.
The second Baltimore bar they ranked I’m kind of upset about. And that’s because it’s my favorite watering hole in town. Mahaffey’s Pub in Canton (2706 Dillon St.) was rated as one of the nation’s “Best Kept Secrets”. Well I guess the secret is out now, but I suppose I can share. Imbibe describes Mahaffey’s as “hidden in plain sight: just another corner bar in a neighborhood where hardly a block goes by without a neon beer sign. Inside, it’s cramped and dark and scruffy. The beer lines, however, are sparklingly clean.”
I must say that the food at Mahaffeys is also very good… especially considering the place is so small that the kitchen is essentially a small grill and fryer behind the bar. Mahaffey’s is also one of few places where you can get cask ale. Cask ale is served as cellar temperature and is flatter than normal keg beer, but it makes for an interesting taste. This place is definitely recommended for beer aficionados.
2 Comments to “Best Places to Drink Beer in Baltimore”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Loading ...
I’ve never been to Mahaffeys… now the secrets out. But I do have a good buddy who is in their beer club. They certainly have a impressive beer list on their website.
http://www.mahaffeyspub.com/beers.php
Two other places with impressive beer selections are Max’s in Fells Point and Ropewalk. Although both of those can get annoyingly crowded.
Mahaffey’s happy hour specials are the best - 3 beers for $5. With all high end taps, that’s a good deal.
And I’m glad Max’s didn’t make it on the list. While they have an extensive inventory, I find it overpriced and the atmosphere lacking. To me, it lacks personality.