Tag Archives: hoco

Tröegs Pint Glass

A Mad Elf Night

Breweries, craft beer, Pubs, , , , ,

Columbia, MD December 19, 2018

I’ve been reading Tristan Gooley’s The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs and starting to develop a keen eye for natural clues about our world. For instance, did you know moss grows on the north side of a tree and contrails predict bad weather? So, when I spotted a Tröegs Mad Elf at Frisco Tap House, I knew winter was just around the corner.

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Lovely Day For A Guinness

Guinness & Black Flag

Beer Reads, Breweries, craft beer, , , ,

Columbia, MD December 7, 2018

It has been a terrific Friday night. First, I spent the afternoon at Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House with my oldest friend, David. Then, I stopped by the Black Flag Brewery for their collaborative brew with Sapwood Cellars, Shared Kingdom.  

Guinness Draught
Guinness Draught

Guinness Open Gate and Barrel House

The bar inside is a whirr of activity with great service. When I think of Guinness, I think of their draught, one of my favorites. However, their head brewer trained from the great Stone Brewery of San Diego, so they are much more than just a stout producer.  In fact, their Hazy IPA was fantastic. (I know, it’s like going to a seafood restaurant and ordering a hamburger). However, I found it a zesty pineapple and grapefruit tasting beer, refreshing, light and easy drinking with a surprising sweetness. Another surprise was the Nitro Vanilla Cream Ale. (Thanks to bearded Vinnie for this recommendation). This light colored ale had a vanilla nose and initial vanilla flavor with some mildly bitter hops and a lingering sweet finish. An unusual beer. I found the Milk Stout too sweet to be delicious with a bitter chocolate flavor. When at Guinness, I recommend ordering the 6-ounce pours until you find the beer you really want to commit to with a 16-ounce pour.

Inside Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House
Inside Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House

Besides an enormous beer garden and the bar inside, Guinness has a restaurant on the 3rd floor plus, they offer free brewery tours. I talked to one of the hosts who suggests making online reservations as the tours fill up rather quickly. Tours are restricted to 21 people.

Black Flag

Shared Kingdom
Shared Kingdom

I intended to just head over to Black Flag for a quick sample of the Shared Kingdom and pick up a 4-pack (if I liked it). Instead, I met some new friends, let’s call them Kelly’s Heroes from Ellicott City. We talked about breweries in the area, this blog, and Ellicott City and Columbia. 

Of course, I liked this Black Flag/Sapwood Cellars collaborative hazy pale ale.  It was refreshing, soft and easy drinking. Well done, Black Flag and Sapwood Cellars!

Cheers!

Warren