Beer(s) in Baltimore

The hotel view from Baltimore's inner harbor.

What follows is an unrelated Geography of Wine post. So if you're checking this for credit, nothing to see here.

I was able to attend the 59th conference of the Biophysical Society in Baltimore, MD this past weekend. I work in a synthetic biology lab at Virginia Tech, and through my PI(private investigator)'s funding, I was able to go with the graduate students in my lab.


A lot to see, a lot to do, and a lot to eat. Scientists from across the world came to give talks about their projects, and if there's one thing I learned, it's that public speaking skills were optional. Talks ranged from a three-hour lecture on molecular software(yawn) to building fluorescent microscopes from smart-phone parts(cool).

But in keeping with the theme of the blog, I'll chronicle this based on wines and beers.






Canyon Road Merlot 2013

I had this at the conference reception, which was...interesting. I got to check "Watch strange old men try to dance to modern-day music" off the bucket list, which was a plus. The only thing more exciting that the whole affair would be going to bed at 11.

Smell: cherry, and a little chocolate.

Taste: The chocolate turned out to be vanilla. The acidity is a little much, though. I feel like they're this way to be paired with food, like pasta.

Verdict: 2.5/5

Hole in the wall is an understatement: seating for ~15

"Try a whiskey bar" also got crossed off the list. This one was called "Birds of a Feather," a favorite of one of our grad students, a Johns Hopkins alumni. The menu gives a spreadsheet of whiskeys and scotches, with a map of Scotland/Ireland to see their origin.

I had Laphroaig 10(years aged). I'd recently learned in wine class that the color and solute you see in most liquors is the result of aging in a barrel.

This could not have rung more true; it was the purest, smoothest whiskey I've ever had. How good was it? I felt like I could taste the exact barrel it had been aged in, and the tree that was made into that barrel.
                           


Brewer's Art Resurrection (7% ABV)

Consider this the flagship beer of Brewer's Art, a popular Baltimore brewpub in Fell's Point, one of the more collegiate nightlife scenes. The place has over 90 selections on tap, including a Jalopeno inspired brew. And I thought I'd seen it all.

Smell: Nice try.

Taste: Smooth, with no aftertaste, which is unusual given it's an ale; very little fermenting yeast at the top. That said, balanced overall, and would be great w/crab.

Verdict: 3.5/5



And here's some more pictures from for no reason:

 I only made the "other crabs" joke about 500 times.

I should buy a boat.