Explore Baltimore’s Craft Beer Scene

It’s no secret that Baltimore takes its beer seriously. One of the city’s first manufacturing industries was the brewing of National Bohemian beer, lovingly called Natty Boh by the locals. The iconic one-eyed mascot with a handlebar mustache can be spotted easily on clothing and merchandise, and atop the historic “Natty Boh Tower” in Baltimore’s Brewers Hill neighborhood. Even though National Bohemian is no longer brewed in Baltimore, the beer scene is alive and well with dozens of local breweries and brewpubs. Don’t miss Baltimore’s annual Beer Week in October that celebrates the best of Baltimore’s craft beer culture.

Named one of the top 100 beer bars by Draft magazine in 2013, ’14 and ’15, the Brewer’s Art is an upscale brew pub set in a grand Mount Vernon town house. Featuring six house-made Belgian-style brews on tap including the popular Resurrection, an abbey brown ale, the bar offers two incredible settings to enjoy great beer, including a basement bar and elegant dining room and lounge upstairs.

For an all-American good time, head to Dempsey’s Brew Pub, named after Orioles Hall of Famer and 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey. Located inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Dempsey’s offers four baseball-themed draft beers made in-house and more than 20 bottled beers. The menu is full of Baltimore favorites, too, like Old Bay crab dip, rock fish tacos and Camden Yards crabcakes.

Pratt Street Ale House is another bar close to the ballpark and home to Baltimore’s oldest and longest running brewery, Oliver Breweries. This brewpub offers everything under the sun from blonde, to bitter, to brown ales and is a favorite spot for O’s fans to flock to before and after the game.

Craft beer enthusiasts, be ready to set sail on the journey that is Heavy Seas Beer. Founded as a part of the Clipper City Brewing Company by Hugh Sisson in 2003, Heavy Seas’ pirate-themed beers have become a staple in the Baltimore craft beer scene. The brewery gives free tours on Saturdays and Sundays with hefty samples and a glass available for $5. For those not wanting to venture to the brewery, the Heavy Seas Alehouse in Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood offers all the Heavy Seas favorites like Loose Cannon, Gold and Powder Monkey, including cask-conditioned ales.

While it doesn’t brew its own beer, Max’s Taphouse features 140 rotating drafts, five hand-pumped cask ales and an international collection of some 1,200 bottled beers in stock – so you can drink in the beer or the sports on any of the Taphouse’s 18 TVs. Not to mention it’s been named one of America’s 100 Best Beer Bars by Draft magazine in 2013 and ’14.

Union Craft Brewing, named after beer as the union of water, barley, hops and yeast, was founded in the fall of 2011 by Kevin Blodger, Adam Benesch and Jon Zerivitz. Located in Baltimore’s Woodberry neighborhood, Union brews local favorites like the Duckpin Pale Ale and Anthem Golden Ale and offers free tours on Saturdays. Their tap room is also open for happy hour on Thursdays and Fridays.