The Spirit World

I’m asked this question a lot: “What’s your favorite beer?” My stock answer has been “whatever happens to be in my glass.” It’s true. I really appreciate all the varieties and styles of beer and there’s usually something good to be said about each beer. When I was doing my tour of Baltimore brewpubs and taprooms I was asked “What’s your favorite Baltimore brewpub?” That’s a hard question to answer and I’m likely to say, “whatever brewpub I happen to be in at the moment.” I had some very pleasant times in all of Baltimore’s brewpubs. It’s not just the beer that makes a great brewpub. The space in which I drink beer is also important. A large expansive, well-lit, polished space will give a different impression that a dark, dusty, cramped space.

Capitol City Brewing Company at Harborplace in Baltimore is in a picturesque location (301 South Light Street). Situated right on the Inner Harbor it over looks the water. If you are into the maritime look, sitting at the bar in Capitol City is your place. The interior of Capitol City isn’t as polished as some. It’s a little stark with its concrete floors, red painted I-beams, and metal topped bar. On the other side of the bar are the copper colored fermenters where Kevin Blodger, the brewer at Capitol City, works his magic with yeast, barley, hops, and water.

I started with the Blanchard’s Unleaded, a dark mild. This is an excellent beer to drink if you are thirsty and don’t want to overdo on the alcohol. Kevin Blodger explained that he made the mild with the second runnings from the Fuel, a nearly barley wine strength black ale with a strong coffee flavor and malty sweetness. The Fuel is a true beer geek’s beer and not something for the casual beer drinker. The Unleaded though is divine. It’s full, roasty, and smooth and at 3% ABV you really could have two for lunch and go back to work, no problem. I really wish more brewpubs had milds. These beers are just as satisfying to drink as the most testosterone-infused geek-beer out there. For a brewpub the norm is beers that are above 5% ABV. That means that if you sample more than two pints you are heading towards inebriation. Having a low alcohol option for those long, social evenings at the pub would be very welcome.

Capitol City advertises eight regular house beers on tap including a Kölsch and an Alt. Kevin Blodger had several special seasonals on tap including an Irish Red brewed for St Paddy’s Day. The Capitol City Brewery in Baltimore is only one of four Capitol City locations. The other brewpubs are in downtown Washington DC, at Capitol Hill in DC, and in Arlington, Virginia.

This concludes my little series on Baltimore brewpubs. Of the three brewpubs I visited—DuClaw, The Wharf Rat, and Capitol City—I can’t say which was my favorite or which had the best beer. Each brewpub had it’s own character and its own solid lineup of beers. All I can say is that I look forward to going back and visiting all of them again.