Baltimore Taverns, Pubs, and Bars

Canton

Claddagh Pub

2918 O'Donnell Street
Nice, comfortable pub with a good range of ales, though mostly imported with only a sparse handful of micros. On a recent visit (5/8/97), I enjoyed a very nice pint of Murphys during happy hour for only $1.50. Followed that up with a pint of Oxford Raspberry Wheat. (Love that half-price beer!!!) Not a truly great beer bar, but it will do in a pinch.

The Wild Mushroom

647 S. Montford Street (corner of Foster)
Wild Mushroom has only about 15 taps, but none are wasted on swill. Almost all of the taps are U.S. microbrews, with a good representation of local beers including one of the DeGroen's offerings. (Drinkur Emptor: On a recent visit though (1/25/97), I found no good local taps---they'd been usurped by less interesting contract brews---so Wild Mushroom might be slipping.) The bottled range is quite good, heavily oriented toward Belgians (probably a good 20-25 Belgians). Some of the bottles include Corsendonk, Boon Geuze and Kriek, Scaldis, Liefmans, Hoegarden White, and Orval. Food is good and reasonably priced, with some tasty and unusual offerings like a sort of pizza on a huge portabello mushroom, topped by crab and shrimp. The bar occasionally does beer dinners and recently (December 1996) featured an evening with Carol Stoudt of the Stoudt Brewing Company.

Kisling's Tavern

2100 Fleet Street
Alright, so maybe I shouldn't include this place in this list. After all, they really don't have enough taps to qualify as a great beer bar, and they waste some of what they do have on swill. Still, I like the place. You can count on finding something palatable, either on tap or in a bottle, and they do have great bar food that's cheap and available pretty late in the evening. The menu boasts that their mussels are better than Bertha's. I dunno 'bout that, but they are good, and I love the chunks of onions.

Charles Village

P.J.'s Pub

3333 N. Charles Street, 882-5212
Located across the street from Johns Hopkins University, P.J.'s has a good range of bottled beers and about 15 draft beers, including Oxford, Brimstone, Watney's, Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Pilsner Urquell, McSorley's, Genesee, Watney's Cream Stout, Pete's Wicked Ale, and others. Order a large pizza during lunch and you can get a free pitcher of beer. Food is cheap here, not much over $5.

Fells Point

Map of Fells Point bars

Barrister Pub

704 S. Broadway
Barrister's feels too clean to me to be a really great beer bar, and I almost walked by without giving them a second look until a sign by the door caught my eye: "DeGroen's Dopplebock, $1". Might as well have said "free beer", I was there. Inside, Elvis tunes were playing on the juke, while the bartender was lecturing some patrons on why they might want to try some heavier barleywines. Once my butt was firmly parked on a bar stool, I was pleased to find several good beers on tap, including Pete's Wicked Ale, Oxford Raspberry Wheat, Blackthorne Cider, and a few British ales (such as Bass). Unfortunately, the $1 beers were a happy hour special, so at the end of the hour, we moseyed along to find other specials. Spot check on September 22, 1995 showed some of the taps had changed, but good beers were still available. Had a Sam Adams Scotch Ale on tap. Often closed, well, maybe more than "often", better make that "seldom open".

Bertha's

734 S. Broadway
Bertha's is famous for their bright green bumper stickers admonishing all to "EAT BERTHA'S MUSSELS". The mussles are great and their beer selection ain't bad either. Sit at the bar and admire local denizens' X-acto knife handicraft as you sample some fine ales. One of the more unusual brews here is a cask-conditioned ale brewed by Oxford. Try it side-by-side with an Oxford Class and compare. Occasionally the cask-conditioned ale doesn't move quickly enough and becomes oxidized. When it's on, it's great. When it's off...well, at least they've got DeGroen's. Other taps include Murphy's Stout, a DeGroen's beer, a Wild Goose beer, and Blackthorne Cider.

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Birds of a Feather

1712 Aliceanna
I had to throw this one in because they've got such a phenomenal selection of truly excellent single malt scotch whisky. Most of the hard-core beer geeks that I know also appreciate fine single malts, and for these folks, a visit to Birds of a Feather will be a real treat. Over 100 different single malts, available either by the glass or (sometimes) by the bottle to go. Bottle prices often beat the discount stores in suburbia too. If your heart is set on beer, skip this place, but if you like Scotch, it's a must.

Cat's Eye Pub

1730 Thames Street
This is my favorite bar in Baltimore. Cool atmosphere, great bands, and an excellent selection of good draft beers for the thirsty beer wanderer. About 30 taps, heavy on the ales. Some selections include Young's Oatmeal Stout, Newcastle Brown, Watney's, DeGroen's, Wild Goose, Oxford. Tap beers sometimes vary, and I have on occasion visited and found nothing palatable (Journal log: "3/15/96---that garbage poseur beer Coyote replaced DeGroens, fuck that shit, I'll go to Leadbetters tonight"). A few more changes like that and Cat's Eye will lose my recommendation, but for now, their breadth of taps assures something palatable being available (unless I'm in purist mode).

If you like the blues, you can usually count on Steve Kramer's Blues Band playing Sunday afternoons from about 4 to 8. Phil Cunneff's Jazz Trio is there on Monday nights. Phil is one hot drummer, so check 'em out!

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Photo of some taps at Cat's Eye Pub (218 KB)

Duda's

1600 Thames Street (at Bond)
Funky corner location housing a good collection of beer taps in a small down-home neighborhood bar. Draft beers include DeGroen's Weizen, Oxford, Wild Goose IPA, Sierra Nevada, and several others. A wide range of bottled beer complements the draft selection. Service is friendly, food is good. Sandwiches, homemade soups, burgers, and a seafood-oriented menu. Good burgers. Closed Sunday.

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Fells Point Station

600 S. Broadway
This place feels like a working man's bar. It's got a big pool table, too-bright lights, and no yuppies. If you take up the challenge to play some pool, watch out for the fat biker dude with the black hair. He might look like he's got no control, but play him and he'll be buying beers with your money. Local microbrews include Oxford Class, Oxford Raspberry Wheat, and at least one Blue Ridge beer---lately it's been the ESB. Keith likes the tall urinal in the mens room.

Foster's

606 S. Broadway
In an era when political correctness dictates that smoke-free environments shall prevail, it's refreshing to find a place that bucks the trend and offers a cigar list in much the way that some establishments offer wine lists. Cigar smoking, however, is confined to the bar area. Beers on tap include Brimstone's Blueberry Wheat, Oxford's Raspberry Wheat, Abita Turbodog, Old Heurich, and Young's Oatmeal Stout. Food is outstanding, especially if you're a seafood fan. Thumbs up on Fosters. As of August 96, the renovations are done and Fosters is re-opened.

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Friends

1634 Aliceanna
Cool, casual place with 24 taps and some great bottled selections. What Friends lacks in terms of sheer volume, they more than make up for by intelligently selecting a wide range of styles with good choices for each style. Taps include the best of the local microbrews (like DeGroen's Weizen), as well as great microbrews from other states (like Rogue's Mogul, Anchor Liberty, etc.) The bottled selection is fairly small, but of excellent quality with offerings that augment the draft selection very well, such as Boon Geuze and Duvel. Menu is limited, but the food is good and reasonably priced. Burgers for about $5, an excellent balsamic chicken is about $10. Good atmosphere, excellent food, and reasonable prices easily earn Friends a thumbs up.

Full Moon Saloon

1710 Aliceanna
Kick ass howlin' blues every day of the week, a great laid-back atmosphere with down-to-earth friendly folks, and some good brews make this place a winner in my book. $5 cover most nights (after about 9pm). Only three taps, but one is usually something good---lately it's been Petes Wicked Ale, the other two are industrial swill. Has a good range of bottled beers and the bartenders have a list you can order from. The 20 ounce bottle of Bass is a winner with me. Micro brews available in bottles.

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Hightopps

1700 Thames Street
This place has 11 taps downstairs that include some good microbrews. Upstairs on the rooftop (nice place to sit on a warm summer day), they now have some good draft beer as well. It makes me happy to see places that respect their customers enough to offer good variety....and a tip of the mug to Tim Kendzierski --- say "hi" to him if he's there, he's a good, hard-working guy. Taps include some good seasonal brews, like the DeGroen's dopplebock, Pete's Wicked Winter Ale, etc. Couple of Sam Adams taps, Brimstone, Blue Ridge, etc. They've also now got the new Clipper City beer and a house beer made by Brimstone. They often have good happy hour specials; Friday it's draft microbrews for a buck and half price munchies. One of the best deals in the city.

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Horse You Came In On

1626 Thames Street
The Horse You Came In On is old...it's been a bar since 1770. It's a popular place, which can be good or bad. The front bar area is cool and doesn't look like it's been updated since the bar first opened (probably hasn't). The back area is called the atrium and has video machines etc. The Horse You Came In On LOOKS really cool and has a good feel to it. They have just two taps at the front bar: Newcastle Brown and Rolling Rock. The bottled selection, however, is fairly decent. When Keith and I stopped in back in February 1995 they had Anchor's "Our Special Ale", Old Heurich, Bass Ale, etc. The back bar occasionally has better taps. When we stopped by in late July 1995 they had Oxford on tap at the back bar. Worth checking out, but the beer selection is too sparse to make hanging out worthwhile.

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John Steven Ltd.,

1800 Thames Street
Most people in Baltimore will name John Steven as the best place to drink in Fells Point. It's a cool bar with a great tin ceiling and a good selection of beers. The bar has a reputation for good food and was included in "Baltimore" magazine's picks for best restaraunt. The sushi bar clues me in that this bar may not be for everybody, however, the beer taps include at least one Sierra Nevada, the Brimstone Honey Red, DeGroen's, Newcastle, Young's, Wild Goose, Blackthorne, and several others. Thumbs up. Tends to get crowded though.

Leadbetter's

1639 Thames Street
Great bar. Small, funky, scary-looking exterior and you feel like you're interrupting the musicians when you walk in the place. One of the cooler tin ceilings in Fells Point----and there are a lot of cool tin ceilings in the neighborhood. They also have a mondo cool urinal in the mens room. Taps include DeGroen's maerzen plus one of their seasonal beers (currently the weizenbock), Sam Adams, Guinness, Bass, etc. If you're into progressive music, check out the jukebox. Nice pic of Hillary in bondage behind the bar.

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Max's on Broadway

737 S. Broadway
Max's was known for years as a hot nightclub that attracted big-name bands. Today, the stage is gone, the bands are gone, and the back of the bar is dominated by beer refrigerators filled with imported and microbrewed beers (lots of bottles---probably a good 200 brands). They got a buttload of taps too (62 beers)! In addition to all the usual suspects found at Fells Point bars, Max's has the Brimstone Blueberry Wheat, Tupper's Hop Pocket (Old Dominion), Anchor Wheat, Abita Turbodog, Rogue, Young's Ramrod, and a plethora of other interesting brews. Can usually count on the Brimstone Stone Beer being available here, plus they get kegs of the Big Strong Ale (but not enough of it!) On one visit they had the maple wheat from Whitetail Brewing of York, PA---a nice light beer in which the maple flavor comes through surprisingly well. Beers on tap have included such suspects as Kriek Boon, Rogue Mexicali, and Rodenbach. Extra points since the bartenders seem to have some concept of the difference between quality beers and swill---on one visit they did well even on my higher brewpub scale of staff education---they will also give you a taste of a beer before you buy. Dollar off pints weekdays before 8 p.m. Cigars available in a display case near pool tables. This is my pick for best beer bar in Baltimore.

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Mike's

708 S. Broadway
I walked by Mike's several times, passing by it's ordinary facade figuring it to be a redneck bar that sold only garbage like Bud. I'm glad to report that I was wrong. Mike's has several very good brews from all of the local micros and some interesting imports. I had the Wild Goose Porter here, a smooth chocolatey tasting brew, while my friends had the Brimstone Honey Red. Food is CHEAP here...mostly Mexican...burritos, nachos, a spicy black bean soup, etc. Most expensive item on the menu is about $5. Great ambiance with cool folks and cool brews. Mike's is one of my favorite haunts for a casual dinner and beer in a relaxing place. Great happy hour too, with 3 beers for 3 bucks (before 7pm, Saturdays before 6pm). Closed Sunday.

Wharf Rat

801 S. Ann
Under the same ownership as the Wharf Rat brewpub on Pratt Street, but this is the original. Oliver's ales are on tap here, along with 29 other brews including some outstanding notables like Rogue. Cool atmosphere with nautical theme, bar towels, bottle caps encrusted in table tops etc. Easy place to feel comfortable in. Fridays are "Firkin Friday" when a firkin of a special cask-conditioned real ale is opened up and served until empty. Great happy hour deal---3 beers for 3 bucks, before 7pm. Outstanding beer bar. Closed Sunday, also closes at 1 am on other nights---an hour earlier than other local pubs.

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Must Miss List

While most of the bars in Fells Point have great beers, there are a few places that aren't worth the time it takes to open the door. The beer selection at Green Turtle sucks, as do most of the bars on "kiddy row" (cater to the fake ID crowd), namely, seven twenty-three, Chio's, and Rodo's. I stopped in at all these places in February 1995 to see what was up and have not been back since. If any of them have improved, please send me an email because otherwise I'll continue spending my money at places with better brews. I would also suggest skipping Thames Street Tavern and the Waterfront Hotel---they occasionally have something good, but I don't get the feeling that they understand quality beer. I've been in Red Star, and the food is okay, but the only palatable beer they had was Bass. Whistling Oyster gets points for grunge factor and National, but the selection is lame. Admirals Cup has a great location, but a lame selection of beer---I'd skip it, especially since Hightopps offers better beer right across the street. Dead End Saloon has the advantage for me of being close enough to crawl home when I drink too much, but the disadvantage of not having anything worth drinking too much of...

Parkville

Racer's

7732 Harford Road (at Taylor Avenue), 410-882-5212
Since 15 taps can hardly represent a great selection of beers these days, Racer's rotates the stock. A beer is on tap for two kegs, and then it's replaced with another brand. Keeps patrons on their toes and the selection interesting. Best deal is 3 beers for 3 bucks, every day between 11am and 7 pm. Every so often you go in and they have nothing interesting on tap, but hey, that's the luck of the draw. Come back next week.

Around Town

Cafe Tatoo

4825 Belair Road, 325-7427
Only about five taps, but they regularly rotate (just like Racer's). Wide bottled selection. Occasionally you'll hit an off-streak where they have 3 or 4 of the 5 taps pouring pale lagers, but usually you can count on at least a couple microbrews, a regional, and a couple imports. I give Rick points for being the friendliest bartender in town. Great live music almost every night. If you like jazz, Carl Filipiak plays pretty much every Tuesday night. Great barbecue and a gut-wrenchingly spicy hot chili. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Dead Eye Saloon

2600 Insulator Drive (South Baltimore)
Note: The following review was provided courtesy of Steve Johnson.

On the northeast corner of the Hanover Street Bridge. From the south side of Baltimore take I-95 to Hanover Street south. Go 1/4 mile to a stop light. DO NOT take a left at the light - this is illegal! Just before the light take the little minifork on your right and come around until you're headed east facing Hanover Street at the light. Cross Hanover Street (wait 'til the light turns green), take the first right and you're there.

Overlooks the opaque and highly polluted Patapsco River. Swimming allowed but not recommended -- 3-eyed fish have been pulled outta the river. There's a big deck out back for drinking in the summer.

Several good beers on draft -- Guinness, Oxford, Watneys, etc. Happy hour every day from 4-7, and it's cheap, too ($1 Guinness). LOTS of dead animals on the walls -- pretty much any non-bipedal mammal is up there -- snake, mongoose, ferret, shark, and lots of deer and other horned quadrupeds.

The pool table takes quarters. A girl I used to go out with almost got in a fight w/another girl there over a game of pool. Don't know what that says about the women I go out with, but forewarned is forearmed. The jukebox's got everything from Patsy Cline to Nine Inch Nails -- you should be able to find something you like.

The bathrooms have, er -- charm, especially during the summer.

The Dead Eye Saloon was reviewed by Steve Johnson

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Outer Suburbia (and other scary places)

Last Chance Saloon

5888-A Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
50 taps with a wide range of microbrewed and imported beers. Live music on weekends. Half price burgers on Monday. Taps include Anchor's Old Foghorn and all the local micros, lots of imports, though it doesn't look like they have the Schlosser Alt any longer. DeGroen's beers on tap. Lots of other good stuff: Fordham's etc.

Into Music?

• Cajun/Zydeco in the Baltimore-Washington area
• Alternative Music, Baltimore: The City That Breeds

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