- March 6, 2021
- Website: forwardeastport.com
- Address: 418 4th Street, Annapolis, Maryland
For a town its size Annapolis has a world class bar scene, but breweries themselves are virtually non existent. Wandering through Eastport, one of the more interesting neighborhoods in Annapolis, I stumbled across a new “nano-brewery”, Forward Brewing, conveniently located on 4th Street between local restaurant favorites The Boat Yard and Davis’ Pub. Turned out to be a great place to grab a quick beer while chatting up the locals.
Due to Covid restrictions there is no current indoor seating (the restroom is available), but you can find limited heated seating on the patio in the front. There is ample room on the side and in the rear of the brewery which is spaced out nicely and very pleasant. Even on a chilly March day the outside space was inviting and you can easily envision that during spring, summer, and fall, Forward Brewing would be a perfect venue to enjoy a beer and a bite to eat.
For as small as it is, the brewery has quite a few beers available in varied styles. The flagship is a Kolsch style Ale called The Boat Beer which is solid, if not spectacular. Also on the draft board are a couple of different Sours, Red Ale, Stout, German Style Hefeweizen, and an Imperial Porter. Forward Brewing also has a collaboration with Crooked Crab, another Maryland brewery. The food menu is typical of a microbrewery with limited snacks, a few salad/soup choices, and a half dozen or so sandwiches to chose from. I had the Boat Beer and also a Red Ale called “Red Tape”. The Boat Beer was very average while the Red Tape was one of the better beers I’ve had. I enjoyed both with a “Grown Up Grilled Cheese” sammy which hit the spot nicely.
Pricing is moderate and in line with what you would expect to find in Annapolis. Parking is limited to the surrounding streets and can be an issue at times on the weekends. Eastport is an easy walk from the Downtown/City Dock area of Annapolis so leave the car, get some exercise and enjoy the view while crossing the Eastport bridge. Or better yet, take the Water Taxi that provides between Annapolis and Eastport for a unique experience.
All in all, Forward Brewing provides a great change of pace to the normal Annapolis bar scene and is worth a visit particularly as the summer approaches. It’s also an excellent option if you’re waiting for a table to open at either Boatyard or Davis’ Pub.
