Tag Archives: Columbia

Hops & Harvest Festival

Hops & Harvest Festival 2019

Columbia, MD October 5, 2019

It was a good move changing the Hops & Harvest Festival venue from the Columbia Lakefront to Merriweather this year. With lots more room, we could all sample local craft ales, wine, and spirits, chow down on food truck food, or learn about medical marijuana dispensers in the comfort of the deep shade of Merriweather Wood’s forest. Continue reading Hops & Harvest Festival 2019

Hysteria's Taplist sign

Sad Panda

Columbia, MD January 10, 2019

Early Sunday morning (January 6th) tragedy struck Hysteria Brewing Co. A vandal broke the windows of their van and keyed it, broke a tap room window, stole a hop planter and tried to damage the front door. If that’s not bad enough, they also destroyed the critical glycol unit resulting in having to dump 4 beers in their fermenters, including Trash Panda. Continue reading Sad Panda

Tröegs Pint Glass

A Mad Elf Night

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.

Continue reading A Mad Elf Night
Lovely Day For A Guinness

Guinness & Black Flag

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