Craft Beer, Here: Racer's New Belgium Bonfire, Flying Dog Collaboration

There’s been a ton of big news in the beer world since the last time we spoke, so let’s not waste any time, and jump right into it!

New Belgium Rarities on Tap at

A couple of rare beers (and some not-so-rare beers) from Colorado’s New Belgium brewing will be on offer at Parkville’s best craft beer bar next Thursday.

If you stop by on April 5th, you’re in for a treat—in addition to a bonfire and a cornhole tournament you’ll be able to try:

• Cocoa Mole, a spiced beer made with cocoa and ancho, chipotle and guajillo chili peppers; it’s not super spicy though, drinks like a delicious chili chocolate.
• Biere de Mars, a citrusy ale made with lemon peel and lemon verbena then fermented with funky brewers yeast brettanomyces.
• Clutch, a collaboration with the notable Maryland rock band—a blend of 80 percent stout and 20 percent dark, sour, wood-aged beer.
• Shift, a pale lager from the brewery that comes in cans.
• Ranger IPA, one of my favorite session India pale ales, brewed with a copious amount of hops.
• Dig, the brewery’s spring seasonal beer is an IPA brewed with lemony Sorachi Ace hops and fruity Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand.
• 1554, an “Enlightened Black Ale” brewed from an ages-old Belgian recipe and fermented with lager yeast.
• And of course the brewery’s flagship beer Fat Tire

Dogs To Collaborate, Compete on Unique IPA

Brad Klipner, DuClaw Brewing's sales manager and beer blogger extraordinaire, recently reported that Maryland brewery Flying Dog and Scottish brewery BrewDog are each brewing a version of a very special IPA.

What makes it interesting? The brewer’s aren’t allowed to use any hops—the flagship ingredient in an India Pale Ale—in their creation. Instead they will use an agreed-upon list of ingredients to mimic the characteristic bitterness of the hop, so the beer will be brewed with a combination of rosemary, juniper berries, spearmint, elderflower, and bay leaf.

“Each of us producing our own beer highlights the human element of the brewing process,” Flying Dog Brewmaster Matt Brophy told BeerInBaltimore. “Even with the same ingredients, the hands that craft it are hugely influential in the end product.”

Rare and Obscure Beers On Tap At Max’s

Fells Point staple Max’s on Broadway will host its “Rare and Obscure” beer festival later this month, so mark your calendar if you are interested in tasting something new and exciting.

A preliminary list of drafts found its way into an email sent by Max’s proprietor Casey Hard. To give you an idea of what will be on offer:

• 21st Amendment Lower De Boom
• Allagash Old HLT
• BFM Spike & Jerome
• Blue Point Old Howling Bastard
• Crispin Marvin
• De Glazen Toren Ondeinke Zymatore aged in White Zin Barrels
• De Struise Pannepot Reserva 2009
• De Struise Pannepot Reserva 2008
• DuClaw Oak Aged Old Flame
• Elysian Arboreal
• Elysian Perfesser
• Elysian Poison Dwarf
• Elysian Slight Return
• Flying Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo
• George Gales Conquest 2000 Zymatore Aged in White Owl Whiskey Barrels
• George Gales Prize Old Ale 2001 Zymatore Aged In Whiskey/Pinot Barrels
• Hebrew Funky Jewbelation
• Hitachino Nest 3 Days
• Olvsholt Lava
• L'Olmaia Karkade
• Smuttynose Smuttonator 2011
• Smuttynose Brett & I
• Troll Palanfrina Zymatore Aged In Whiskey Barrels

The event takes place from April 26-28 and there’s no entrance fee—you can find an updated list of drafts on Max’s website as the event date approaches.

Evolution Moves Brewery, Opens Gastropub

Evolution Brewing recently opened its Public House in Salisbury. The restaurant aims to showcase the Eastern Shore brewery’s beers and pair them with regional pub food.

The kitchen staff is headed up by Food and Wine top chef Robbin Haas, and the location offers a tasting room and tours of the brewery.

I, for one, am excited to pay a visit.

Boulevard Brewing Expands Into Maryland

Kansas City-based Boulevard Brewing has added Maryland to the list of states where you can find its beer. In a few short weeks we should start seeing 750ml bottles and four packs from its Smokestack Series in area liquor stores.

Harry Recommends

For this week’s column I decided to drop in on Harry Mehta, assistant manager at Parkville’s to get a few recommendations. If you’ve never been in the store, Harry is a great guy to talk beer with and he really knows his stuff.

What does he think you should be drinking this week?

• New Belgium Cocoa Mole
• Schneider Weisse Tap X Nelson Sauvin
• DuClaw Soul Jacker
• Dogfish Head World Wide Stout (aged bottles)
• Victory Otto

What have you been drinking? Have you heard any exciting news from the beer world? Just want to chat beer with editor Nick Gestido? Leave a comment and let us know!