Recommendations

[chazwicke]

A buddy and I are heading to Baltimore for the SPBW Cask event at the Wharf Rat on Saturday. We have decided to do a little brewpub tour roadtrip before the festival. We will leave Thursday evening. Maybe head up to Harrisburg and work around the Philly Suburbs Friday and end up at the fest on Saturday. We might even take the Eastern route up on Thursday and try to hit Ship Inn in NJ. Not sure of the itenerary yet. Anyone have any recommendations for eastern PA or Philly burbs / Delaware/ Northern MD? I have been to both Appalachians, Lancaster, Stoudt's, Bubes, Kutztown - Golden Avalanche, Bethlehem Brew Works, Sly Fox Pheonixville, Victory, Iron Hill West Chester, DuClaw Bel Air, Brewers Alley, Ship Inn, Blue Moon, General Lafayette And one or two others in the likely territory. I'm not adverse to returning to some of the above mentioned brewpubs either. I have been to some of them several times. All we know at this point is we are leaving from NOVA on Thursday evening willing to drive a few hours but still be able to enjoy a beer or two after stopping. Friday the whole day is open. and Saturday we need to be in Baltimore by noon. What recommendations can you all suggest? What are the must hit brew pubs?

[MeridianFC]

Victory seems like a must.

[threecb]

If you're going as far as the Ship Inn, you should hit the Triumph Brewing in New Hope. I think it's an excellent place, and I'd even choose it over the Ship.

Last time I was in the Ship, I was a little underwhelmed. They could've just been off, but the beers were not up to their usual standards. That was a little less than a year ago.

[imperial]

looks like you've covered most of the brewpubs in that general area. Closer by, if you haven't checked them out before, are Ellicott Mills Brewing in Ellicott City, MD, and Johannson's Brewpub in Westminster, MD. Of the two, I prefer Ellicott Mills.

Over the weekend I stopped in at Barley and Hops in Frederick, MD. They have a tasty Oktoberfest on tap right now.

[chazwicke]

Where is the Barley and Hops? I've been to Brewers Alley before. But traveling through Frederick on Rt. 15 to Harrisburg is one of the options we are thinking of for the first night.

Also Ellicott Mills is one that I have never visited but would like to. We might go to Cranberry Liquors in Westmister as an option too so Johannsons might be plausable too.

[imperial]

Barley and Hops is just south of Frederick, off exit 31 from 270 (before you get to rt. 15). I believe it's owned by the same people that own Summit Station in Gaithersburg, but the beer is better, IMO.

[threecb]

Brewer's Alley is the one that's owned by the Summit Station people.
I liked Brewer's Alley very much.

[chazwicke]

Yes Brewers Alley is indeed good. Food is good there too.

[Insidious Rex]

Is he gone?? Chaz if yer still recieving, check out KClingers Tavern (http://www.kclingers.com/) just outside of Gettysburg. They list a whopping 943 bottled beers on their beer menu (178 Belgians!). Definaly worth checking out.

[chazwicke]

I know about that place. And it is also written up in the most recent Mid Atlantic Beer news. I stayed in eastern PA pretty much so I did not get to K C Lingers but I'll make a special trip there in the future. Hanover area is not too far away.