MD Brewery Challenge #19

Annapolis, MD

I headed to the Arts District of Annapolis for 2 reasons. First, to visit the 19th brewery for the Maryland Brewery Challenge — The Chesapeake Brewing Company. Second, I was there to meet Liz Murphy, the talented blogger of Naptown Pint and friends of just about everyone in the local beer industry.

I entered the Chesapeake Brewing Company on a Thursday afternoon at 1:00, it was empty. It turns out they are closed on Thursdays until 4:00 PM. I was lucky, though, the co-owner/brewer, Dave Marquis was there and offered me a beer and a place to wait for Liz.

Dave has been homebrewing for 30 years and professionally for 8. He said Annapolis, particularly the Art District, was dead during the summer, especially around lunch. They still make beer in Crisfield, but that location is not open to the public. He is moving the brewery license to Annapolis and he will start brewing beer there in a few weeks. He hopes to open up a patio just outside with a serving window but is struggling through Annapolis red tape.

When Liz arrived, Dave served us a couple of beers. I sipped on a Waterman’s Soul IPA while Dave and Liz talked about Annapolis, the Reform on Tap Task Force (Liz and Dave’s wife, Carolyn Marquis, are both on it), and the local beer world.

A delivery man brought in a couple of cases of Hoop Tea White Mango, a malt beverage from Backshore Brewing Company. Apparently, Hoop Tea is getting a lot of buzz right now. Liz says she really likes this summery, 4% ABV malt beer.

Here’s something to look forward to. Liz Murphy is launching Naptown Pintcast this September. As her Facebook page says, “Conversations about beer…with Maryland beer people.”

Cheers!

Warren