Beer & Food Pairings: A Match Made in Heaven
By Kurt Clodfelter
“What would you suggest to pair with the salmon special?”
“The 2008 Loose Cannon from Clipper City. The triple hopping that this beer receives gives it a wonderful, complex aroma with a medium body and crisp finish that accent the richness of the fish nicely.”
Sounds a bit silly at first, doesn’t it? Well believe it or not, conversations like this are taking place all over the Baltimore area. Local residents have long since supported the beer industry, and finally restaurateurs and brewers alike are taking the shame out of suds.
Beer Can Be Crunchy, Too - Baltimore Brew Goes Organic
By Kurt Clodfelter
That’s right, organic brew. Why organic brew? Hugh Sisson, the owner of Clipper City Brewing Company says that much like the rest of his career thus far, an organic brew was the next logical step on an ambitious path. Sisson thinks it makes good sense to take care of the earth and the local farmers striving to be good custodians of the planet.
The fact that the Oxford line of brews will stay at the same price as the rest of the Clipper City line of beers is evidence of Sisson’s conviction.
So what makes this beer “organic”? Well, ...
Advice from the Baltimore Beertrekker
By Lynn Williams
Nick Nichols wants you to drink better beer.
A self-described “beer geek,” the native Baltimorean grew up with Natty Boh flowing through his veins. His father was one of a generation of East Baltimore children who toted a bucket to the corner tavern to fetch beer for his family. Young Nick had spent his childhood in a house near Clifton Park, practically in the shadow of the decaying, but imposing and still beautiful American Brewery on Gay Street, and teenage camping trips in Pennsylvania had included plenty of Yuengling.
But it took a post-colle...
36 Years Later, Bertha’s is Still a Bastion of Jazz & Blues
It’s been 36 years since music lovers (and successful classical musicians) Tony and Laura Norris bought a bar on the corner of Lancaster and Broadway in Fells Point.
Since then, Bertha’s has maintained its stake as not only a Baltimore landmark, but also a haven for local music lovers. Today, the bar and restaurant has a steady rotation of eight stellar house acts, which range from jazz to blues to dixieland to rock.
“We have some of the best jazz and blues in the city,” said Bernard Lyons, who works as a bartender and handles Bertha’s music.
<...How to Pour a Proper Guinness: From Colin Murphy at James Joyce
By Laura Greenback
Colin Murphy has been pouring Guinness since he was 15. The West Cork native has been living in the U.S. for six years, and he has worked at James Joyce Pub for all of them. The bar & restaurant is the leading seller of Guinness in the state, with about 500 kegs poured just last year.
“You really have to have patience to pour a Guinness. I’m 100 percent sure that when Guinness is poured properly, you get a better flavor. We’re very proud of our Guinness at James Joyce.”
“First you need a proper glass ...
Guinness is Good for You: St. Patty’s Day in Baltimore
By Laura Greenback
St. Patty’s Day is all messed up this year, but don’t let that stop your fun. First of all, it falls on a Monday. Then, the Catholic Church realized the drinking day would take place during the Holy Week (a big no-no), and the church is fighting to change the holiday to Friday, March 14 this year. We take all of this confusion as an excuse to party for four days straight. Festivities should begin on Friday, rage through Saturday night, continue through Sunday’s big parade down Charles Street, and finish with a shot of Irish Whiskey on Monday, March 17. You have four days to party in some of Baltimore’s best Irish Pubs. So clear out your work schedule for Tuesday, and make it your goal to stop into all of...
Goodbye, Fletchers. Hello, Vice.
By Katya Stefan
Indie heads, rockabillies and neo-goths have fueled Fletcher’s legend as Baltimore’s outpost of punk. Big name bands, as well as unknowns, have rocked the upstairs stage for nearly two decades.
Over time, the locals—fan and groupie alike—have certified Fletcher’s as the arguable leader of live. A unique underdog venue where music is loud yet intimate, the drinks cheap and the crowd predictably unpredictable, it may come as a surprise to many that Fletcher’s is about to change.
Craig Boarman of Ottorbar has teamed up with Evan Tanne...
What’s Left When the Smoke Clears?
By Katya Stefan
Maryland bars will be required to post “No Smoking” signs on their walls on Feb 1. The state-wide ban prohibits smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants, bowling alleys and taxicabs. Businesses that violate the ban face a $500 fine for each offense, and smokers could be hit with a $250 penalty.
According to a report from the Restaurant Association of Maryland, which compared state sales-tax data for bars and restaurants before and after the smoking bans went into effect, smoking bans in Montgomery and Talbot Counties have alre...
Power Plant Live matures at Mosaic
By Katya Stefan
Nestled in the back of Power Plant Live, Mosaic, true to its namesake, features such a fusion. The club’s style overlaps different shapes, colors and concepts — layers chording into a singular design.
An intimate venue, it’s at once lounge and dance club - creative, cathartic chaos wrapped in chill. As the main floor ignites in funky, soulful dance and moving lights, the periphery relaxes in lounge-mode at tables and booths.
Eclectic, vibrant elements construct the interior, from stylized Asian bamboo to glowing honey-comb tiles....
Arabian Nights: Relaxing with the Hookah
By Alex Mudge
Editorial Assistant
Looking for an exotic night out? Then try a hookah lounge. This centuries old Eastern practice is rapidly gaining popularity in the West.
Hookah smoking provides a casual way to socialize with friends. In fact, the whole point of the hookah is less about smoking, and more about the atmosphere and conversation.
“It’s a social thing, a way to relax. Definitely something to do after dinner,” hookah enthusiast Ben Lessin said.
A hookah is essentially a glass base with water, connected to a metal...
