Is it me or are there four deciding factors that make for a great dining experience? These four must certainly be beer, food, service and atmosphere. To score in my book they must have a great beer selection. The beer selection must be both numerous and of quality, or if that’s lacking at least cold and not skunky. Food must be at least eatable but brownie points for great flavor. Service speaks for itself. Atmosphere can usually be determined in case by case situations.

When in Baltimore Max’s Taphouse easily fulfills all these requirements. Located in Fell’s Point just a block off the water it is well worth stopping by.

The building has housed many different establishments over the years. These have been as diverse as a brothel, saloon and slaughterhouse and as mundane as a disco, concert venue and now a brewery.
Owners Rand and Gail Furman have moved this business into the limelight, first taking control of it in 1986. Rated as one of the best beer bars in the worlds and having a BBQ that is talked about and featured on the Food Network sets it aside.

Beer:
Their web site lists 128 pages of canned and bottle beers. This list is rumored to be about 1600 beers in total. They boast one of the largest draft beer systems in the country that can dispense an amazing 108 different brews! Add to this 4 hand cask line sand you will find making a choice is no easy task. Their draft is served in 5oz, 10oz and 14oz pours for on-site consumption. In addition they have 8oz, 19.2oz and 32oz in twistee cans to-go.

Food:
I tried the Rockfish sandwich. Which their menu describes as a smoked rockfish rubbed with our Chesapeake seasoning with lettuce, tomato & remoulade. This came with homemade chips and a pickle. It was fantastic. All four of us at the table enjoyed our food with no complaints.

Service:
We visited on a Sunday and the bar was packed with those enjoying football on the many screens. Service was only ate bar and even though they were packed this task was easy and quick. Food was delivered directly to the table.

Atmosphere:
The bar has a rustic, homey feel but in addition to that there are the permanent residents. Ah, the juicy stuff! You see rumor has it that the joint is haunted, which due to the brothel and slaughterhouse makes sense. Amazing that when it was a disco that the hants’ weren’t driven out but it appears some apparitions survived that time.

A spirit woman in white has been known to visit the third floor while a ghostly gentleman has been seen to glide through walls and fiddle with bar stock.
Most terrifying is the tales of hordes of headless chickens that run rampant in the basement!

737 South Broadway
Baltimore, Md. 21231
(410) 675-6297
www.maxs.com

Monday	        CLOSED
Tuesday	        11:30am - 12am
Wednesday	11:30am - 12am
Thursday	11:30am - 12am
Friday		11:30am - late
Saturday	11:30am - late
Sunday		11:30am - 12am

Copyright Roy Richard