Beer of the Week

The beer: Brewtus

Brewed by: Monocacy Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "From the shadows of a dark and opulent curtain spring the robust aromas of locally roasted coffee and hardy malt. Deep-seated hop bitterness rallies with these conspirators, delivering a well-balanced thrust of assertive flavor to a bland tyrant. Raise a glass in celebration of liberating taste. 'Et tu, Brewte?'”

Would I buy it again? Yeah, yeah, another beer from Frederick. I swear, this is the last one. There's a good reason I forgot I had Brewtus laying around — it's not very good. I mean, it is what it says: a strong coffee stout. In that regard, Brewtus is very successful. But as a beverage to enjoy? Well, it tastes like a black coffee in beer form. There is not a lot of relief from the bitterness here, and it's not even hoppy bitterness. This is a beer you have to wrestle with to get down, and while it has its place, a warm spring evening is not a great occasion for it. Even so, I probably wouldn't buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Lychee Express

Brewed by: RAK Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Brewed in collaboration with Waredaca Brewing Co., Lychee Express is a crisp, ultra-clean rice lager with a delicate tropical twist. Light-bodied and refreshingly dry, this lager was finished with lychee purée added at the very end of fermentation to preserve its bright, natural aromatics. The result is an inviting burst of fresh lychee fragrance on the nose, followed by a very light touch of fruit up front—subtle, floral, and gently sweet without overpowering the beer’s clean backbone. Soft carbonation and a smooth rice-driven finish keep it snappy and drinkable, with just a whisper of tropical character riding through each sip."

Would I buy it again? Turns out, I had one more beer from Frederick hidden away in my beer stash. And it's a good one too. Lychee Express is a wonderful beer. It's light, juicy, and flavorful. A great beer to drink on a warm spring evening. If I ever see it again, I'd definitely buy more.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Bon Voyage

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "The flavor profile is a delightful blend of sweet malt, subtle spices, and hints of ripe fruit, offering a complex yet balanced taste. Each sip takes you on a journey, capturing the essence of Belgian brewing traditions with a touch of nostalgia from those memorable first sips in Brugge. Perfect for any occasion, Bon Voyage invites you to explore and enjoy the rich heritage of Belgian-style beers."

Would I buy it again? This beer is pretty complex for something relatively light, though at 6.7% ABV it's hardly a beer one would want to chug down. It's got some nice maltiness and fruitiness, and overall I liked drinking it. I didn't think it was revolutionary, but I'd buy it again. 

Except I probably won't. The name of this beer turns out to be unbelievably poetic, as Bon Voyage here represents the last beer I'll drink in Frederick for what will likely be a long time. In a week, I'll be moving to Philadelphia. After a decade in central Maryland, it's a big and exciting change of scenery. All new beers and all new golf courses, something which is sorely needed at this point. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Callisto

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Earthy and nutty oat flavor with a balanced sweetness."

Would I buy it again? Not a particularly exciting description, but happily this was quite a good beer. It tasted pretty much as advertised. Maybe slightly drier than I'd prefer, but not enough to affect my overall enjoyment. As with last week's beer, the weather was a terrible match for a thick oatmeal stout, but beyond that, this was a good beer and one I'd buy again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Dublin Drop

The brewery: RAK Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Rich, luscious Maris otter stout base with an extended boil. Conditioned on Jameson soaked oak spirals and Irish cream flavoring. The perfect drink to make you feel a little Irish!"

Would I buy it again? This was honestly a very good beer. Rich, creamy, sweet, everything you'd want from an Irish stout on the eve of St. Patrick's Day. There was just a single problem with my drinking experience — it was quite literally 85 degrees on the day I had this beer. The timing was appropriate, it was just ridiculously, record-breakingly hot out. Ah well, what can you do? Anyway, so long as the mercury remains under, say, 60 degrees, I'd definitely buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Basic Bee

The brewery: Black Flag Brewing Company, Columbia, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Our pumpkin pie ale for all the Ugg-boot-wearing, PSL-loving souls out there. Brewed with real pumpkin, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, it’s basically autumn in a glass. Smooth, slightly sweet, and perfectly spiced, this beer pairs well with flannel selfies, leaf piles, and pretending you’re at a pumpkin patch for the ’gram. Grab one before your yoga class—because we know you literally can’t even wait for fall."

Would I buy it again? Not exactly the time of year for pumpkin pie beer, but it was available and looked good, so why not? The maple syrup definitely intrigued me. Unfortunately, this beer didn't really do all that much for me. Not that it was bad; more that the flavor was muddled. I think they threw a few too many things into this particular pumpkin beer. When you have five different strong flavors all fighting for dominance, it ends up not tasting like anything other than sugar. I really didn't get any pumpkin, which is ridiculous considering what this beer is. So, I'd probably pass on this in the future.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Doppel Gorgon

The brewery: Mully's Brewery, Prince Frederick, Maryland 

Description (from Untappd): "Our crisp and full-bodied version of the classic German doppelbock. Toasty and malty, this "liquid bread" will satisfy even the demogorgon!"

Would I buy it again? I can never resist a doppelbock. And this one is even Stranger Things themed, though if the name of this beer is supposed to be a pun on "demogorgon," it's stretched to the point where I don't even know if it's a pun or not. Anyway, the beer is thankfully very good. This particular doppelbock is a bit lighter and crisper than the standard, making it a little easier to drink, but it's still got plenty of that maltiness to it. I'd happily buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Monkey's Uncle

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Think of this as liquid banana bread. Monkey’s Uncle pours a hazy mahogany with a fluffy head, balancing classic notes of ripe banana and clove with the rich depth of toasted bread crust and caramel. It offers all the comfort of a dark beer with the crisp, refreshing finish of a wheat ale. No monkey business, just great flavor."

Would I buy it again? I admit, for the last beer I'd ever buy from Idiom, I played it safe with a beer I was almost positive I'd like. I don't think this particular dunkelweizen was extraordinary (I'm not sure how much banana taste I actually got), but it was perfectly good. Malty and bready, just like a beer of this style should be. It did what I wanted it to, and I'm glad. I went to Idiom many times while I lived in Frederick, and it would have been a shame for the last drink to be a sour one.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Stings Like A Bee

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "'Sting Like a Bee' is a bold reimagining of malt liquor crafted with a smooth body, layered malt richness, and just a whisper of honey for natural balance. The sweetness is subtle, the flavor full, and the finish disarmingly mellow. Strong enough to make an impact, yet polished enough to keep you coming back for another round."

Would I buy it again? Imperial lagers are pretty rare, so I knew I had to try this particular beer out. And just as I hoped, it was very good. Mellow, but also deep. Pleasantly malty as well. And at 6% ABV, it was much easier to drink than most other imperial beer varieties. This would be the point where I'd say I'd gladly buy this beer again, and I would ... but there's a problem. Idiom Brewing, staple of Frederick's downtown beer scene, is closing on February 15th. Now, there are good reasons for that closure — the owner tried to do too much at once, attempting to expand production and add in-house food at the moment the beer business began to drop off — but it still sucks. Idiom has such a nice spot on Carroll Creek, with a ton of outdoor seating. It was the obvious choice when you wanted a beer downtown in warmer weather. And while their beer could be hit or miss, they had a large menu so there was always something for everyone. It's a shame to see them go.

Beer of the Week

The beer: The Great'er Pumpkin

The brewery: Heavy Seas Beer, Halethorpe, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Great’er Pumpkin is a bold, seasonal ale that brings together the rich flavors of pumpkin and autumn spices in perfect harmony. Brewed with real pumpkin and a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, this beer offers a warm, spiced aroma and a smooth, full-bodied taste. The malt sweetness complements the earthy pumpkin flavors, while a subtle hop bitterness balances the richness, creating a well-rounded and satisfying brew. Bourbon barrel aging enhances the profile with notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon, making it the ideal choice for those who enjoy the flavors of fall in a beer that’s both flavorful and comforting."

Would I buy it again? This is very good — it's got that deep flavor that comes from the bourbon barrel aging process, it's got pumpkin and cinnamon, it's heavy but still relatively pleasant to drink. I have no complaints about this beer, and if the price was right, I probably would buy it again. That said, I am missing the maple syrup that the Southern Tier imperial pumpkin beer I had last month possessed. That flavor really completed the pumpkin beer profile. Of course, not every heavy pumpkin beer needs maple flavoring, but while this beer is quite good, it's lacking that X factor to make it great. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: The Fez

The brewery: Upper Stem Brewery, Hagerstown, Maryland

Description: There is none online (at least nothing I can find), but it's a Belgian Dark Strong ale; you can find a definition here. 

Would I buy it again? That's an interesting question. On the one hand, I do like this beer, though it's a bit ... plain? I think I just like the style of beer, rather than the beer itself. I probably would buy this again simply because there aren't too many options around for big, thick Belgian beers, but I feel like it could be done better.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Autumn Awaits

The brewery: Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Company, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "This true-to-style Märzen is brewed with several heirloom varieties of barley, carefully hopped with Saaz and lagered over 3 months for that intense classic maltiness associated with Märzen. We smell & taste: rich malt, freshly baked black bread, sun-dried raisins & subtle caramel."

Would I buy it again? Elder Pine has gained a reputation for being one of the best breweries in Maryland. Despite being well liked and fairly close, I've never been there, nor have I had one of their beers. They don't have a large circle of distribution outside the DC area. But, here we are with one of their fall seasonal beers, and I can safely say this is one of the best Märzens I've had. Maybe the best. It's just very tasty and malty, with no hint of bitterness. It was a little pricy, but I'd definitely buy this again, and I really do need to get down to the brewery to get a more thorough assessment of their beer.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Fredbräu

The brewery: Attaboy Beer, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa! Velcome to de fest man! (Please proceed to read this in serious Hanz & Franz as we are super sure that is not offensive and probably pretty appreciated by most Germans.) Our Fest Bier, not to be confused with the Marzen style Oktoberfest is a pale lager modeled after the beer served at the modern day Oktoberfest in Munich. We prefer the lighter, more drinkable version as opposed to a malty amber lager. Zis party bier will have you eating giant pretzels and chicken dancing in no time."

Would I buy it again? I think they pretty much nailed the description with this beer. It's light and kind of juicy, which makes it very drinkable. It's not bitter either, so the hops, while present, aren't dominating. While a lot of fall beers are quite heavy, it is nice to have something lighter on occasion. It's a great beer for the end of the evening when you're full of good food. I'd buy it again.

Review: Forest Park Golf Course (Part 2)

It's time to take a look at the back nine at Forest Park, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is 325 yards and a pretty big departure from what we saw on the front nine. The landscape is bolder and there's actual peril on the tee shot in the form of trees and brush immediately left of the fairway, which bends around the forest toward the green, perched up at the top of a hill. A bold drive, aimed over the corner of the forest, can get you quite close to the green, which is fairly large and has a single bunker right. A more safe drive will bring that bunker more into play.

The tenth hole.

Approaching the tenth green.

The tenth green.

The eleventh is likely Forest Park's best and most memorable hole. It's a 170-yard par 3 that plays slightly downhill to a medium-sized green surrounded on three sides by a massive horseshoe-shaped bunker. It's not an especially deep bunker, but it is certainly intimidating to look at, and since the hole isn't exactly short, it's not something you can ignore. The green here is sloped pretty significantly from front to back, which does help shots hold the green. At the very least, you'll remember this hole, and that's better than nothing.

The eleventh hole.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is a drivable short par 4 at just 280 yards, and boy does it basically nothing going for it. There's really no reason not to go for the green. The only feature this hole has is a greenside bunker right, and even that barely comes into play. If you don't walk away from this hole with a birdie, it's completely on you. Naturally, I made a bogey here because I hit a giant hook into the trees way left of the fairway.

The twelfth hole.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is not a long par 4 at 350 yards, but while it's lacking in distance, it makes up for it with narrowness. There's forest and O.B. immediately left of the fairway, with large overhanging trees right giving you very little space to work with. Fortunately, since the hole is short there's no reason to use driver. A 3 wood or long iron will still get you in wedge distance on the second shot. The approach shot here is a little tough, with the green perched precariously over dropoffs into forest both left and long; there's also bunkers on both sides, and the green itself is quite small. It's not a hole you approach boldly, and you're happy to make par.

The thirteenth hole.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is quite a short par 5 at just 465 yards, but when you step up to the tee, you probably won't be thinking of this as an eagle opportunity. This fairway is narrow and tilted sharply from right to left, with dense forest left and more trees right (though you can at least find golf balls right). Accuracy is the name of the game on the tee shot, as even a modest drive will get you close enough to bring the green into range in two. Still, this green is small, sloped severely from back to front, and closely guarded by bunkers on each side. Not exactly an inviting target, especially with a fairway wood or long iron in hand from a hanging lie back in the fairway. I played this with a 3 wood, a mid iron to about 50 yards, and a pitch onto the green to a few feet. That's the way to play this hole.

The fourteenth hole.

Approaching the fourteenth green.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is a 200-yard par 3 that doesn't have much going on. There's a bunker right, and a bit of a falloff left, but the green is pretty big and not very interesting. It's basically just a mid iron here.

The fifteenth hole.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is 330 yards and plays to a blind fairway. The hole is pretty straight and there aren't any hidden hazards, so a good driver can get you well within a hundred yards, leaving just a partial wedge for the second shot. The green here is medium sized and while it's pretty flat, it's flanked by sand and there's a big dropoff behind. 

The sixteenth hole.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is a few yards shorter than the previous hole and has a similarly blind tee shot. Unlike 16, this hole bends pretty significantly left at around 225 yards, which means a solid driver will easily run through the fairway. Now, there isn't any immediate punishment for doing this, as there's nothing but open space right (there's even what appears to be an alternate green, though I don't know if it's still being used). However, this green is quite small and flanked by bunkers; the best angle to approach it is from the left, flirting with the left tree line. Playing safely out right brings the bunkers more directly into play.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is the longest hole at Forest Park by a significant margin, playing over 550 yards. You feel every bit of it too, as the drive is ... well, it's not my favorite thing in the world. Basically, the hole swings hard left at 225 yards (much like the previous hole), but with tall grass beyond the fairway, you're forced into either hitting a fairway wood or swinging a hard draw around the forest left. And since I don't imagine too many really good golfers are playing Forest Park who can play that sort of purposeful hook, the vast majority are stuck playing it safe. The second shot is basically just a matter of advancing the ball, though a series of mounds do interrupt the fairway about 150-200 yards out from the green. After the lay-up, the third will be a wedge or short iron into a medium-sized green sloped significantly from back left to front right with a single small bunker front left.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

While Forest Park is pretty similar to Mount Pleasant in terms of conditions and appearance, this course is let down by having some really dull holes. The opening in particular is quite bland, and while the back nine is generally better, the twelfth and fifteenth offer very little behind a fairway and green. I don't think it would take too much to spruce up this golf course, but that is the struggle with municipal golf. Especially in a city like Baltimore which is not exactly swimming with money. So, we just have to take Forest Park for what it is: an occasionally interesting golf course set over moderately interesting terrain. There are some solid and memorable holes, like the eleventh and fourteenth, so Forest Park is definitely worth at least one look if you're in the area. The price is relatively modest (sub $50), and while the conditions aren't spectacular, I would classify them as adequate. Still, I don't think this is worth a second round.

Review: Forest Park Golf Course (Part 1)

This is not the first time I've talked about Forest Park, one of Baltimore's municipal golf courses. Back in 2021, I wrote about an interesting National Geographic story about a rare type of rock being discovered in Maryland. One of the locations where this rock could be found was Forest Park. Back then, I'd never played it, but now I have.

Forest Park is likely most notable as the center of Baltimore's Black golfer community, a role it's filled for more than 50 years. Which is very cool, but is there anything worthwhile in terms of design? Mt. Pleasant, the other Baltimore muni I've played, was quite good, so we'll see if Forest Park can compete in that regard.

The first hole is, aside from a rather large tree just left of the tee, about as basic as a golf hole can get. There is no elevation change, no bunkers, and the green is basically just a flat oval. It's really just a 410-yard par 4. Just don't hook it off the tee and you'll be fine.

The first hole.

The first green.

The second hole is 335 yards and is a bit more interesting than the first simply because there's a little bit of elevation change and the green is actually protected by a pair of bunkers. A tee shot down the left is favored, especially if you want to use driver. (And since there are no fairway bunkers or other hazards in play, why not use driver?) 

The second hole.

The second green.

The third hole is 200 yards and plays slightly uphill to a small green with a decent amount of back-to-front slope and a bunker front right. It's not a terrible hole, though the green speeds are very slow at Forest Park, which does remove a significant portion of the challenge. You really don't have anything to fear from being above the hole.

The third hole.

The third green.

The fourth hole is another par 3, this one 225 yards. It does play downhill, which does mitigate some of the length. The green here is quite large and a single bunker protects the front left portion. The green is highest in the middle and falls away slightly toward the left and right sides. A running shot will do well here; unfortunately, the prodigious rains Maryland received in May (I played here in early June) really nullified any chance of that happening.

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is 420 yards and uphill the entire way, making it the longest par 4 at Forest Park in every sense of the word. The tee shot is quite straightforward, though there is O.B. lurking left of the fairway. It's not exactly close, but it is there. The tee shot is a short or mid iron up to a small narrow green with a significant back-to-front slope. There are two bunkers and a former bunker protecting it, making the second shot much more difficult than anything the golfer has seen so far.

The fifth hole.

Approaching the fifth green.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 350 yards and doglegs right around a cluster of pines that sits directly between the green and tee. You can't really hit driver without running out of fairway unless you hit a big fade, and while there's a lot of space left, you need to reach a crest in the fairway about 225-250 yards out in order to get a view of the green. The green itself is quite well defended, with one bunker left, two right, and a big dropoff behind. Honestly, really not a bad hole at all.

The sixth hole.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is 330 yards but plays pretty significantly uphill to a blind fairway. It's a pretty easy drive, but the fairway does slope from right to left. This slope makes the second shot more challenging, as the green is quite small and also sloped from right to left, with a pair of small bunkers protecting the left side. It's definitely best approached from the right, so that means hitting a fade down the right side on the tee shot is the best play.

The seventh hole. I swear it's up there.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is a potentially drivable par 4, playing just 280 yards. It's downhill too, though a cluster of three pine trees directly between the green and tee, just like on the sixth, does make the green a slightly less tempting target. Only slightly though; that green is just too alluring to pass up, at least for me. If you're smart, you can play a long iron out right, then have a pretty simple pitch to a green sloped from back left to front right. There's a large bunker left of the green and three small ones around the back right.

The eighth hole.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is the first par 5 at Forest Park, playing 500 yards as it bends right the entire way. The big tree right of the fairway isn't a big concern unless you're a short hitter, but it is a pretty major obstacle. The green is reachable in two for long hitters, but most will look to lay up, and for that, you're best off favoring the left side, flirting with a long fairway bunker about 75 yards out. It does make the hole play a bit longer, but it does give you a better angle into the green, which is angled from left to right and has a bunker front right.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll take a look at the back nine.