Since its inception seven years ago, Baltimore Beer Week has grown into a mammoth event. In fact, now it’s more than a week (10 days) and can be found in just about every corner bar, upscale restaurant, and craft brewery in the region. This is an awesome thing.
What’s not so awesome is trying to navigate the more than 300 events (!) the BBW folks have organized. So we’ve decided to narrow things down a bit for you a pick the 17 not-to-miss events from October 9-18 to make planning just a bit easier. Cheers!
Chilibrew IX Presented by Baltibrew
When: October 9, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Zion Lutheran Church, 400 E Lexington Street
Cost: $25 for attendees, $10 for competitors
What: Even before BBW existed, there was home-brew club Baltibrew and its annual chili and home-brew competition, which is going on nine years strong. All Chilibrew attendees will serve as judges at the event, voting on the best chili con carne, vegan chili, and home-brew based beer provided by more than 60 competitors. There will also be a “celebrity-judged” competition with local food and drink experts weighing in on their favorite picks. Proceeds from the event will benefit Baltimore Brew, the Farm Alliance of Baltimore City, and activist group Force.
Double Duckpin Funk n Bowl
When: October 9, 7 p.m.-midnight
Where: Stoneleigh Bowling Lanes, 6703 York Road
Cost: $30
What: Relive your childhood birthday parties with way more beer this time, as Pinehurst Wine Shoppe and Union Brewing Company host a duckpin bowling night with bottomless beer and music from DJ BohFunk. Union stays on-theme by featuring Duckpin, Double Duckpin, and a cask-varient Duckpin on tap. Admission also includes a Union color-changing stadium cup.
Mahaffey’s Pub Passport Challenge
When: October 9-18
Where: Mahaffey’s Pub, 2706 Dillon Street
Cost: Pay as you go
What: If you like a good challenge, Mahaffey’s is offering beer nerds the opportunity to try 21 new beers in 10 days. Starting on October 9, and continuing everyday during BBW, the bar will feature a new brewery or theme. You’ll receive a passport and must drink a beer from each event to get stamped. Pick up your passport at the bar and, if you complete the challenge, you get a free beer, a Mahaffey’s Pub BBW t-shirt, and unlimited bragging rights for life.
Made in Baltimore: Beer Tap Handles and Homebrew
When: October 11, 12-4 p.m.
Where: Mark Supik and Co. Tap Handles, 1 N. Haven Street
Cost: Free
What: Not only is actual beer brewing an art, but so is the creativity and workmanship that goes into making tap handles. And some of the finest beer tap handles in the world are made by Baltimore native Mark Supik, who owns a woodturning shop in East Baltimore. Attendees will get the chance to watch tap handles being turned, sculpted, painted, and labeled. Plus, Cross Street Ireggulars home-brew club will be on hand for beer making (and tasting) demos and additional beer will be provided by Raven Beer.
Pub Science
When: October 12, 7:30-9 p.m.
Where: The Wharf Rat, 801 S. Ann Street
Cost: Pay as you go
What: The Wharf Rat and The Maryland Science Center join together for a fun and educational evening of beer experimentation. Science Center interns have prepared for the event by coming up with experiments involving both liquor and beer. Past experiments have involved cold fusion, prism goggles, and huffing CO2. What could possibly go wrong?
Battle of the Breweries
When: October 13, 6-10 p.m.
Where: Birroteca, 1520 Clipper Mill Road
Cost: $45/person or $80/couple
What: We love when two of our favorite local breweries go head to head, and that’s just what’s happening as Salisbury-based Evolution Craft Brewing takes on hometown favorite DuClaw Brewing Company. In this four-course beer dinner, each course will be paired with one selection from each brewery and guests will get to vote on which beer pairs best. Let’s see if Evolution, the reigning champ, can be dethroned.
Yoga and Beers
When: October 14, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E. 30th Street
Cost: Free
What: This event just happens to combine all of our favorite things. We’ve already written about how much we love the new trend of craft breweries offering yoga classes. Next week, you can experience that in Peabody Heights, our pick for “Best Brewery,” which will be offering a free yoga class its in 2,000-square-foot tasting room.
A Beer Dinner in Bangkok
When: October 14, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Ten Ten Americain Bistro, 1010 Fleet Street
Cost: $49
What: Ten Ten and Union Craft Brewing team up to combine craft brews and Chef John Hufnagel’s authentic four-course Thai menu, inspired by his travels throughout the country. Every course, from spicy to sweet, will be paired with a complementary selection from Union. Think pork satay with a smoked lager, paneang curry with a double IPA, and dessert served with a Gose sweetened with galangal syrup.
So You Think You Know Beer?
When: October 14, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Parts & Labor, 2600 Howard Street
Cost: Pay as you go
What: Allagash Brewing Company will be in town to test out our local suds knowledge. While guests take a quiz on beer and beer-making facts, they can sample rarities from this Belgian-style brewery, including Adventureux (Allagash Black aged in rum barrels) or James Bean (Allagash Curieux blended with cold pressed coffee). Highest score on the exam takes home a $150 cash prize.
Harbor Booze Cruise
When: October 15, 5:30 p.m.-midnight
Where: Cat’s Eye Pub, 1730 Thames Street
Cost: Pay as you go
What: Enter to win tickets for you and a friend to ride on the Urban Pirates ship and sip on a selection of Coney Island craft beers. The 90-minute boat ride leaves out of the S. Ann Street port in Fells Point and sails around the harbor, from Downtown to Under Armour’s campus and everywhere in between. Even if you can’t make the cruise, Cat’s Eye will be offering samples of Coney Island brews on dry land all night accompanied by games and live music by funk band “Speakers of the House.”
Magic Number IPL Release Party
When: October 15, 7: 30 p.m.
Where: Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar
Cost: Pay as you go
What: Some of the biggest forces in regional beer—Union Craft, Stillwater Artisanal, and DC Brau—collaborated on a new brew, Magic Number IPL, a six-percent ABV pale lager. The beer has a gentle malt character and is ridiculously hopped with floral, citrus, grapefruit, passionfruit, earth, pine, and melon notes. While you can first get your hands on this hop-heavy brew at Max’s Taphouse on Sunday, October 11 at 4 p.m., the real release party will take place at Blue Pit where Union and DC Brau brewers will be on hand, and guests can enjoy a whole hog barbecue.
Give a Shuck
When: October 16, 4-8 p.m.
Where: James Joyce, 616 S. President Street
Cost: Pay as you go
What: Enjoy Madhouse Oysters and Flying Dog beers at this James Joyce happy hour in Harbor East. Weather permitting, oyster shucks and beer will be available on the side patio, as well as live music from The Jordan August Band. The best part is that $2 from every $5 pint of Flying Dog will be donated to the Oyster Recovery Project and enable the organization to replant hundreds of baby oysters back into the Chesapeake Bay.
Brews, Witches, & Bitches
When: October 16, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Bar Liquorice, 801 E. Fort Avenue
Cost: Pay as you go
What: Yards and Jailbreak Brewing Companies will be hosting the first-ever BBW dog costume contest. Feel free to dress up your pet as cute (or creepy) as you want, as there will be outside seating and a great selection of beers from the Philadelphia-based Yards and Howard County-based Jailbreak.
Beer Stein Making Workshop
When: October 17, 12-3 p.m.
Where: Baltimore Clayworks, 5707 Smith Avenue
Cost: $45 for members, $50 for non-members
What: After a full week of sampling some of the finest beers, it’s about time you make something to put them in. Using the basic principles of hand-building, guests can either decorate finished pieces or make one of their very own beer steins from a selection of six glaze options. Once you’ve crafted your creation, you can leave it to be fired and glazed by the professionals and Baltimore Clayworks and pick it up three weeks later, where you’ll, of course, fill it with your favorite brew.
Future of Biking in Bmore
When: October 17, 2:30-5 p.m.
Where: The Brewer’s Art, 1106 N. Charles Street
Cost: $20
What: Join cycling nonprofit Bikemore on a guided tour that highlights roads slated to received bike infrastructure in 2016. Learn how the projects are selected and designed and how bike advocates work with the city to bring more improvements to Baltimore. After the 15-mile ride, post up at Brewer’s Art for a continued discussion and a free pint for registered riders.
“Dive” Into Heavy Seas
When: October 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Heavy Seas Alehouse, 1300 Bank Street
Cost: $33
What: In what sounds like our personal dream come true, Heavy Seas is arranging for a bus to take 30 people on a dive bar tour of Baltimore. Admission comes with transportation, a boxed lunch, and a Heavy Seas beer on the bus. Dive bar stops on the tour, which will each feature their own food and drink specials, will include Mum’s, Mt. Royal Tavern, Knotty Pine, Venice Tavern, and Leadbetters.
Pumpkin Carving Spectacular
When: October 18, 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Where: Little Havana, 1325 Key Highway
Cost: Pay as you go
What: For the sixth year in a row, Little Havana hosts this all-ages pumpkin carving contest. Families are encouraged to sit by the fire, make s’mores, carve pumpkins, and the adults can enjoy Long Trail Brewing products. Sounds like a relaxing way to bid another successful Baltimore Beer Week adieu.
Of course, there are many, many more events to choose from throughout the week, so see BBW’s website for more details.