Baltimore Beer: A Satisfying History of Charm City Brewing

by Jim Burger (Photographer)

Join Rob Kasper as he uses interviews, stunning vintage images and a few recipes to pop the cap on Charm City's brewing history. Since Mary Pickersgill sewed Old Glory on the floor of a local brewery, Baltimore has been a beer-drinking town. At the turn of the nineteenth century, German immigrants erected elaborate breweries and leafy beer gardens, and the thirteen awful years of Prohibition only whetted the city's thirst for frosty pints. By the 1950s, Gunther and National Bohemian had joined advertising forces with the Orioles and the Colts in a spirited battle with American, Free State and Arrow for the palates and wallets of the Chesapeake Bay's burgeoning beer-drinking population. Baltimore beer scholar and journalist Rob Kasper traces the sudsy story from the days when alehouses lined the Jones Falls to the tales behind the current crop of local brewers who are fermenting a craft brew revival.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

Reviews

[Manray9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baltimore Beer: A Satisfying History of Charm City Brewing is a very short book combining two of my favorite subjects: my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland and that bubbly concoction of water, barley, yeast and hops that also is dear to my heart.

Beer-lovers and Baltimoreans should appreciate Kasper's book. As I was reading in my mind I heard the old National Beer jingle --

National Beer, National Beer, you'll like the taste of National Beer. And while we're singing we're proud to say "It's brewed on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay."

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read and it had some enlightening history about my fair city. If it were up to me, I think it could have been expanded to distilling in Baltimore. And maybe a longer section on prohibition. Also, the chapters on the modern beer industry feel dated now. Half of those breweries are out of business. But you know what? It was still a damn good read—especially the parts about the Orioles. A'int the beer cold.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting history of all the breweries in Baltimore.

[John Cleland · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a resurgence of brewing in Charm City. Good tasting, high quality craft breweries are cropping up all over Maryland and Baltimore breweries are leading the way.

Baltimore has a long history of brewing beer that goes back to the early 1700s. The Brewer's Hill section of Baltimore is tribute to the importance beer making was to this important port city. It was the port of entry for D. G. Yuengling, the founder of the oldest brewery in America: Yeungling Brewery.

This book is a must for the libraries of everyone who is interested in beer, brewing, and the history of brewing in America.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be hard for me not to enjoy a book that says in the acknowledgements, "Online catalogs are terrific, but they are no match for an experienced librarian to tell you what is in a collection and how to find it."! An interested if slightly scattered look at the past and future of beer in the Baltimore area.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting history of the beer companies in Baltimore Maryland. I finished this book in one day.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read for all my Baltimore beer people.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting! Would recommend it to beer afficionados and history buffs alike.

[Derek Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful history of Charm City suds. The pictures of old Natty Boh, Arrow, etc. ads were a great nostalgic touch. Imagined my father and grandfather watching them back in the day.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those very name droppy history books that doesn't tell you much. But kinda charming nonetheless. And it was a nice gift.