MD Brewery Challenge #34
Westminster, MD
We drove northwest from Columbia, heading to Westminster. It was a clear, sunny day on one of the first cool days of fall. Very few trips have ever brought me to this Carroll County town, but today we headed to Johansson’s Dining House for my 34th Maryland brewery visit of the year.
Founded in 1764, Westminster has some elegant old buildings and Johansson’s is one of them. Entering a pair of very solid, old wooden doors, we walked past the bar and a formal dining area to a table with a view of the brewery. Our table sat in a window-lined, enclosed porch with a fireplace on the opposing end from the brewery.
It was mid-afternoon, so we were looking for lunch and beers. I ordered a flight of 4 of their house beers and an amazing pear, goat cheese, and almond salad.
When it comes to palates, Laura has one of the best for identifying flavors and scents. I was lucky to have her there to compare notes. Below are our thoughts on the beers.
- Honest Ale – Clean and crisp with a toasty finish. Honey sweet. I do not usually seek
Honest Ale out blonde ales, but this was exceptional. It was Laura’s favorite.
- Hoodle Head IPA – A nice pale ale with a bitter lettuce/arugula finish. Beautiful honey-colored beer.
- Summer Saison – A surprisingly sweet tasting Saison with some mild barnyard esters. With its banana and bubblegum nose, I would almost describe this as a clear Hefeweizen. This was my favorite.
- Mexican Rye Lager – Mildly spiced rye lager. Pretty good for a rye (one of my least favorite styles).
- Free State IPA – A dusty/chalky IPA. Laura tasted peanuts but my inferior palate did not. I’m not a fan of this one.
As you can see, the craft beer list is first-rate. Complemented with Johansson’s food, this is a destination that I will definitely visit again. Also, a special shout out to Anthony, our waiter, who’s terrific, friendly service made our experience at Johannson’s Dining House very special.
Learn from our struggles. Johansson’s has their own parking lot just off E. Main Street. It is free and just around the corner from the restaurant.
My nearly impossible challenge of visiting 57 Maryland breweries in 2017 seems beyond my reach. However, this is my 34th brewery, so you just never know. Visit my google map to check my current status.
Cheers!
Warren