So when I decided to tag along on a trip to Baltimore that The Wife was taking to attend a conference, my immediate efforts were to see what my beer options would be.  Now that was not only because I love my beer, but also since it was the first weekend of the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament and I don’t miss that for any reason.  Any sort of vacation or long weekend should not deprive me of two of my favorite things!

The pink elephant will always draw you in.

So after doing a brief internet search, I came up with what I thought would be a few good options and Max’s Taphouse was on that short list.  At that point it was just one of a handful of choices.  Then I was reading through December’s issue of Beeradvocate Magazine and saw Max’s was on their list of the 25 “Top Places to Have a Pint.”  OK, so that narrowed the list a bit further.  Then I decided to ask who ever could hear me out in the world of Twitter where I could get some good beer and watch college basketball in Baltimore.  When the immediate answer of Max’s came back it sealed the deal for my beer drinking location of choice for that trip.

That was all before I looked on the map to see that Max’s Taphouse was only a short walk away from the hotel we would be staying at!  Sometimes things just work out in your favor.

Some of the view from my seat.

The Wife and I quickly pulled up a barstool directly in front of the tap handles for the cask beer offerings on our initial visit.  The first choice for me was a (cask) Troegs Nugget Nectar and The Wife went with a Silly Pink Killer (Brasserie de Silly).  Bob was fantastic behind the bar and we felt at home even more when a patron asked if the free Miller Lite that was being offered “came with a straw like the rest of the water.”  Somewhere in my laughter at that question I briefly felt sorry for the Miller Lite girl that was pushing the freebies that afternoon.  Not the best crowd for that product, but just the type of beer drinking people I wanted to be around.

Thus began my obsession with the environment and selection at my fingertips (80 or so draft offerings and hundreds of bottled option) as I would visit Max’s each of the first three days of our stay in Baltimore. I would say that is a bad thing, but I enjoyed every moment of it!

A peek at the draft list.

To save my computer from the potential drool that would come with a beer-by-beer recap (from Gubna to Dugana to Gemeni and on), I will go with mostly pictures from here on out.  Enjoy . . .

OB Gubna in front, then Avery Dugana, and Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot in back

Emelisse Winter and Olivers Bishop Breakfast

Just part of the set up that I would like at home.

Avery Collaboration (I think)

Part of what the bar sees (and I think a Dogfish Head Aprihop)

Do yourself a favor and visit Max’s Taphouse if are in Baltimore.  Sit yourself at the bar, introduce yourself to Bob, and get yourself a good draft beer.  All will be well from there!