Articles
A Sea of Suds
Breweries go beyond the nickel tour
Howard County Times
November 4, 2010
You love the Dogfish Head (www.dogfish.com) brews at Greene Turtle or Victoria Gastro Pub and, starting Nov. 21, you can begin to understand what Sam Calagione, the brewery's founder, and his "partners in suds" do to create those brews. In a Discovery Channel series entitled "Brew Masters," they search for exotic ingredients and uncover old brewing techniques. Calagione also takes the definitive beer-tasting road trip that has him visiting Egypt, Peru, Italy, New Zealand and beyond.
When a simple taste or two or the vicarious enjoyment of a TV show doesn't do it, then head east to Milton, Del., the home of Dogfish Head (it's a small peninsula off SOuthport Island, Maine) for a tour and some serious tasting. Savor that 60-minute India Pale Ale (not for the Coors Light lover) where it's brewed and grab a bite to eat.
Calagione and Ted Becker, innkeeper at Inn at Canal Square in nearby Lewes, Del., have crafted something even better than a good beer. They've melded a bed-and-breakfast, beer-and-boat package that includes two nights accommodations in the Brewmaster's Suite; Dogfish Head soap, shampoo, accessories and a cold six pack in the fridge; European breakfast daily; a Saturday morning Dolphin kayak tour for two with Quest Kayak; a Saturday evening boat tour aboard the S.S. Dogfish from The Inn at Canal Square to The Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats Brewpub in Rehoboth Beach (with a $50 gift certificate); Dogfish Head T-shirts (one per person); and transportation back to The Inn at Canal Square.
The cozy inn, at 122 Market St., (www.theinnatcanalsquare.com, 888-644-1911) has 22 spacious rooms and two two-bedroom suites (most with a balcony), a fitness center, high-speed wireless Internet access (c'mon, it's a vacation) and a pet room so you can bring Fido or Kitty. Located on the canal, it's within easy walking distance to the quaint boutiques and shops and delectable eateries that line the streets of Lewes. The service is gracious and although Becker calls it "Nantucket Style on the Delaware Coast," it has a great Southern Hospitality charm to it.
Additional Inn packages feature such themes as "Spoil Someone Special," shopping, eco-passport, biking at the beach, "It's a Wonderful Life" (birding), golf, music, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and the magical winter holiday season.
Becker is extremely involved with Lewes life and serves as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, sits on the City Council and is co-chair of the Delaware United Way fundraising campaign.
The list continues, but you have the idea and you can realize he is about as connected as anyone in the area. In other words, if you want a package that combines staying at the Inn at Canal Square and some further activity, he can probably make it happen for you.
Up your alley
Heading west to Frederick, you can enjoy an "Arts-Away" package that includes accommodations at Best Western (www.bestwesternfrederick.com) and dinner at Brewer's Alley (www.brewers-alley.com), where Maggie Lenz will brief you on the works. Then, you can take in a live performance at the historic Weinberg Center for the Arts (www.weinbergcenter.org) or the eclectic Maryland Ensemble Theatre (www.marylandensemble.org).
Brewer's Alley is Frederick County's original brewpub. Other restaurant options are Acacia Fusion Bistro (www.acacia129.com) and Isabella's Taverna & Tapas Bar (www.isabellas-tavern.com). You also receive a welcome package that includes two wine goblets ready to be decorated by you at the I Made This (www.geocities.com/imadethispottery/Home.htm) store, and continental breakfast.
Come spring Saturdays, Memorial Day through October, you can burn off any beer calories you might consume by taking a boat-and-brewery canoe tour down 5.8 miles of easy cruising (a few riffles and ledges) along the Monocacy River (www.rivertrail.com/boat-brewery-canoe-kayak.php). Gather at 10 a.m. and prepare for views of farm fields, wooded bluffs, and the Catoctin Mountains. Bring a water bottle and a bag lunch in a waterproof container or order a picnic lunch (additional).
Then, enjoy a tour of the Barley & Hops Microbrewery (www.barleyandhops.net) with master brewer William Golden describing the process of mixing barely and hops in the glass-enclosed brewery.
Taste a half-dozen of their brews -- where they rightfully say "Life's too short to drink bad beer" -- and enjoy some appetizers. The price includes canoe or kayak rental, guide, equipment, the beer tasting, parking, and tax. Mention the boat-and-brewery package for a discount when your reserve a room at the Best Western.
Bawlmer brew
Although you'll have to create your own bed-and-beer package for the moment, Heavy Seas Beer (410-247-7822, www.hsbeer.com/brewery-tour-57), 4615 Hollins Ferry Road Ste B, Halethorpe, offers brewery tours, usually on Saturdays at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. The 30-minute tours accommodate 50 people and are led by Kelly Zimmerman, the brew master, one of the shift brewers or general partner Hugh Sisson (check the website for specifics).
Included in the tour are areas where the brew is made, kegged and packaged, although there is no production in process during your tour. You can sample the fresh malt and hops that go into the beer-making process. About half the tour is accessible to wheelchairs. Closed-toe shoes are suggested.
Anyone may attend, but only those who are 21 and older may sample the beer, and they do card in the tasting room. There is a $5 charge for a souvenir pint glass with five tokens for beer samples.