25 Best Bars: 10 Craft Beer Havens

Of Love and Regret

The founder of Baltimore’s Stillwater
Artisanal Ales, Brian Strumke, is behind this beer-lover’s bar. For the
beer nerds, this is your go-to for rare imports and unique
collaborations. 1028 S. Conkling Street, 410-327-0760, ofloveandregret.com

Mahaffey’s Pub

With
a cask, 20 drafts, and more than 90 domestic and imported bottles,
there’s plenty to choose from. The menu’s rundown on what to expect from
each brew makes choosing a little easier. 2706 Dillon Street,
410-276-9899, mahaffeyspub.com

Pratt Street Ale House

Home
to Oliver Ales, its own beer is brewed with a system imported from the
UK. Twenty drafts, including hand-pump selections (try the Best Bitter),
will make you feel as if you’re across the pond. 206 W. Pratt Street,
410-244-8900, prattstreetalehouse.com

Heavy Seas Alehouse

All
the taps here are the brewery’s own, making this an ideal place to
imbibe a Baltimore-brewed beer. Beer enthusiasts flock for the draft and
growler specials every week and the tapping of a special firkin. 1300
Bank Street, 410-522-0850, heavyseasalehouse.com

Racers Cafe

If
you’re looking for a casual dive bar with exceptional beer, look no
further. The 13 rotating drafts and even longer bottle list include a
variety of domestic craft breweries and some hard-to-find imports. 7732
Harford Road, Parkville, 410-882-5212

Brewer’s Cask

This
may look like your typical Federal Hill bar, but on the draft list,
you’ll find a respectable variety of domestic craft beers. A bottle list
with more than 50 options and nightly specials will keep you coming
back. 1236 Light Street, 410-BREWERS, brewerscask.com

Frisco Taphouse & Brewery

A
suburban beer destination, Frisco is home to weekly brewery events. An
electronic screen provides to-the-minute updates on more than 50
drafts, and the bottle list goes beyond your standard imports. 6695
Dobbin Road, Columbia, 410-312-4907, friscogrille.com

Metropolitan Coffeehouse and Wine Bar

Every
Thursday you’ll find beer geeks huddled around this gem’s upstairs bar
for a cask night. There’s also an extensive bottle list and modest but
diverse draft selection. 902 S. Charles Street, 410-234-0235, metrobalto.com

Max’s Taphouse

Home
to Maryland’s largest beer selection, Max’s boasts 102 drafts, five
hand-pumped cask ales, and a mind-boggling 1,200 bottles. If you aren’t
sure what you want (we don’t blame you), expert bartenders are happy to
help. 737 S. Broadway, 410-675-6297, maxs.com

Alewife

The
chalkboard listing Alewife’s 40 rotating drafts includes a selection of
local craft breweries and West Coast standouts. A 90-plus bottle list
features gypsy-brewers, international imports, and rare finds. 21 N.
Eutaw Street, 410-545-5112, alewifebaltimore.com