BALTIMORE BEER GUY

As a Howard County resident I'm pretty tickled to see this entire concept arrive at our proverbial shores. The beer was a collaboration between two Howard County beer bars -- T-Bonz Grille and Victoria Gastro Pub -- and the excellent Baltimore brewery, Oliver Ales (AKA Pratt Street Ale House).

About a month ago the bar managers, Chris Mabe (T-Bonz) and Jason Gotcher (Victoria Gastro Pub) met with Oliver Ales brewer Stephen Jones to develop a concept for the beer. What they decided on was a 'hoppy wheat ale'.

They then helped Jones brew the beer at the Oliver Ale brewery on a cloudy Tuesday morning (video below -- Gotcher was unable to make brew day).

After several weeks of ferment and conditioning, it is now ready, complete with a cool tap handle (video below!) and launch event at both bars.

The final product is elaborate, a 7.5% ABV hoppy wheat ale, with 40% wheat malt, golden and slightly hazy in color, flavored with elderberry and agave, hopped with whole leaf cascade hops and dry hopped with Sorachi Ace hops that give it a slight lemony punch. Its pretty special.

It will be available at both bars as well as the Pratt Street Ale House starting today.

T-Bonz's event will feature brewer Jones (approximately 5 PM) and include commemorative glassware and both regular and firkin pours of the beer for $4.

T-Bonz will also have a HoCo Summer Session themed food menu and live music (5-7 and 8-12).

The dishes are as follows:

Summer Session Steak Salad $11 -- Sirloin steak marinated in HoCo Summer Session, garlic and orange peel, served over mesculin and topped with a agave viniagrette

Elderflower Crusted Mahi Mahi $12 -- Beer battered and fried served with summer session slaw

Hop Brownies $6 -- Fresh baked brownies with cascade hops served with homemade cookies and cream ice cream

Be there!