Jess Blumberg's picture
June, 14th 2012

Drinks at Of Love and Regret

New gastropub Of Love and Regret, located in Brewer’s Hill, opened in March and is a collaboration between Stillwater Artinsal Ale’s Brian Strumke and Ted Stelzenmuller of Jack’s Bistro. We just had to try the winning combo of local beer and food powerhouses.

Located across the street from the Natty Boh Tower, the space once housed by Canton Station has an unassuming black door that leads into the pub’s long, narrow bar and dining room. Gleaming dark woods, brick walls, and tables lit by candles in mason jars contribute to the hip atmosphere—very Pacific Northwest. This place gets the vibe right without trying too hard.

A long chalkboard to one end of the room lists the 23 beers on tap, which include Stillwater Artisanal brews, imports, and other local beers like Sublimation by Brewer’s Art. Ranging from $7-9 for a 12-ounce poor, this place is on the higher end for Baltimore pubs, but the crowded bar proves patrons are happy to pay the price. Another note: We asked to sample one of the beers, but were told we could only purchase 6-ounce pours if we wanted to try them. Offering samples would be a great way for patrons to experiment before deciding on a particular brew.

But, Of Love and Regret’s knowledgeable bar and wait staff, all clad in black, did help us navigate the long tap list. The Baltimore-brewed Oliver’s Channel Crossing v5 was a refreshing U.K.- and Belgian-inspired golden mild ale served in a goblet. The stronger Emelisse Holland Oats, brewed in the Netherlands, was a smooth amber with hints of toasted oats and applestroop.

For $18, select picks off of the draft list are available to share in a 36-ounce pitcher. As our waitress delivered the carafe of locally brewed Cellar Door, a white sage infused wheat beer, she described it as “a step up from Blue Moon.” A complex and unique mix of spices, it was, as my friend put it, an “elevator ride” from the grocery store Belgian-style witbier, and the perfect summer drink.

We also tried a couple of the pub’s signature cocktails, our favorite being their rendition of a Boris Karloff cocktail (gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white) garnished with lime zest and black pepper. This gin fizz was executed perfectly, light and fruity with a foamy top.

Straying from drinks for a second, all of our food was delicious. Most unique, The Golden Burger, as the menu warns, actually is gold. Edible spray paint is used to achieve the effect, our waitress explained. (A full food review will appear in an upcoming issue).

We’ll be back soon to taste more of the constantly changing drafts, and maybe—if we dare—venture into the list of 30 bottles, which are separated into dry and crisp, sweet and sour, and strong and dark sections.

—Rebecca Kirkman, Baltimore magazine intern 

[Image: courtesy of Of Love and Regret]

Jess Blumberg's picture
June, 13th 2012

Opening of Townhouse Kitchen + Bar

Last night I attended an opening party for Townhouse Kitchen + Bar in Harbor East, right down the block from RA Sushi. The swanky, new gastropub is one of about a dozen restaurants run by Chicago-based group Restaurants-America, but the first for the group in Maryland.

The space, in the bottom floor of the Eden building, is very modern with exposed ceilings, wooden accents, and high-fashion photos on the walls. There's a large bar in the center (with tons of flatscreen TVs), a glass-encased room for private parties, and various long "community tables," where a number of parties can eat at the same time (like Iggie's in Mt. Vernon). We ended up hanging out in the lounge, which has plush, leather furniture bathed in the natural light of floor-to-ceiling windows—a nice change of pace from typical dark longues.

Probably the most notable thing about Townhouse, from my perspective, is its self-serve beer taps at some of its tables, pictured. While this isn't an entirely new concept (Leinenkugel's Beer Garden has some, too), they're doing a few things differently. The touch-screen technology for patrons seems extremely state-of-the art. Each person gets 32-ounces of beer to start with then you can add or subtract ounces as you go, paying at the end.

Additionally, one of the taps was Stoli vodka, something I've never seen. They bring mixers (like orange and cranberry juice) to your table, emulating bottle service. Prices vary depending on the type of liquid you want, of course—Miller Lite runs you 25 cents per ounce, while a Dogfish Head 60 Minute clocks in at 38 cents per ounce. While that's kind of pricey ($4 for a 16-ounce Miller Lite), it's pretty standard for Harbor East. All the food we sampled (chicken tacos, yellowfin tuna stack, chicken salad sliders, beef tenderloin) was delicious, as well.

Townhouse is now open for lunch and dinner and seems like it will fit right in within ritzy Harbor East.

[Images: courtesy of Townhouse and me] 

Jess Blumberg's picture
May, 24th 2012

A Saturday at Merriweather

The bucolic Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia has been host to a number of great events over the years, but it's rare that you can experience the double-header that I got to last Saturday.

During the day, Merriweather hosted the 20th annual "Wine in the Woods," an all-day festival featuring local wineries and vineyards sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks. The wooded grounds are an ideal setting for various wine tents, where you can sample or buy whatever vino fits your fancy. A lot of Maryland wines are on the sweeter side, which paired nicely with the unseasonably warm weather.

The weather helped to draw a pretty huge crowd, who were able to enjoy two stages of live music—everything from reggae band Jah Works and zydeco band The Crawdaddies to Dave Matthews tribute band Crowded Streets.

The music was just getting started as "Wine in the Woods" wrapped up at 6 p.m., because Saturday's ticket included lawn admission to Merriweather's concert that night: Justin Jones, the Drive-By Truckers, and Lucinda Williams. One qualm I had with this transition is that guests were not allowed to bring open wine bottles (which were uncorked when you bought them) and wine glasses (which were given to you upon entry) into the grounds of the concert. For next year, it would be great to either give out plastic wine glasses or amend the rules, as this was a big challenge for festival go-ers.

That said, seeing three great bands from a blanket on the lawn at Merriweather was a perfect way to conclude our day. I really enjoyed local singer-songwriter Justin Jones, whose twangy Americana was both catchy and creative. (Jones is currently doing a residency at The Ottobar, where you can see him on May 28 and June 4.) I've seen the Drive-By Truckers several times before, and their set didn't disappoint, as their hard-driving Southern rock soared through the amphitheatre. Lucinda Williams followed the Truckers, a move I'm guessing was a nod to her enduring folk and country career, but her slower songs almost seemed anti-climactic after such an explosive set.

All in all, it was a great Saturday at Merriweather. It made me feel lucky to have a venue, which hosts a plethora of great events, just 20 minutes down the road.

[Image: courtesy of jrynda.blogspot.com]

Jess Blumberg's picture
May, 17th 2012

Gordon Biersch Brewery coming to Harbor East

Renowned brewery chain Gordon Biersch will soon have a location in Harbor East. We on the 1000 block of Lancaster Street have known something was coming in—what with the excessive jack-hammering and construcion work that goes on everyday—but we were just tipped off that it's going to be a Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant.

According to a Harbor East building manager, the restaurant is planning to open in mid-October, will have outdoor seating, and brew eight tanks of beer on the premesis.

The Gordon Biersch chain specializes in beer brewed on site and food made from scratch (like their famous garlic fries). There are already two locations in Maryland (Rockville and Annapolis) and one in D.C., but this will be Baltimore's first. While Gordon Biersch is a chain, this certainly isn't Applebee's. The restaurant is known for its award-winning handcrafted brews, particularly the German-style lagers and hefeweizens—that many patrons choose to drink from a boot.

[Image: courtesy of pitch.com]

Jess Blumberg's picture
May, 10th 2012

Beer garden party tonight

It's a beautiful day outside and, if you don't have plans, you should come down to Leinenkugel's Beer Garden (which was one of 2011's Best Bars), where we're presenting "The Spring Fling, A (Beer) Garden Party."

From 6-9 p.m., you can enjoy live music, a specialty pink lemonade-beer cocktail, 2-for-1 Leinenkugel brews, $4 call cocktails, a new spring pizza from Joe Squared, and 15 percent off food.

The beer garden was made just for spring weather like this, so come and enjoy!

 

[Image: courtesy of Leinenkugel's Beer Garden]

Jess Blumberg's picture
May, 4th 2012

First Thursdays have begun!

Last night marked the season opener of WTMD's "First Thursday Concerts" in West Mt. Vernon Park. This city is full of great outdoor concerts in the summer (like the ones in Patterson Park and Belvedere Square), and this series is among the best. 

The Mt. Vernon park is an ideal setting with its central grassy area and bustling streets with vendors on either side. We got to sample some Brewer's Art beer and grub from Da Food Truck, which was serving fare from Cazbar and pizza from HomeSlyce. (We had a delicious chicken kebap: marinated chicken, tomatoes, onions, and peppers wrapped in a tortilla). Last night seemed particularly crowded, probably because it's the first event of the season and the weather was perfect. They could have done with maybe one more beer stand, but the whole thing is free so you can't really complain.

We only got to catch the tail end of the first band The Happen-Ins, an Austin-based band with '70s-esque pop songs. Then the evening turned serene when Diego Garcia started playing his Latin folk music, complete with cello and Spanish guitar. The last act, Joe Louis Walker, was a perfect headliner with its bluesy, soulful rock and powerhouse five-piece band.

Last night was a great example of why the First Thursday series is one of the most fun (and free!) events in the city. Next up, WTMD will host soul group JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound on June 7. Their song called "Baltimore Is The New Brooklyn," which editor John Lewis wrote about here, is sure to be a major crowd-pleaser!

[Image: courtesy of WTMD]

Jess Blumberg's picture
May, 2nd 2012

Spicy margarita for Cinco de Mayo

Last night I attended a spring cocktail preview at B&O American Brasserie. They have a lot of new, exciting things on the menu this season, including three types of "flowing bowls," which are communal punch drinks intended for at least four people to share. We tried the very fruity Wallop To Your Own Beat, which was reminiscent of sparkling wine.

We sampled a few other stellar cocktails, created by bar manager Brendan Dorr, including the Apple Blossom, a twist on a daisy cocktail with Angel's Envy bourbon, apple schnapps, citrus, Domain Canton, and soda. The spicy ginger from the Domain Canton mixed with the refreshing apple citrus was a perfect balance. We also enjoyed the award-winning Galavanter made with Bulleit Rye, which won the Baltimore Bartender's Guild "Rye's Up" cocktail contest that I wrote about here.

But my favorite of the night was probably B&O's new margarita, which Dorr named the Heat Seeking Countermeasure, pictured. The drink is made with Tanteo jalapeño-infused tequila, agave, lime, and Pamplemousse (grapefruit) Liqueur. The tequila had just enough peppery flavor without an overpowering spice and it was counteracted nicely with the citrus punch of the lime and grapefruit liqueur. This is one of the best margaritas I've had and would be a great way to kick off Cinco de Mayo on Saturday. See the recipe below:

Heat Seeking Countermeasure
1 1/4 oz. Tanteo jalapeño
1/2 oz. agave
3/4 oz. lime
3/4 oz. Pamplemousse Liqueur

Shake with ice and strain into a salt rimmed coupe. Garnish with jalapeño coin.

[Image: courtesy of Sara Warfield]

Jess Blumberg's picture
April, 30th 2012

First cask ale at Camden Yards

This past weekend, I attended the first Firkin Friday event at Camden Yards. Every Friday home game, Flying Dog Brewery will tap a different cask-conditioned ale at its storefront on the lower level between sections 23 and 29. 

According to Flying Dog, Camden Yards is one of only two stadiums (the other being at AT&T Park in San Francisco) to feature a cask-conditioned ale, which is a fresh and unfiltered beer that matures in in a 10-gallon keg, aka a firkin. This progressive move is even being hailed by out-of-town beer bloggers. Also, it's interesting to note that the Orioles approached Flying Dog with the idea, a part of the organization's greater mission to provide local drinks and food in the ballpark.

Friday night's event was a lot of fun, as the cask was tapped around 6 p.m. and we got to enjoy the crispest version of a Snake Dog IPA. For a full schedule of the Firkin Fridays, see Flying Dog's website.

[Image by me]

Jess Blumberg's picture
April, 23rd 2012

Cocktails at The Fork & Wrench

I got to check out newly opened bar/restaurant The Fork & Wrench in Canton on Friday night. So many people have been buzzing about this farm-to-table restaurant that has a vintage, speakeasy vibe and features local ingredients in all of their their food and drink items.

The space, once housed by Good Love Bar and more recently Pur Lounge, has great potential and F&W's staff really seemed to embrace it. The decor consists of a lot of rustic-chic items like birdcages, distressed side boards, and old bookshelves. The bar area (packed on Friday night) is really cool, too, with infusion jars behind the bar and beautiful handcrafted, upholstered booths lining the walls, pictured.

We sat in the lofted dining area and, along with dinner, tried all of the drinks on the cocktail menu (don't worry, there were only four). My two favorites were the Brass Tacks and the Aviation. Both clocking in at $7, Brass Tacks was a spicy-sweet combo of Pikesville Rye, ginger simple syrup, house-brandied black cherries, and a splash of soda over ice. Aviation was also a great balance of flavors, albiet a bit more light and refreshing with gin, lemon, maraschino liqueur, and creme de violet served up. A nice touch was that it was served in an undersized coupe glass. 

It's interesting to note that none of their speciality cocktails featured vodka and were more focused on the vintage liquors of whiskey and gin. This is a trend I've seen popping up more and more, especially with the recent surge of cocktail clubs in the area. The menu also had a great selection of local beer with Heavy Seas Peg Leg, Stillwater Cellar Door, and Stillwater Existent all on tap. 

Look out for a full review, food and all, of The Fork & Wrench in our forthcoming June issue. 

[Image: courtesy of The Fork & Wrench]

Jess Blumberg's picture
April, 11th 2012

BBC Travel touts Baltimore beer scene

In an article published on Tuesday, BBC Travel writer Kendra Marr expounds on the growth of the beer scene here in Baltimore. Marr starts off describing how the city's beer heyday was diminished by Prohibition and then eventual industry consolidation.

She then proclaims, though, that "beer is flowing back into the city, thanks to a combination of young beer enthusiasts, cheap real estate, and the persistence of local brewers."

The rest of the piece is a basic list of all the go-to beer spots in the city, including Max's Taphouse, Brewer's Art, Pratt Street Alehouse, and Clipper City Brewing Company (with a nod to Heavy Seas Alehouse). Marr also makes mention of Baltimore Beer Week, Stillwater Artisanal Ales, DuClaw Brewing Company, and Baltimore-Washington Beer Works.

This may certainly not be news to local beer nerds, but what great international press to cement that Baltimore is indeed a beer town once again.

[Image: courtesy of Ladies of Craft Beer]