Brewery Hopping in Frederick County

This past Friday night found us out doing one of our favorite things, brewery hopping. I had two on the list this time, one a stand alone near Mt. Airy, MD, and the other both a restaurant and a bar in Frederick. The plan was to hit the stand alone first, then go have dinner at the other.

Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm is located down a scenic, winding country road on top of a hill looking out over the land. We arrived at about 5:30 and it was already pretty busy with what looked like regulars. There were about six beers on tap or you could choose a tasting flight. They also offer local cheeses and meat that you can enjoy with your beer. We both opted to try a pint, myself a farmhouse ale and Justin a stout. There are two options for seating, one in the wood-paneled tasting room, or you can choose to sit inside the brewery itself by the tanks and watch your beer being made. We chose this option. Both of us really liked our beers and would definitely like to go back to try more. It's only about twenty minutes away from our house, wonderfully convenient!

Dinner took us to Barley and Hops, a microbrewery and restaurant located off of Urbana Pike. Upon entering we noticed that the place needed a serious decor update. Unfortunately it looks like 1985 threw up with the fake hanging plants, white tablecloths, and faux painted green shutters. We were optimistic that the food would not be the same way. 

I had looked at this place's menu a few months ago and it had looked good, and I noticed that when I went to look at it again they had revamped their website and changed some things on the menu. My hope was that this was an attempt at any improvement others may have indicated they needed. I was intrigued by the goat cheese queso so we ordered that as an appetizer along with two of their Tuscarora Red Ales. The queso was pretty good; goat cheese is creamier than most cheeses when warm and has a flavor profile that's easy to add things to like lime and a corn salsa. It was served with toasted ciabatta slices and corn tortilla chips. We both thought our beers were pretty decent as well. I just realized I forgot to take a picture of the beer but you can see it and it's red color in the upper right hand corner of the picture below: 

For my entree I picked the B&H Fish Tacos, Mahi Mahi coated with mango BBQ sauce in flour tortillas with guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese, and cajun slaw, topped with white cilantro sauce and served with seasoned rice topped with corn salsa. These were good. I liked that the fish wasn't coated in breading and had the grilled taste. My only critique was that the sauce on the slaw and the cilantro sauce were both good but the tortilla was dripping in it, so maybe a little less next time.

Justin ordered one of their stuffed burgers. Usually he likes his burgers medium rare but the waitress suggested medium so that the cheese melted in the middle. I was a little skeptical that it was going to be too overcooked for him but he said that turned out well and that it was a good burger. Nothing spectacular but had good flavor and was filling. 

I don't know that we will be back to Barley and Hops for food but maybe to sit at the bar and have a beer. It wasn't that the food was bad, just that we know better places in Frederick that we would probably try to go to first.