ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

Packed on a Saturday afternoon mid-January ’24, Annapolis-based FORWARD BREWING resides at the historic ‘rebellious’ Eastport neighborhood and began operations in the summer of ’20. Becoming the first nanobrewery in Annapolis, Forward marches on at its rustic white brick general store-like pub.

A white granite topped serving station delivers the liquid goods from twelve tap handles and the windowed brew tanks are staged in the back. Forward’s clean white-walled interior features cement-floored block wood tables with plastic stools and several decorative barrels.

There’s also a fire-pitted side deck with black pendant Edison lights and a covered front porch as well. An open air kitchen serves snacks, sandwiches, wings and desserts.

Former Black Flag head brewer Warren Hendrickson mans the 7-barrel system and canning lines. My wife and I swallow five rounded beers on our one-hour sojourn before heading to Charm City.

Herbal honeyed banana and clove entry picked up lemon-candied respite for Alpengeist, a Solero-hopped hefeweizen.

Sweet nectarine surged thru peachy pineapple and mango tang and dainty floral spicing to contrast piney bittering of Nectaris, a New England IPA with mildly creamed oated wheat base.

Sweet potato pureed pumpkin pie spicing and molasses-sugared cinnamon toasting gave starchy lactose autumnal treat, This American Pie, its savory yam-gourd resolve.

Buckwheat-honeyed chestnut, pecan and hazelnut gathered for Happy Buzz Honey Brown, leaving minor hop astringency upon its oily mocha perfuming.

Dry buckwheat honeyed molasses oats draped the coffee-burnt dark chocolate bittering and mild toffee sweetness consuming Dark Arts Oatmeal Stout.