Brew pub fans should make an effort to visit Brewer's Alley in downtown Frederick. The pub is housed in an stately 120-year-old brick building that was once City Hall, right in the center of things on Market Street. There are several seating areas, including an bar with the copper brewing equipment in view, a peaceful front dining room, and a back room with spacious wooden booths and stained glass windows. But our favorite area is outside, in a lively street-side area that is usually crowded with other people watchers. Wait for a table there (provided the weather is nice). It's worth it.
Brewer's Alley has garnered a loyal and enthusiastic following of beer lovers, including my husband and me. Our favorite beer is the IPA, an amber-colored hoppy delight, though we've also enjoyed the Nut Brown Ale and Kölsch. Try the sampler rack if you're undecided about what to drink, or ask your waiter or waitress, as the staff is usually well informed.
All the beer is brewed on the premises under the guidance of a master brewer. Be sure to check out the various seasonal and specialty beers, such as the Trinity Stout around Saint Patrick's Day and the Oktoberfest in the fall. I've always thought the 10.5% alcohol Barleywine sounds intriguing - perhaps I'll get a chance to sample it next winter.
The menu at Brewer's Alley has some strengths and weaknesses; I'll confess to a dislike of overly ambitious menus that try to cover all bases. Cuisines on offer range widely: Tex-Mex, Italian, American, Cajun, Middle-Eastern, Asian, Greek, and various fusions in between. Frankly, it's too ambitious, and as a result there are some lapses such as the doughy mess that was billed as "falafel" the last time we ate there. But, on the bright side, the classic beer foods - pizzas, ribs, BBQ, nachos, wings, and burgers - have always been tasty and the portions are generous. The wood-fired pizzas are a big hit with my son and husband, both pizza afficionados, while I've enjoyed various caesar salads, the hickory-smoked ribs, and the pulled pork BBQ sandwich. There are a number of over-the-top "death-by-chocolate" type desserts as well, though we're rarely tempted to sample them after gorging ourselves on appetizers, entres, and beer.
What we recommend, rather than dessert, is a post-prandial stroll through town to window-shop or perhaps a ramble through the town's central greensward, along the Carroll Creek, taking in the unique trompe l' oeil decorated Community Bridge. It's also worth noting that Brewer's Alley beers on are tap at the ballpark, so if you're at a Keys game you'll have another chance to sample some of this brew pub's products.