The Baltimore Ravens = Stella Artois

So says this online article which attempts to compare the 32 NFL teams this season to beers--everything from Natural Light to Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye.

SPBW Bus Tour of Lancaster and York Breweries this Saturday

Short notice, I know, but normally the Chesapeake By Branch SPBW doesn't have extra tickets.

The Branch is running a charter bus trip from Timonium to Lancaster and York County, Pa. breweries this Saturday, August 11th.

Itinerary:
10:00 AM Depart Light Rail Park and Ride Greenspring Dr. Lutherville Timonium, MD 21039
11:30 AM Arrive Lancaster Brewing Company 469 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg, PA 17111
http://www.lbcharrisburg.com/index.html
1:30 PM Depart Lancaster Brewing Company
2:00 PM Arrive Troegs Brewing Company 200 East Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
http://www.troegs.com/about_us/t2_brewery.aspx
4:00 PM Depart Troegs Brewing Company
4:30 PM Arrive Bube's 102 North Market Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552
http://www.bubesbrewery.com
6:00 PM Depart Bube's
6:30 PM Arrive York PA
Venues to visit are:
Liquid Hero Brewery – 7 of their own brews on Tap
http://www.liquidhero.com/index.php
Mudhook Brewery - 4 regular and 2 seasonal of their own brews on Tap
http://mudhookbrewing.com/
Holly Hound Taproom – 30 rotating taps
http://www.holyhoundtaproom.com/index.html
Cornerstones – 67 beers on tap including a beer engine cask
http://www.cobblestonesyork.com/index.php
9:30 PM Depart York, PA
10:00 PM Arrive Park and Ride Greenspring Dr. Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21039

For those of you who have not yet purchased tickets the Branch still has a few available. This shuld be a great day, and the SPBW encourages you or anyone you know who likes great beer to come along with us. 148 taps and what should be well over 120 unique brews at 7 locations, plus beer on the bus. $30 members, $40 Non-Members (includes your $10 2012 membership). Get your tickets at www.SPBW.org

The First Carroll County "Farm" Brewery Opens This Weekend

Ruhlman Brewery, at Creeping Creek Farms northwest of Hampstead, Md. opens to the public this weekend.

Edited press release below:

Brewed locally, using water from the farm’s well and naturally-grown 100% whole flower hops, Ruhlman Brewery enters the fast-growing craft brewery field with the debut of their four hand-crafted distinct ales, marketed as “Our Ales.”
Located at Creeping Creek Farms in Hampstead, Maryland, Carroll County about 45 minutes north of Baltimore, Ruhlmans Brewery makes its debut with Milk Stout, Tavern Pale Ale, Red Ale, and India Pale Ale (IPA) during a special release party, Saturday, August 11, from 8am to 5pm.
Norman Ruhlman established the farm in 1970, dividing his time between raising beef cattle, growing fresh food and vegetables for the family table and working construction – and providing for a family of eight. The farmhouse was built in 1890 and there’s a foundation on the property that dates earlier than that.
Creeping Creek Farms and the brewery continue the family tradition, which now spans three generations of Ruhlmans – and Marylanders – involved in its operation: Henry, Roger, Janet and Edith are siblings and own the farm; Henry’s sons Matt and Danny help with the brewery; Cousin Jesse is also a brewer; and brother-in-law Bob along with Janet work the hops and are helping with the packaging.
Brewing beer became a passion for Henry, about six years ago. “Back in 2010 just before Dad died, we talked to him about using a pasture on the farm to grow hops. I had been brewing small batches for a couple years and was seriously thinking about a brewery. That’s when he said, 'Might as well go ahead. It’s not good for anything else.'"
With a scent that is both herbal and spicy, that pasture is now a thriving hop field featuring six different varieties of hops--Mount Hood, Willamette, Centennial, Saaz, Fuggles, and Cascade, all grown naturally with no pesticides, herbicides and only natural fertilizer. “You can smell the freshness,” Matt said. The ales are scheduled to hit ten Carroll County liquor stores in August, with the plans to expand into other counties and stores in Maryland in the fall, according to Matt.
Ruhlman Brewery is located on Creeping Creek Farm at 2300 Harvey Gummel Road, about 45 minutes north of Baltimore. Brewed using naturally- grown hops on the farm, the micro-brewery will focus on ales “brewed for the people.” The retail ale store at the brewery is scheduled to be open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 to 5.

The Wine Source's Tim Hillman

For those who didn't hear through e-mails or social media earlier this week, the Baltimore area lost one of its primary promoters of the craft beer industry in Baltimore with the untimely passing of Timothy Hillman, beer manager of The Wine Source in Hampden, on Sunday at age 49.

The Baltimore Sun's Fred Rasmussen has an obituary.

Hillman was one of the more important figures in the craft beer revival in Baltimore, working first at Rotunda Wine and Spirits in the Rotunda shopping center on 40th Street and then moving to The Wine Source along with boss David Wells.  Hillman may have been a major player in the craft beer industry in town, but he was also a more subdued presence than the brewers and salesmen, diligently working quietly in the back offices and helping build The Wine Source's beer selection to one of the best on the Eastern Seaboard.

(2008 photo by Tom Cizauskas.)

City Paper covers National Premium

Wednesday's edition of the City Paper has a fascinating cover story (well, kind of--the cover photo is a "cheesecake-y" vintage poster from the company) on the revival of the National Premium beer brand and recipe by Easton realtor Tim Miller, titled "Lager of Love."

For those who enjoy the history of beer, beer marketing, and advertising and branding, the story will be a fascinating read.  Indeed, the question actually arose as to whether or not the old National premium recipe could be accurately reproduced in 2012, even if one had the original brewery and recipe at hand.  Even the die-hard "extreme beer" fan who wouldn't use National Bohemian to rinse out his beer glasses will find some worthwhile reading in this piece, if only to possibly reinforce a few negative assumptions about beer branding and marketing in the modern "beer renaissance" era.

Go grab the (free) paper out of its yellow box, or read the article here.

Urbanite Magazine Hops To It

The August issue of Baltimore's free-distribution Urbanite Magazine has a story on urban hop growers.  You may know one or more of the people mentioned.

Mid-Atlantic Brewing News is out

The August issue features a cover story by yours truly on upscale pub grub in Baltimore, plus the usual columns, photos, etc.  Pick it up at your favorite craft beer venue, brewpub, or retailer.

Monocacy Brewery opens in Frederick

Monocacy Brewing, the new project of the Brewer's Alley brewers, opened yesterday.

WTOP Radio has the story online.

DC Beer Week Aug. 12-18

Just a friendly little warning that Washington D.C. Beer Week is fast approaching, August 12-18th.

Official website.

Unofficial website.

One of the better events, Cask Night on Thursday the 16th at District Chophouse, with 15 or more breweries attending, including some that don't show up at Baltimore cask fests.

Burley Oak Begins Bottling

Maryland's "downda ocean" brewery, Burley Oak Brewing in Berlin, has begun bottling, according to this story from Delaware Online.  Expansion of their line to the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets is planned.