If you're looking to try something new, Independent Brewing Company is a great place to check out.
I had no plans on Sunday so I decided to go for a drive and check out Bel Air's newest brewery. It's been open since October of last year and it's been on my list of places to try since then. I'm so happy I finally went. It was absolutely worth it.
There is literally something for everyone at this brewery. They have the option of 21 beers on tap and they range from Pale Ales to Double IPAs. They even have plenty of options if you're gluten free.
The taproom has a decent-sized bar, plus a few barrel tables and long communal tables. There is a second room that has even more places to sit.
And, I realize this might be unusual to say about a brewery, but it was very family friendly. Lots of people brought their kids, they have soda for them. You get beer, the kids get root beer. They also allow dogs. This truly could be an outing for the whole family.
I tried several of their beers and was not disappointed by any of them. They offer flights where you can have 4 samples. Here are the ones I tried out.
Knucklehead: This is porter with a 4.6% ABV. I found this one to be very drinkable and not heavy like other porters I've had. Good flavor and a rich dark color.
Busted Knuckles: This is a porter with cherry and coffee. 4.6% ABV. This one was my favorite. It had a good strong coffee flavor with a hint of cherry on the back end. This one was also not heavy and had the best flavor of all the beers I tried. After tasting this one I ordered a whole glass.
Conundrum: This is a saison with a 7.3% ABV. This was not a bad beer but it was not my favorite. It was a little hoppier than what I expected and I'm not a hops person.
Barnstorm: This is a Belgian stout with a 7% ABV. This had a good flavor and you couldn't tell it had such a high ABV. It was a little heavier than the other 2 dark beers I tried, but still good.
Blue Eyed Blonde: This was the lightest beer I tried but also the one with the highest ABV. This is a Belgian Blonde with a 7.6% ABV. This one went down really smooth and, again, never would have guessed it had such a high ABV. This one definitely appeals to people who like lighter beers but it still has plenty of flavor to appeal to almost any beer lover.
My Sunday Funday trip to Independent Brewing Company was a success and, since I live in the city, totally worth the drive. It's a great addition to downtown Bel Air and based on the crowd on Sunday, they seem to be doing quite well.
If you want to take any of these home, they offer growlers and also "crowlers." They will can 32 ounces of beer for you right on site. It's actually pretty cool to watch!
While there are plenty of places to eat in Downtown Bel Air, they often have a food truck parked out back so you can get some food with your beer.
Do you know of any great beer places that you want us to check out? Send us an email garrett@wmar.com or megan.knight@wmar.com
