FREDERICK, MARYLAND
Family-styled eatery, BARLEY & HOPS GRILL (1999 – 2019) and visited November ’06, was home to many brewers who later became quite popular. Located in a congested mall area, its red brick, green-trimmed exterior, cozy left side deck and burgundy walled interior provide pristine splendor. A white grain silo welcomes patrons to the spacious dining area. Nice wine selection and burgers-ribs-pork glut pub-styled menu.
Glass-encased brew tanks behind ample left side wood bar served generic fare including pale-malted wheat-corned sour-fruited German-styled Catoctin Clear, sterile maize-buttered caramel-cheapened Tuscarora Red, popcorn-like walnut-teased Big Ben Nut Brown and tame hop-roasted burnt coffee-soured dry Irish-styled Schifferstadt Stout.
Better beer choices were pale ale/ nut brown elixir, Dirty Nerdy (with its minor pine-hopped apple-grapefruit restraint), and bitterly red-fruited, woody Cascade-hopped Annapolis Rocks Pale Ale.