Located on Honeygo Boulevard on "The Avenue," which is a mall in White Marsh, Maryland, Red Brick Station is a restaurant/brew pub designed in the English Pub-style tradition. In business for ten years, they regularly brew five beers and offer two to three different seasonals throughout the year. Their staples are the Avenue Ale, which is a mild, golden-colored ale made with German malt; their Honeygo Lite, which is named for their location and is their lowest ABV (or Alcohol By Volume) brew, but although it may be low on alcohol - it's high on flavor and taste; the Daily Crisis IPA, named for the Dairy Farm in Baltimore County of the same name and a "hoppy" India Pale Ale in every sense of the word; the Something Red, which is my personal favorite and provides a rich malty flavor complimented by its copper color; and their Spooner's Stout, which I enjoyed despite the fact that I tend to avoid stouts. It's very dark color and full-roasted malt flavor make for a true, smooth Irish Ale.

Currently, their seasonals are a porter, as well as the expected Pumpkin Ale and a 10th Anniversary Octoberfest, which are exactly what you would expect them to be for this time of year - rich, smooth and exceptional - just as all the beers are from this fine establishment.

The brewmaster of Red Brick Station is Mike McDonald, who has been there since day one and has a strong and true passion for his work, which is certainly reflected in his products. Humble when it comes to his skill, he says that he does not need to "sell" his beer, because, "it speaks for itself. I can't sell, but if I have the ability to hand one to somebody, the beer will sell itself." Most proud of his stout because he hasn't changed the recipe since its inception, since he feels he, "hit the nail on the head with that one," he is - and should be very proud of the entire line - and finds a person's compliment his greatest reward for his labor. "For someone to compliment my beer is better than winning anything in the world."

Although he may not be in this business for the accolades, his work has won its share - most recently being the Maryland Governor's Cup for the Something Red - as well as many medals over the last decade. While he unfortunately does not bottle his beer and stays away from participating in events such as the Great American Beer Festival, the beer does have a strong fan base - proof positive by the droves of regular customers that the bartenders know by name and the 205 members of their Mug Club, which you can join only on St. Patrick's Day and comes with your own numbered mug and priviledges which include discounts and extra beer for your buck. But make sure that you have a friend already in the club - because you can't become a member without knowing one to sponsor you.

If their beer is not a good enough reason to get you there - to which I have been five times in total (four this trip alone, including right now) - their food is the perfect combination of English Pub fare and trademark Maryland seafood. From Bangers and Mash and Roast Beef and Yorkshire to Maryland Crab Cakes and Red Brick Crab Dip - their food is to their beer what jelly is to peanut butter. The first time I was here, I had their crab dip, which is so good and flavorful that instead of eating it with the fresh baked bread that accompanies it - you will want to eat it with a spoon. Even though the Crab Dip is a meal in itself, I managed to follow that with the Red Brick Combination - which is a perfect marriage of Baby Back Ribs and their exsquisite Maryland Crab Cake. The Crab Cake was so good, I wanted to exchange the rack of ribs for a few more of those. Don't get me wrong, the ribs were great - but if I could live on Red Brick Station's Crab Cakes for the rest of my life - I would live forever.

Amazingly, Red Brick Station has even more enticements to lure their patrons - as if they need them. For example, today is Tuesday - which is ninety-nine cent beer day - and the reason I am here. I personally find it amazing that a brewery of this quality would have the balls to offer their beer at such a ridiculously cheap price - considering the fact that the normal price for a pint is $3.75- which is still cheap for the high-quality product you are getting. Plus, they offer food specials, like one-dollar pit roast beef sandwiches on Thursdays and Fridays - and are even sponsoring a fundraiser Halloween Costume Party this Thursday for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation - which I will no doubt attend considering the fact that Lymphoma killed my best friend Bradd on January 5, 2001. Although there are other ways to donate to such a worthy cause - I can think of no better way to honor his memory.

So if you are ever in Baltimore and make your way to White Marsh - make it a point to visit Red Brick Station - and tell them that Paul from Brooklyn sent you. Have the Something Red, the Crab Dip and the Red Brick Combination - and don't forget to take a Growler, or half-gallon of your favorite beer, home for less than ten bucks...

...and if anyone reading this is a Mug Club member - I could really use a sponsor.