United Nations of Beer

Max's Tap House

by Joel Perry
(Baltimore, Maryland)

There are certain elements that have to come together if you want to proclaim your favorite bar as THE BEST BAR in your state. First, you need to have an enormous selection of good beer on tap; second, you need good music constantly strumming through the air; and last, it would help to have a pool table sitting somewhere, accompanied by a knowledgeable staff.

Now I know that this sounds like a lot to ask of your local neighborhood bar. However, this can all be accomplished; and it is, with great pride, at Max’s Tap House in Fells Point. Max’s is "the place to go" if you love beer and happen to be in good ol’ B-more or the surrounding area.

Upon entering the tap house, you’re greeted with low lighting, good music at a decent volume and just a hint of cigar smoke in the air (the upstairs "mob town lounge" features a humidor and leather chairs to smoke in). Neon signs dot the walls with a myriad of colors and if you look around long enough you’ll spot the tap house logo on several walls.

Turning to the left you’ll notice steps heading to the second level and beside that a small arched doorway. Through the archway is Max’s dart house. "What?" you ask. "They let you drink and throw sharp objects all night long?" Yes! Max’s is the only bar with a regulation Dart house in the city of Baltimore. So you can chug and play with pointy objects in to the wee hours of the night.

If you decide to pass on darts and stogies you can turn to your right and pull up a stool at their enormous bar. This thing seems to stretch on forever! With 72 beers on draft, you need an exceptionally long piece of timber to hold all the tap handles. Greeted by the staff you’ll notice immediately how friendly they are and better yet, how knowledgeable they are about what they have in house at the time. Speaking of in house, in addition to tap beer, Max’s also boasts a selection of over 300 different bottles from around the globe: http://www.maxs.com/beerlist.php

That’s a lot of beer! Of course they also offer numerous types of liquor and a decent menu to order from, but at Max’s it’s all about the beer, so that’s their main focus.

Max’s is the type of place where you can pull up to the bar, order your microbrew of choice and strike up a conversation with the person beside you. On the weekends it’s packed downstairs but that’s why they have a lounge on the second floor and a dart house next door. At Max’s Tap House in Fells Point you’re certain to find that perfect pint and a few new friends. That’s why Max’s gets my number one pick.

One final note: it doesn’t hurt that on Fridays from 5-8 you can order a 32oz cup of almost anything on tap for $6!

Max’s is definitely the finest bar in Maryland, period.