Tag Archives: Maryland

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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Bikes, a Budget Hearing and the Judge’s Bench

craft beer, Pubs, , , ,

Ellicott City, MD December 12, 2018

More than 35 helmet-clad Howard Countians attended Dr. Calvin Ball’s first budget hearing as Howard County Executive. We were there showing our support for safer cycling in the county and hoping that Dr. Ball would find more money for our cause in this year’s budget.

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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