MD Brewery Challenge #27

Baltimore, MD

In the gentrifying neighborhood of Locust Point, the tiny brewery, Diamondback Brewing Company, has found a home. Yesterday, I visited Diamondback for 2 reasons. First,  the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood (SPBW) was holding their monthly meeting there. Second, it is #27 of 57 breweries in my self-imposed Maryland Brewery Challenge.  

The brick taproom is nice and cozy. They do not serve flights, so I purchased a pint of their cask – Teepees in Poughkeepsie. It was way too earthy for my palate. Note to self: Always order the smallest samples until you find beers you like. They offer 16 and 8 oz. pours. I also tried their well-known Green Machine and enjoyed it quite a lot. It is their house IPA, hazy with lots of citrus hops.

Some of my fellow SPBW members were taking the brew tour when I walked in. I took a picture from the taproom looking down into the brewery.

After catching up on SPBW news, I followed tour guide/brewer Dave for the second brewery tour. We passed Dave’s bike bicycle on the way down the stairs, he rides to work. It is a very small brewery, just 5 employees, according to Dave. That does not include Inky the cat, head of rodent control and full-time brewery resident.

Dave provided a little history about the building. Mattresses were once made here and before that, soda syrup (Coca-Cola, I think). Diamondback started brewing here about a year ago. Prior to that, Diamondback made their beer through Peabody Heights, an incubator brewery. What would we do without Peabody?

Walking back to my car, I meandered through lots of construction. Also, I passed a ball field occupied by kickball players, all with fancy Tee-shirts. This vibrant, growing neighborhood is only about 20 minutes from my home in Columbia. I’ll have to come back again and try a few more of their beers. I see they have a tart, red beer – In Brouge; a beer made from local oat malt – Omar; and upcoming, a gose with tart cherries – Cherry Wack.

Cheers,

Warren