Sizzlin Summer 2004

Last year, City Paper assembled a crack team of reporters to scour the city looking for the coldest draft beer in Baltimore. And so the Adult Beverage Temperature Investigation Unit, aka "The I-Team," was born. After sticking our thermometers in 100 beers, a winner was announced and 99 other establishments got pretty irked. A few bar owners told us where we could stick our thermometers in no uncertain terms, a fair number disputing what exactly is the ideal beer temperature.

This year we decided to consult an expert. And when you have a question about beer, who better to ask than Mr. Beer? We called the Tucson, Ariz.-based home-brewing company and were immediately connected to brewmaster Gene Sandoval, who confirmed our opinion: For an American lager, "I'd say close to freezing is probably best, in the 30s." The brewmaster has spoken.

So we headed out once again searching for that elusive coldest beer. We hit barstools east and west, north and south, swanky and shudder-inducing. We were cussed out. (One bartender spotted an I-Teamer hard at work and said, "If he don't like the temperature of my beer, he can kiss my ass.") We were even propositioned by prostitutes.

But it's all been worth it because we have a winner. The Rendezvous Lounge in Remington won the top prize, upsetting last year's victor, the Smokey T Beer stand at Pimlico. The Rendezvous' Yuengling—in a plastic cup no less—registered a chilling 31.3 degrees (all temperatures are Fahrenheit) and was pleasantly refreshing. Butts and Betty's in Butchers Hill runs away with most improved. Last year, it served the warmest beer in Baltimore, at 56.4 degrees; this year B&B's has the third-coldest, a considerably frostier 32.4. This year's Is It Beer or Bath Water? Award goes to the Talking Head, which practically burned our lips with a 58.9-degree Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Check out the list below to find out where the rest of the bars placed, and please remember, no scientific journal will be publishing this report any time soon. While we tried to keep things as uniform as possible, ordering Budweiser or a similar American lager when available and using the same type of digital thermometer, there are always variables. One bartender pointed out that if a tap hasn't been used in a while, the first beer may be warm because it has been sitting in the line. Still, after sucking down some 38 Buds, 29 Yuenglings, eight Coors Lights, seven Miller Lites, five Sierra Nevadas, three Bud Lights, two Rolling Rocks, two Pabst Blue Ribbons, two Michelobs, one Harp, one Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, one Pilsner Urquell, and one Prohibition Porter, we can definitively say, well, not much of anything. At least not without slurring.

All drinks are regular size and full price unless otherwise noted.

---

1	Rendezvous Lounge	134 W. 25th St., (410) 467-3860	Yuengling, plastic cup, $2.25	31.3	Last year 5. 4
2	Irish Pub	418 S. Clinton St., (410) 276-1164	Budweiser, chilled mug, $.75*	31.8
3	Butts and Betty's	2200 Gough St., (410) 276-9186	Bud Light, pint glass, $1.50	32.4	Last 100. 97
4	Sportman's Sport	501 S. Lehigh St., (410) 276-9376	Budweiser, chilled mug, $.75	32.5	Last year 24. 20
5	Smokey T Beer Pimlico Race Course	5201 Park Heights Ave., (410) 542-9400	Budweiser, plastic cup, $3.60	32.8	Last year 1. 4
6	Backstreets Pub	1901 Bank St., (410) 563-1612	Yuengling, chilled glass, $1.75	33.1	Last year 2. 4
7	Alonso's	415 W. Coldspring Lane, (410) 235-3433	Budweiser, chilled glass, $2.75	33.6
8	Nick's Fish House	2600 Insulator Drive, (410) 563-1612	Yuengling, chilled glass, $3.00	33.6
9	Pol's Café	2619-21 Foster Ave., (410) 732-2555	Coors Light, pint glass, $1.25	34.4	Last year 23. 14
10	Joe's Bar	6200 Reisterstown Road, (410) 358-5833	Coors Light, chilled glass, $1.65	34.6	Last year 9. 1
11	Koco's Pub	4301 Harford Road, (410) 426-3519	Miller Lite, chilled glass, $2.25	34.7
12	Pisces Hyatt Regency Hotel	300 Light St, ., (410) 605-2835	Bud Light, chilled glass, $6.50	34.9	Last year 10. 2
13	Camden Pub	647 W. Pratt St., (410) 547-1280	Budweiser, pint glass, $3.00	35.0	Last year 20. 7
14	Davey Jones' Locker	800 S. Dean St. (410) 675-7410	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.50	35.2	Last year 16. 2
15	Enrico's Sports Bar	200 S. Haven St., (410) 327-6752	Budweiser, chilled mug, $.85*	35.2	Last year 13. 2
16	O'Brady's Crab House	3432 S. Hanover St., (410) 355-9040	Budweiser, plastic cup, $1.50	35.2	Last year 15. 1
17	Backstretch Saloon	1301 W. Coldspring Lane, (410) 889-3003	Budweiser, chilled glass, $1.00	35.6
18	Sooner's Tavern	1600 Hazel St., (410) 355-7226	Coors Light, plastic cup, $.90	35.8	Last year 6. 12
19	Horse You Came in On	1626 Thames St., (410) 327-8111	Bud Light, plastic cup, $2.75	36.0	Last year 99. 80
20	Stadium Hideaway	1046 W. Lombard St., (410) 385-1916	Budweiser, chilled mug, $2.00	36.2
21	Down the Hatch	1157 Haubert St., (410) 727-4707	Budweiser, chilled mug, $1.00	36.5
22	Icon Inn	45 N. Kresson St., (410) 276-2757	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.00	36.5
23	Mojo Room	4825 Belair Road, (410) 325-7427	Yuengling, plastic cup, $4.00	36.5
24	Swallow at the Hollow	5921 York Road, (410) 532-7542	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.42	36.5	Last year 18. 6
25	Showalter's Saloon	3360 Chestnut Ave., (410) 889-0968	Budweiser, pint glass, $2.00	36.7
26	Larry's Hideaway	300 Oldham St., (410) 675-8383	Budweiser, mug, $1.00	37.0
27	Brannan's Pub	5516 Harford Road, (410) 426-7300	Budweiser, chilled mug, $1.00	37.3
28	New Mayfield	3349 Belair Road, (410) 276-1897	Budweiser, chilled mug, $1.05	37.4
29	Sharky's	2819 Eastern Ave, (410) 534-1051	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.25	37.5
30	Sliders	504 Washington Blvd., (410) 547-8891	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.00	37.6
31	Dizzy Issie's	300 W. 30th St., (410) 235-0171	Yuengling, pint glass, $1.50	37.9	Last year 88. 57
32	Capitol City Brewing	Harborplace, 301 S. Light St., (410) 539-7468	Prohibition Porter, chilled glass, $5.75	38.0
33	ESPN Zone	Power Plant 601 E. Pratt St., (410) 685-3776	Yuengling, chilled glass, $3.50	38.0	Last year 25. 8
34	Hudson Street Can Co. Saloon	2624 Hudson St., (410) 522-0343	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.75	38.0
35	Kelly's	2108 Eastern Ave., (410) 327-2312	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.50	38.0	Last year 91. 56
36	Sports Café	1226 S. Clinton St., (410) 342-9105	Budweiser, mug, $1.00	38.1
37	Funk Box	10 E. Cross St., (410) 625-2000	Yuengling, plastic cup, $4.50	38.2
38	Hubcap Inn	6003 Belair Road, (410) 325-3450	Yuengling, chilled glass, $2.00	38.2
39	Sid's Tavern	1100 Washington Blvd., (410) 727-0885	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.00	38.2
40	Dougherty's Pub	223 W. Chase St., (410) 752-405	Coors Light, pint glass, $1.75	38.4	Last year 86. 46
41	Simon's Pub	2031 E. Fairmont Ave., (410) 522-4477	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.50	38.6	Last year 83. 42
42	Dimitri's Tavern	3820 Falls Road, (410) 889-9545	Budweiser, half-pint, $1.10	38.6	Last year 17. 25
43	Marshall's Banshee	2351 Washington Blvd., (410) 646-0133	Coors Light, chilled mug, $1.00	38.7
44	American Harry's Bar	625 S. Luzerne Ave., (410) 276-9654	Michelob, pint glass, $1.25	39.3	Last year 19. 25
45	Cobber's Pub and Café	1218 N. Charles St., (410) 727-0713	Budweiser, chilled glass, $1.50*	39.3
46	Lucille's,	Power Plant Live! 26 Market Place, (410) 539-5353	Yuengling, frosted glass, $3.50	39.3
47	Stock Market Bar	3538 S. Hanover St., (410) 355-9735	Budweiser, plastic cup, $1.00	39.3	Last year 14. 33
48	Grand Cru	Belvedere Square, 527 E. Belvedere Ave., (410) 464-1944,	Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, pint glass, $4.00	39.9
49	Ottobar	2549 N. Howard St., (410) 662-0069	Sierra Nevada, pint glass, $2.00*	40.0	Last year 93. 44
50	Bud and Patt's Fillin' Station	2501 Washington Blvd., (410) 525-8360	Budweiser, chilled mug, $1.00	40.3
51	Frazier's on the Avenue	919 W. 36th St., (410) 662-4914	Budweiser, pint glass, $2.00**	40.6	Last year 74. 23
52	Kooper's Tavern	1702 Thames St., (410) 563-5423	Yuengling, chilled glass, $3.25	40.8	Last year 84. 32
53	Purple Goose Saloon	2625 Washington Blvd., (410) 644-0807	Rolling Rock, chilled mug, $1.25	40.8
54	Mum's	1132 S. Hanover St., (410) 547-7415	Sierra Nevada, pint glass, $2.75*	40.8	Last year 98. 44
55	Thumper's	4600 Curtis Ave., (410) 355-9715	Michelob, chilled mug, $1.50	40.9	Last year 7. 48
56	Baltimore Eagle	2022 N. Charles St., (410) 823-2453	Coors Light, chilled mug, $2.00	41.0
57	Calvert House	347 N. Calvert St., (410) 539-3627	Coors Light, frosted mug, $2.00	41.0
58	Xando Coffee and Bar	3003 N. Charles St., (410) 889-7076	Sierra Nevada, pint glass, $3.00	41.0	Last year 8. 50
59	Owl Bar	Belvedere Hotel 1 E. Chase St., (410) 347-0888	Miller Lite, pint glass, $3.23	41.1	Last year 21. 38
60	Max's on Broadway	737 S. Broadway, (410) 675-6297	Yuengling, pint glass, $4.00	41.1	Last year 96. 36
61	Park Avenue Café	8 Park Ave., (410) 637-3265	Budweiser, pint glass, $2.10	41.1
62	Hon Bar	1000 W. 36th St., (410) 243-3001	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.25	41.5	Last year 3. 59
63	Celebrities	8 E. Pleasant St., (410) 576-1200	Yuengling, chilled glass, $2.75	41.5
64	L.P. Docks	1476 Reynolds St., (410) 539-1110	Budweiser, mug, $0.25**	41.7	Last year 4. 60
65	Captain Larry's	601 E. Fort Ave., (410) 727-4799	Miller Lite, pint glass, $2.50	41.7
66	Thunder Dome	3612 S. Hanover St., (410) 354-4700	Budweiser, plastic cup, $2.00	41.7
67	JT's Saloon	6319 Belair Rd, (410) 444-1633	Budweiser, chilled glass, $1.75	42.0
68	James Joyce Irish Pub	616 President St., (410) 727-5107	Yuengling, pint glass, $4.25	42.1
69	Murphy's Neighborhood Bar and Grill	5847 York Road, (410) 323-9049	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.50	42.4
70	Catch 22 Saloon	6000 Eastern Ave., (410) 633-7465	Rolling Rock, pint glass, $1.75	42.4
71	Mama's on the Half Shell	2901 O'Donnell St., (410) 276-3160	Pabst Blue Ribbon, pint glass, $2	42.5
72	Starters	3311 Annapolis Road (410) 355-8514	Budweiser, plastic cup, $1.25	42.6
73	Cat's Eye Pub	1730 Thames St., (410) 276-9085	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.75	42.9
74	One Eyed Mike's	708 S. Bond St., (410) 327-9823	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.00	43.2
75	Super Star Inn	5603 Pulaski Highway, (410) 483-2575	Budweiser, chilled mug, $1.25	43.2	Last year 12. 63
76	Central Station Pub	1001 N. Charles St., (410) 752-7133	Pilsner Urquell, pint glass, $3.75	43.5	Last year 89. 13
77)	Geckos	2318 Fleet St., (410) 732-1961	Budweiser, pint glass, $2.50	43.7	Last year 81. 4.
78	One World Café	100 W. University Parkway, (410) 235-5777	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.00	43.9	Last year 90. 12
79	Sean Bolan's Irish Pub	1236 Light St., (410) 837-4440	Yuengling, pint glass, $2.50*	44.0	Last year 75. 4
80	Ryan's Daughter	Belvedere Square, 600 E. Belvedere Ave., (410) 464-1000	Harp, pint glass, $4.73	44.6
81	John Steven Ltd.	1800 Thames St., (410) 327-5561	Yuengling, pint glass, $2.86	44.6	Last year 76. 5
82	Nick's Inner Harbor Seafood	1065 S. Charles St., (410) 685-2020	Budweiser, plastic cup, $2.00	44.9	Last year 11. 71
83	Islander Bar	1928 Fleet St, (410) 342-8718	Yuengling, pint glass, $2.50	45.0
84	Mike McGovern's Bar	1129 S. Clinton St., (410) 534-2200	Sierra Nevada, pint glass, $3.75	45.4
85	Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina	1325 Key Hwy., (410)837-9903	Miller Lite, pint glass, $3.00	45.6	Last year 80. 5
86	J. Patrick's Irish Pub	1371 Andre St., (410) 244-8613	Miller Lite, pint glass, $1.90	45.8	Last year 95. 9
87	Hard Rock Café	Power Plant 601 E. Pratt St., (410) 347-7625	Yuengling, $5.45, pint glass	46.4
88	Duda's Tavern	1600 Thames St., (410) 276-9719	Yuengling, pint glass, $1.05***	46.5	Last year 79. 9
89	Fields Old Trail	5723 York Road, (410) 433-1220	Budweiser, pint glass, $1.50	47.1
90	Club Zissimos	1023 W. 36th St., (410) 467-4707	Coors Light, pint glass, $1.50	47.8	Last year 73. 17
91	Fletcher's	701 S. Bond St., (410) 558-1889	Budweiser, chilled glass, $3.50	48.1	Last year 85. 6
92	Sidebar Tavern	218 E. Lexington St., (410) 659-4130	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.00	48.4	Last year 77. 15
93	Dreams Inn	525 E. Patapsco Ave., (410) 355-0848	Budweiser, plastic cup, $0.80	48.6
94	Jimmy O'Donnell's	4528-30 Harford Road, (410) 426-8700	Miller Lite, chilled mug, $1.05	49.2
95	Peter's Pour House	111 Mercer St., (410) 539-5818	Sierra Nevada, pint glass, $3.50	49.4	Last year 22. 73
96	Mick O'Shea's Irish Pub	328 N. Charles St., (410) 539-7504	Miller Lite, pint glass, $1.50*	50.0	Last year 87. 9
97)	Magerk's	1061 S. Charles St, (410) 576-9230	Yuengling, pint glass, $1.50*	52.6
98	Friends at Fells Point	1634 Aliceanna St., (410) 732-3885	Yuengling, pint glass, $3.75	53.6	Last year 97. 1
99)	Tug's Bar and Grille	222 St. Paul Place, (410) 244-7300	Yuengling, chilled glass, $4.20	56.2
100	Talking Head	203 Davis St., (410) 962-5588	Pabst B. Ribbon, pint glass, $3.25	58.9	Last year 78. 22
*Happy Hour price
**Tuesday night special
***Monday night special

Baltimore City Paper

812 Park Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21201

(410) 523-2300

Contact CP | Advertise | National Advertising | About Us | Work Here | Staff Directory

All parts of this site Copyright ©2013 Baltimore City Paper.