Bad night for beer and ball at Camden Yards
Went to Camden Yards last night and was disappointed on two fronts.
First the Os got beat by the Angels 8-5 at the hands of Vlad-the-Impaler Guerrero who hit two home runs. These were long fly balls, the kind softball players hit, and O's center-fielder Adam Jones did his usual amazing acrobatics trying to catch them. But to no avail.
The second home run, the game-sealer, came after the Os deliberately walked Bobby Abreu to pitch to Guerrero. When the second home run, a gift, sailed over the fence, my older son and I left our center field bleachers seats and headed home.
Equally disappointing was my effort to get craft beer at the ball park.
At the end of the first inning I approached the Maryland microbrew stand on Eutaw Street. I was willing to cough up $6.75 each for a draft of Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber and a cup of Wild Goose. But the stand was already out of beer, at least these two brews , in the top of second. It had Clipper City Pale and Heineken, but not what I wanted. Another frustrated would- be beer drinker approached the stand and left empty handed as I stood there.
I walked to another craft beer stand, one behind home plate. But Flying Dog was not on its menu. So I hiked down the left field line, to yet another stand. But this one was closed. There I encountered another would-be craft beer drinker. " No Wild Goose!" he complained.
Finally at the top of the fifth inning, I walked back to the Eutaw Street stand which by then had Old Scratch back on tap.
I bought two, one for me one for my son. I liked Old Scratch, it had an intriguing edge to it.
But soon after Vlad did his deed, I was crying in my beer.
It is my impression that while craft beer sales are growing nationally, the craft beer selection at Camden Yards is shrinking.
Anybody else feel that way?
Comments
it's the one area where i'm sad to say that nats stadium has us beat (handily). and i HATE nationals park.
Posted by: ryan97ou | August 18, 2009 12:24 PM
Completely agree. Not only do you have to walk incredibly far to find craft beer, but the stands are typically staffed by one person, lines are long and the beer is often unavailable. I realize that Bud/Miller/Coors, etc. are very profitable for the ballclubs, not least because they spend so much on advertising, but I don't think it would be very difficult to expand the selection of craft beer available. In my two trips to Nationals Park, I thought both availability and selection surpassed Baltimore.
Posted by: WillClark4HOF | August 18, 2009 12:47 PM
btw - my secret stash of micro-beer is underneath my season tickets on the lower level, 1st base side...inside where you get pizzas, there is also a micro beer/liquor bar that is usually empty.
Posted by: ryan97ou | August 18, 2009 4:03 PM
Ravens stadium makes Camden Yards look like Max's on Broadway.
Posted by: ken | August 18, 2009 4:23 PM
I just went to an O's game this weekend and the micro stand could use a freshening up. I'd like to see all MD beers and maybe a Dogfish as well. I tried Copperhead Ale and it was terrible.
I agree with Ken that at Raven games the only way you get a micro is to drink is if you have some at a tailgate. Way too much Miller and Bud all over M & T.
Posted by: Jergs | August 18, 2009 5:08 PM
Draft magazine has a rundown of American League parks if you want to see how we compare (though apparently the O's wouldn't respond). http://bit.ly/jzm9N
Posted by: ken | August 19, 2009 11:46 AM
"Ravens stadium makes Camden Yards look like Max's on Broadway."
heeeelarious.
Posted by: ryan97ou | August 19, 2009 1:52 PM