2020-12-15 03:18:34
Raise a Pint at Guinness Open Gate Brewery BEHIND THE SCENES If you want a perfect pint of Guinness, you’ve got two choices—hop a flight to Dublin or make your way to Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore. Not only is Open Gate the only Guinness brewery in the United States, it’s the only Guinness Innovation Brewery outside of St. James Gate, meaning you can sample the original Extra Stout along with only-in-Maryland site-brewed creations such as Guinness Milk Stout, Hazy IPA, and the signature Guinness Baltimore Blonde. Take a tour through this renovated whiskey distillery for an inside look at the cutting-edge brewing process accompanied by 260 years of Guinness history and artifacts, including the iconic art of John Gilroy (in addition to the seals and toucans, Gilroy even painted crabs). With a sprawling outdoor space offering everything from food trucks to live entertainment, the traditional pub atmosphere of the Taproom, and the upscale experience of The 1817 Restaurant, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery is a journey worth taking. Cheers to the Free State’s Proud Brewing Tradition TASTE SOME BREWS Maryland may be known for crabs, but Marylanders know that crabs are best enjoyed with a great beer. That may be part of the reason our local brewing scene is as good as any. Heck, world-famous Flying Dog Brewery even makes Deadrise, an Old Bay-infused gose that’s perfect with our favorite crustaceans. Along with Flying Dog, Frederick is the center of a hub of amazing local breweries like Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, Monocacy Brewing Company, Brewer’s Alley, and more. Farther west, Antietam Brewery in Hagerstown serves its suds with a side of Civil War history, and 1812 Brewery in Cumberland helps put the area at the cutting edge of the brewer’s art. Speaking of which, Resurrection Ale by The Brewer’s Art is a go-to in the big beer town of Baltimore. Check out great selections from Union Craft Brewing (centerpiece of the Union Collective of shops and makers), Heavy Seas with its nautically named selections, Checkerspot Brewing, Peabody Heights—built on the site of Old Oriole Park stadium—and the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, to name just a few. Just outside of Charm City, you’ll love Inverness Brewing in Monkton and Forward Brewing in Annapolis. Southern Maryland is home to the locally legendary Ruddy Duck Brewery, serving up fantastic pints and great grub on beautiful St. George’s Island. Mully’s Brewery in Prince Frederick makes a great seafood pairing with their Shucker Stout, and Scorpion Brewing has a top-notch tasting room in Owings. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is also home to a thriving beer scene with spots like RAR in Cambridge, dedicated to traditional “real” ales. Evo in Salisbury is another shore hit, and Burley Oak Brewing Company makes sure that Ocean City is stocked with top-notch local brews. In Maryland, you are free to indulge your beer lover’s palate on some of the finest brews anywhere. Find more about Maryland Beer & Breweries at: marylandbeer.org Pop the Cork on Adventure along Maryland’s Dozen Wine Trails RAISE YOUR GLASS Marylanders have been growing wine since there have been Marylanders, but recently the state’s fantastic and diverse wineries have kicked it up a notch, winning awards and pleasing palates around the world. Quickly becoming known for our rich, yet quixotically light Barbera reds— Italy’s “wine of the people” grows beautifully throughout the Old Line State—Maryland is also producing standout Albariño, a dry white with characteristics of lemon peel and sweet melon that make for a perfect pairing with Maryland’s seafood bounty. Now home to more than 80 wineries connected by 12 wine trails, Maryland makes for a great vino lover’s getaway. Meander through the mountains of Western Maryland and the heart of the Civil War on the Antietam Highlands Wine Trail, home to standouts like Big Cork Vineyards, Red Heifer, Knob Hall Winery, and Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery, truly the bee’s knees. Near Washington, D.C., explore the Capital Wine Trail. Along with the classics, you’ll discover refreshing ciders and fruit wines that capture the essence of the region. The Piedmont and Gunpowder Wine Trails crisscross Central Maryland and feature some of the state’s oldest and most well-known wineries including Boordy Vineyards and Basignani Winery, known for their concerts and other events throughout the year. The Chesapeake Wine Trail is home to 14 favorites like Broken Spoke Vineyard & Winery, Crow Vineyard, Great Shoals Cellars, and Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery. All pair perfectly with an Eastern Shore getaway. The new First Landing Wine Trail and Patuxent Wine Trail together explore the vintner’s art in Southern Maryland with stops at standouts Running Hare Vineyard, Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery, and Port of Leonardtown Winery—an easy stroll from downtown Leonardtown and its eclectic waterfront events. And that’s just the first blush of Maryland’s burgeoning wine scene. There’s so much more to discover with unforgettable getaways and great grapes along Maryland’s dozen Wine Trails. Find more about Maryland Wine & Wineries at: marylandwine.com Ride the Rye Road to Maryland’s Distillers of Distinction RAISE YOUR SPIRITS Talk about tradition. Marylanders have been distilling the finest spirits for five centuries now, and once-ubiquitous “Maryland Rye” is making a hard-charging comeback thanks to new makers reviving beloved traditions across the state. Sagamore Spirits is helping lead the way along this new rye road from their gorgeous distillery in Baltimore’s waterfront Port Covington community. Not to be outdone, Charm City is home to the Baltimore Spirits Company, offering tours as part of the Union Collective in the hip Hampden neighborhood. And Old Line Spirits is another local favorite founded by a pair of naval aviators who bought a still in Oregon and shipped it off to Maryland to make their whiskey dreams reality. Bootjack Rye Whiskey from McClintock Distilling Company in Frederick has already brought home multiple gold medals, proving Maryland is still where it’s at when you’re talking rye. Springfield Manor in Thurmont is a true triple threat with a winery, a brewery, and a distillery best known for its flavored gins. Cobalt Rye Whiskey by Schmidt’s Spirits is an eagerly anticipated 2021 release: two parts rye, one part wheat, and aged in a sugary rum cask—it’s a true love-letter to Maryland ryes of old. Blackwater Distilling makes award-winning gin, vodka, and Irish whiskey on Kent Island, and you can continue your tour of the shore with a stop at Lyon Rum in St. Michaels, where making double-distilled rum in small pot stills is a true art. In Ocean City, Seacrets Distilling Company makes a full range of spirits, with an Orange Vodka perfect for a true Maryland Orange Crush. BlueDyer Distilling in Waldorf has a tradition dating back before Prohibition and is making waves with their slightly sweet and fully sophisticated Port Barrel Finished Whiskey. Tobacco Barn Distillery around the corner in Hollywood pays tribute to Maryland’s oldest ghost story with its Moll Dyer Cinnamon Whiskey. For more fun, try Southern Trail in nearby Mechanicsville with a line of flavored moonshines. Whatever your pleasure, Maryland has just the craft drink to raise your spirits. Find more about Maryland Spirits & Distilleries at: marylandspirits.org
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