Life is Brewtiful
Atlas Brew Works may be based in Washington, D.C., but its roots—for a few of the team members, anyway—are in Annapolis. The brewery recently unveiled its Naptown Lager, a crisp craft beer that’s been a staple on draft, in cans, and it’s available at retailers throughout the Annapolis area. “Producing Naptown and watching it grow means more to me than words can express,” says Sales Director Dustry Poore. “I have lived in and around Annapolis my entire life...I have so many great memories from the area and being able to create a brand specifically for Annapolis brings me so much joy. Then to have it take off and become successful truly melts my heart. Without the support of the close-knit Annapolis community, this beer would flop, but it is doing just the opposite and continues to grow.” atlasbrewworks.com
You know what’s great? When you can enjoy a beer while knowing you’ve made a positive impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Flying Dog recently released Chesapeake Wheat, an American Wheat Ale, that serves as an ongoing fundraiser to support oyster restoration efforts in the Bay in collaboration with the Oyster Recovery Partnership. Each beer sold translates into 10 baby oysters being returned to the Chesapeake. Brewed with Hersbrucker and Mosaic hops, this wheat ale has a light body and crisp finish, softly balancing slight bitterness with fruity/citrus hop notes. “We believe it is vital to come together to help the Bay thrive, and we love that we get to do our part by doing what we do best, making delicious beer,” says Ben Savage, Chief Marketing Officer. flyingdog.com
Over on the Eastern Shore, Bird Nickel Brewing Company has been ramping up production of its brews. Although it doesn’t have a taproom yet, Easton’s Bird Nickel has released two beers—Slick Calm Chesapeake Ale in August 2020 and Quite the Mixture NEIPA in January of this year—that can be sampled at pubs in the Easton area, including Snifter’s and Washington Street Pub (call in advance to ensure the beers are still available). According to the Brewing Co.’s Facebook page, they’re hard at work on a Porter. birdnickel.com
Time to Feast
Are you ready for summer (a.k.a. crab feast season)? Crofton welcomes The Crab Shack (no relation to Fat Boys Crab House and Crab Shack down the road), which recently opened in the old Big Fish Grille location. The menu features everything you would want at a crab shack—steamed blues, of course, but also a bevy of other seafood such as oysters, clams, shrimp, and crawfish, but also crabcakes, fried fish and chicken. The restaurant is also scheduled to open a second location in Edgewater. 1260 Crain Highway, Crofton | thecrabshackmd.com
Curate, a new coffee and wine bar, recently opened on West Street in Annapolis’ Arts District, offering coffee, homemade pastries, wine and desserts. The duo behind Curate, Joel and Colleen Bunker, also own Brown Mustache Coffee in Old Fox Books, also in downtown Annapolis. The shop, which is open from Wednesday through Sunday, plans to expand its menu to include lunch options. 141 West St., Suite 102, Annapolis | curateannapolis.com
Looking for a new place in West County to enjoy a glass of wine? Smashing Grapes Kitchen + Wine Bar is now open in Waugh Chapel. This is the second location for Smashing Grapes; the Annapolis location on Jennifer Road has been open since last fall, and the menu is a fusion of Mediterranean and California Coastal cuisines. Smashing Grapes now offers wine tastings for groups up to six people (must be reserved in advance) and wine dinners for groups of eight or more. 2383 Brandermill Road, Gambrills | 410-451-7544 | smashingrapes.com
Although Phillips Seafood applied for a liquor license at 110 Compromise Street in Annapolis, the former location of Fawcett Boat Supplies, the restaurant apparently has no plans to open there. Instead, Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group reportedly plans to open a second location of the crab house Choptank, with a tentative opening in spring 2022.
In Memoriam
We remember Keith Jones, the owner of Chick and Ruth’s Delly since 2017, who died at age 58 earlier this year. Jones made local history when he purchased Chick and Ruth’s by becoming the first Black owner of an Annapolis Main Street business. In February, Jones’ son, Spencer, said the restaurant will remain open. 165 Main St., Annapolis | chickandruths.com
From the Farm: The Bounty of Spring
There’s so much to love about May, the month that bridges the gap between spring and summer. If we’re lucky, the sun is shining, the humidity hasn’t kicked in yet, and fresh produce, grown in Maryland dirt by hardworking local farmers, is creeping into area markets. This month, you’ll start to see two spring staples—strawberries and asparagus—and next month, the amount of local produce available will explode (Blueberries, raspberries, green beans, kale and peas, to name just a few).
This local produce makes for good eating, no matter where you purchase it, but there’s something special about getting out in the field and plucking your own strawberries from the bush. Here are a few places where you can do just that*:
Chase’s Produce | 2857 Davidsonville Road, Davidsonville | 410-798-1580 | chasesproduce.com
Country Aire Farm | 631 W. Bay Front Road, Lothian | 301-943-1471
Paddy’s Produce | 621 W. Bay Front Road, Lothian | 443-433-6657
Gorman Farm | 10151 Gorman Road, Laurel | 301-908-8063 | gormanfarmscsa.com
Godfrey’s Farm | 302 Leager Road, Sudlersville | 410-438-3509 | godfreysfarm.com
Family Affair Farm | 30091 Rabbit Hill Road, Easton | 410-310-1331 | familyaffairfarm.wixsite.com/familyaffairfarm
Lockbriar Farms | 10051 Worton Road, Chestertown | 410-778-9112 | lockbriarfarms.com
*Availability can vary based on weather patterns, the number of people picking, and other factors, including COVID-19 precautions or closures. Always call or check online in advance to ensure that there’s fruit ready and available to pick.
Recipe/photo courtesy of El Velo Tequila (altamarbrands.com)
From the Bar: Tequila
Although you can’t go wrong with a margarita, why don’t you mix it up and try a new tequila cocktail?
Diablito Serves 1
2 ounces reposado tequila
3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce Creme de Cassis
Barspoon of simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with lime.
Chances are you’ll be sipping on a margarita on the fifth in celebration of Cinco de Mayo (which, contrary to popular belief, is not Mexico’s Independence Day—that’s on September 16—but rather honors the Mexican Army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862). Instead of standing in front of the shelves at the liquor store, puzzled over what type of tequila to get, learn the differences in advance:
Blanco. Also known as silver, white or plata, this clear tequila comes straight from the sill, rather than being aged like other varieties. It produces a clean and bright flavor that’s easily incorporated into cocktails.
Joven. Sometimes called gold or oro, Joven tequila is made by adding sugar, colorings, or flavorings to Blanco tequila, so that it looks like it’s been aged. They tend to be lower in price than other categories of tequila.
Reposado. This golden tequila is made from Blanco that’s been stored in oak barrels for between two months and one year, where it develops warmer flavors of honey and caramel with a bit of spice. It will stand up to cocktails but also sips nicely.
Añejo. One to three years after Blanco tequila goes into an oak barrel, it can be considered an añejo. It’s darker in color and richer in flavor than Reposado. When the tequila ages for more than three years, it’s known as Extra Añejo. It’s best when enjoyed on its own, rather than in a cocktail.
