Spring training beer drinking
Getting my baseball game beer-drinking self in shape for the coming season, I attended a(sold-out) Red Sox-Dodgers spring training game in Ft. Myers Florida last week.
Initially it was great to see the greensward, to hear the crack of the bats and sit in the sunshine. That feeling lasted for about three innings. Then I got hot, clammy and a little bored.
I kept score, and once the teams started running in guys numbered 78, 80 , and 77 into the lineup, you knew the "invitees" were replacing the likes of Manny, Big Papi and Mike Lowell.
The heroes of the day were Dodgers subs Luke May, who hit a 3-run blast to tie the game at 5-5 and Jason Repco, who hit a grand slam in the 9th to seal the win.
The beers at City of Palms Park were not as inviting as the name of the ballpark. They were all mainline domestics. The only Boston touch was a Sam Adams Light. I had a Heinken, and spent a lot of time staring at the tattoo of two red socks that adorned the neck of a woman sitting in front me.
About the only thing that felt like regular season baseball beer was the price, $6.50 for 12 ounces. This got me thinking about developing a beer drinking strategy for Camden Yards.
Do you down a few quality brews at the Wharf Rat on Pratt Street, walk over to the game and then avoid the ballpark brews?
That is a long time to abstain. Or do you have a favorite ball park beer?
Comments
I believe there is a microbrew stand at Camden Yards, am I wrong? There was at one time. I haven't been to a game in 2 yrs, but I remember there being a stand that sold a few DuClaw beers and some Clipper City.
Posted by: Kim Moore | March 10, 2008 11:48 AM
Personally? I stick to drinking the (good, non-overpriced) beer and avoiding the ballpark entirely. However, the Frederick Keys and Bowie Baysox have offered better beer and baseball, and indeed the latter even offered a series of beer dinners in one of their skyboxes last year!
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | March 10, 2008 11:48 AM
Pickles Pub has the Sam Seasonal on Draft for like 3 bucks on game days. Once inside the park I go to the microbrew stand on Eutaw Street.
Posted by: Steve | March 10, 2008 11:53 AM
I definitely hit The Wharf Rat pre-game, pick up peanuts and pistachios from the street vendors and wash those down with a cold Budweiser. Which isn't good beer in the least, but what it lacks in taste it makes up for seat-side delivery. Beer man!
Posted by: Mitch | March 10, 2008 12:03 PM
We start and/or end at the Wharf Rat. Once in the stadium, their is a microbrew stand between home and third on the first level that has DuClaw Porter and a few regional IPAs. Many of the "restaurants" have Clipper City on tap. If we are in the bleachers, there is a bottle vendor run by some Marines that usually has a micro or two for a warm summer day.
Posted by: Mike | March 10, 2008 12:17 PM
I know that stadium beer prices are high, and just bite the bullet. Though I do make the trip back from my seat to the concourse to get draft beer... more choices, and a bigger beer for the same price!
Posted by: Andrea | March 10, 2008 12:35 PM
I don't know what you all are complaining about. I go to Boog's and visit my buddy and get free beer. That's way better than what you all are getting. Free beer is the way to go.
Posted by: mike | March 10, 2008 12:46 PM
We used to stop in the Wharf Rat for the pre-game tonsil-washing and then hit the microbrew stand for 1-2 more.
Now, when I go with my fiancee, I have whatever her company skybox has in the fridge. Usually Amstel Light. Free beer always tastes great!
Posted by: Rob in the Redneck Riviera | March 10, 2008 1:10 PM
Oriole Park does have a good variety of brews to choose from. There are a number of Maryland microbrew carts that sell the likes of Wild Goose, Backfin & Clipper City. I have also seen Guiness and Harp on tap in some of the eateries.
They also have some other bottle & can carts with a variety of brews - including Natty Boh. Nice to see Mr. Boh at an Orioles game - it gives the outing a nice touch of history.
Overall, from what I've seen in the many ballparks I have visited, Oriole Park has one of the top beer selections.
Posted by: Rick | March 10, 2008 4:25 PM
I always drink the micros/imports at the park; I figure if I'm already paying over $5 for a beer, it might as well be good.
Posted by: Chris V | March 14, 2008 1:23 AM