Month February 2022

South Park & Spoonwood Brewing

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South Park, PA

‘Tis the Season for frigid hikes! That wind chill can be killer out there, but it doesn’t stop us crazy people from a ramble in the woods. This week, we’re heading south of the city to feature a hike in Bethel Park. South Park is a HUGE park that has something for everyone! We did the White/Buffalo Ridge Trail and I highly recommend you have a trail map because there are very few signs or blazes on the trails and it’s easy to get turned about. After your hike, there are several local breweries to choose from! We went with an old favorite, Spoonwood Brewing which has excellent beer and pretty spectacular pizza!

THE HIKE: South Park – Buffalo Ridge Trail

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/pennsylvania/south-park-white-white-and-red

Length: 6 miles (We did 4.5)
Elevation Gain: 800 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Mountain biking, Leashed pets
Parking: Large lots throughout park
H&H: 3/5

South Park covers a huge 2,000 acre space in Bethel Park. It has something for everyone, including an ice rink, pool, golf course, skate park, picnic shelters, and miles of paved and natural trails. South Park is one of the nine parks managed by Allegheny County Parks and it is the second largest. The land for the park was acquired in the 1930s and the park has been a local favorite ever since! It used to be the site of a huge county fair that attracted over half a million people. Another fun history fact is that the Oliver Miller Homestead, where the first shots of the Whisky Rebellion were fired, is also located within South Park. There’s a small house museum dedicated to this historical event. 

South Park is a pretty big place so we had a bit of a hard time figuring out what trails to tackle. There aren’t too many detailed trails on AllTrails (my go-to trail app). According to the County website, there are several different paved or wooded trails. We wanted to get a decent workout in so we opted to combine the Buffalo Ridge Trail and the Red and White Loop from AllTrails. The day we went out hiking was bitterly cold so we had a feeling that we wouldn’t be making it the whole 8 miles. So we parked in the middle of the park near a trail entrance. Well we thought it was near a trail entrance. We quickly found out that the trails in South Park could use some TLC. There are few, if any, trail signs and almost no blazes. We had to rely heavily on the AllTrails App to find the Buffalo Ridge trail. Even once getting to the right place (after several false starts), I had to have my phone out almost constantly to make sure that we were going the right way. Usually I don’t mind just finding my own way but in a park this size, I didn’t want to end up 4 miles away from our car when it was 20°F!

We both had mixed feelings about this park. At times the trail was very woodsy and peaceful but then suddenly you would have to cross a road. We had to cross the main road twice and it was very busy, making it pretty dangerous to cross. Overall, it was pretty easy to get lost and the trails intersected roads far too much for my liking. However, we did manage to see some nature, including a pileated woodpecker and some fungi! Oh and Justin found a tree friend. 

I would recommend South Park more as a place for a picnic or for playing sports. It’s trails are poorly marked, difficult to find entrances to, and often suddenly spit out onto a road. Either way, I’m glad we came out here if only as an excuse to go to Spoonwood!

THE BEER: Spoonwood Brewing Company

Address: 5981 Baptist Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Distance from Trail Head:  1.7 miles, 4 mins 
Website: http://www.spoonwoodbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating, but no pets
H&H Rating: 5/5

A lot of breweries make good beer. Not so many have a stellar food menu too. Thankfully, Spoonwood excels at both! They’ve been churning out beer and pizzas since 2015 in Bethel Park. Since then, several other breweries have joined the ranks in the South Hills, but Spoonwood continues to be a very popular place! In fact, we had a hard time getting a seat on Sunday afternoon! 

Spoonwood has a huge space inside and a nice patio out back too. A centerpiece of the space is the huge pizza oven that churns out so many delicious types of pizza. We split a BBQ chicken pizza that pretty much changed my life. It was made with in-house smoked chicken (oh yeah they have a whole range of smoked meats too!). It’s so refreshing to go to a brewery and get delicious, handmade food. I’m all for a food truck, but sometimes your girl needs some table service! The one bad thing about the full kitchen though is that your four legged friends have to stay home 😦 

Okay onto the beverages. One of our reasons for heading to Spoonwood (aside from it being amazing) is that they were participating in East End Brewing’s Day of Gratitude. We love a barleywine so we definitely had to try it. It was smooth and full, almost like a boozy syrup. We only got a taster and savored it all evening. Spoonwood had a really good tap list and we tried to get a variety of things. My favorite of the night was the Fruit of Another which was a ginger-lime pale ale. What an interesting combo! It worked so well and was refreshing with a wintery twist. J loved the chili pepper pale ale Secret Alphabet. It seriously left your lips burning, but we liked it! In the dark beer world, we got the Strategic Cocoa, which reminded me of a chocolate covered pretzel. Another unique beer was the Espresso Change-o, an IPA with a coffee aftertaste! 

We had a fantastic time at Spoonwood. The food was amazing, we loved trying out all of the unique beers, and the atmosphere was great. We 100% will be back here, fingers crossed that we can snag a table! 

Our Beer:

  • Fruit of Another – Pale Ale – 5.8% 
  • Gratitude – Barleywine – 11.5% (Guest Tap: East End Brewing) 
  • Secret Alphabet – Pale Ale – 6% 
  • Strategic Cocoa – Brown Ale – 6%
  • Espresso Change-o – IPA – 6.5%

SUM UP: South Park is a large park south of the City of Pittsburgh and is managed by the Allegheny County Parks Department. There are tons of things to do here to satisfy every type of person. There are many miles of trails but we had a hard time finding them! Trails were not well marked and signage was nonexistent. If you go, be sure to have a map handy as it is easy to get lost. After we were done freezing out in the woods, we went to Spoonwood Brewing which was by far the best choice of the day. We had delicious pizza and really tasty, unique beer. I wish we could have hung out all evening!

Riverview Park & 412 Brewery

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Pittsburgh, PA

Sometimes winter hiking is beautiful like our winter wonderland hike last week. Other times….not so much. This past weekend, we encountered everything from deep mud to extremely icy trails at Riverview Park. It’s really important to consider all the factors when venturing out in the winter and remember that just because it’s a bit warmer, some trails might still be very icy. There are many miles of trails to explore at this park and we’ll definitely have to be back in nicer weather. Despite some dicey trails, we still had fun exploring this city park and warmed up rather nicely afterward at 412 Brewery in the North Side.

THE HIKE: Riverview Park Loop

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/pennsylvania/riverview-park-loop-trail

Length: Variable (We did 3.6 miles)
Elevation Gain: ~500 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, mountain biking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lots throughout park
H&H: 3/5

Riverview Park is a large 260 acre park in the North Side of Pittsburgh. It was created in 1889 which means it actually predates Allegheny City’s incorporation into the City of Pittsburgh. Much of what we now know as the North Side used to be a separate municipality called Allegheny City until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. Today Riverview Park is a refreshing greenspace tucked into the busy Northside neighborhoods. There are wooded hiking trails, a pool, pavilions, a visitor’s center, and ballfields. But probably the most well known feature of the park is the Allegheny Observatory. This unique building was erected in 1859 as an educational facility by a group of wealthy industrialists but evenly it was donated to the University of Pittsburgh (then Western University of Pennsylvania) to be used for research. The current structure has stood since 1912. Both the Observatory building and Riverview Park itself are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

For more information about the Park’s history and facilities, check out this cool interactive map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ba9accd3b29f4ab5b50a689bd594e082

This park clearly has a long history and it is much beloved by local residents. Even on the freezing cold day that we ventured out, we couldn’t believe how many people were still out and about getting their exercise in. I guess there are other people as crazy as we are! This was my first time at Riverview Park, so we decided to park up by the Observatory so we always knew what landmark we needed to head back towards. There are many maps of the park and very good cell signal so we weren’t concerned about getting lost. However, we did encounter a lot of icy trails which kept rerouting our original plans. I would highly highly suggest getting some crampons if you plan on doing a lot of winter hiking. Remember that even if it’s a bit warmer and you don’t see snow in your yard, trails could still be icy on the less sunny side of the hills. Although we did have some fun sliding down one of the trails on our butts, I wouldn’t exactly recommend this technique! 

Overall we did about 3.5 miles in Riverview Park although we could have done a lot more if the weather had cooperated. In addition to the ice and mud, a delightful hailstorm started so we booked it to our car. I would really like to come back here in the spring because it seemed like it would be such a beautiful place. Despite being in the middle of an urban area, so many of the trails felt very woodsy. The park is also located on a hill so there’s plenty of elevation changes to make for an interesting hike. I also like that there are some paved paths for anyone that’s not up to the natural paths or has a stroller or wheelchair. I also definitely want to return for a tour of the Observatory! J is a science nerd who loves astronomy so we’ll definitely be back for one of their stargazing nights. 

Also, once you’re done hiking, stop by Father & Son Bakers in Observatory hill for a sweet reward for your hike. They do donuts, apple fritters, muffins, and every dessert you can think of!

THE BEER: 412 Brewery

Address: 847 Western Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Distance from Trail Head: 3.6 miles, 10 mins
Website: https://www.facebook.com/412brewery/
Food?: BYOF
Details: Dog Friendly & Outdoor Seating
H&H Rating: 5/5

There are so many breweries in the North Side that you could pair with a hike in Riverview Park. This time we went with 412 Brewery, but you could also check out Allegheny City Brewing, Four Points Brewing Taproom, Bier’s Pub & Mexican War Streets Brewery, Southern Tier Brewery Pittsburgh, or even Penn Brewery. Whew, how does one even choose?! Well we remembered liking 412 Brewery when it first opened for it’s great beer and cozy bar space. They also have a small outdoor patio for when the weather gets nice. 

412 Brewery is based out of McKees Rocks where they make all of their brews. You have to come to the North Side though to get the fresh beer since their production site doesn’t have a taproom. Although the brewers have been producing since 2016, this taproom only opened in 2019 and has been a popular spot ever since. 412 Brewery faced some ownership changes in 2019, which brought in a solid team with tons of industry experience and ties to other local breweries. Needless to say, 412 Brewery knows their stuff! 

Just like the last time we were here, the place gave off a cozy, friendly vibe. They might not have the biggest taplist, but everything is delicious. Both of the New England IPAs were perfectly juicy. I also really liked the Island Escapism Sour which tasted like a margarita! It definitely helped me forget for a bit that it was February in Pittsburgh. 

All in all, I highly recommend 412 Brewery! And definitely check out the North Side in general. Look out in the future for an urban hike around this area. So many breweries and so little time!

Our Beer:

  • Thicc Fingers – Dessert Stout – 7.2%
  • Pineapple Cloud – IPA – 6%
  • Island Escapism – Sour – 5.5%
  • Cheddar Goblin – New England IPA
  • Green Candlesticks – New England IPA – 5.5%

SUM UP: Riverview Park is located in the North Side of Pittsburgh and is managed by the City’s Park Rangers and Department of Public Works. It is a popular green space that sits right in the middle of an urban neighborhood. There are plenty of trails for all skill levels, including paved and natural paths. Some of the wooded paths have varied elevation gains and are narrow at times. Afterward, head to Western Ave to go to 412 Brewery where you’ll be able to relax in a taproom with a neighborhood vibe. There’s no kitchen so dogs are welcome! Plus there’s plenty of nearby restaurants to pick up some takeout. This is a great combo for some Hikes & Hops in the city limits!

Montour Woods Conservation Area & Abjuration Brewing

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McKees Rocks, PA

So excited to share the very first of our Hikes & Hops in Western PA. J and I recently moved back to our hometown and we can’t wait to have a whole new area of hikes and brews to explore. Last weekend we took advantage of a fresh snowfall to go for a winter hike. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day at the Montour Woods Conservation Area! Then we did some sampling at Abjuration Brewing in McKees Rocks which has been on my radar for a while. It was a perfect day and such a warm (cold?) welcome back to our hometown.

THE HIKE: Montour Woods Conservation Area – Hollow Oak Loop

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/hollow-oak-loop

Length: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 426 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time:  1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, mountain biking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot or park at Montour Trail
H&H: 5/5

One of the most exciting things about moving back home is exploring the area with a whole new lens. J and I haven’t lived in Pittsburgh in over 4 years and while we definitely were beer snobs, we hadn’t really gotten into hiking yet. I’ve spent a lot of time since moving researching green spaces in Pittsburgh and there are so many more than I thought! Montour Woods is one of the first that I learned about and I knew we had to go right away. I grew up walking on the Montour Trail but it leaves a bit to be desired in terms of hiking. Side note: it is a great place for running or biking! The Montour Woods Conservation Area is just up the road from the Hassam Rd parking lot of the Montour Trail. And in fact, there’s a project due to be completed at the end of the month to connect these trails with the larger Montour Trail system. Yippee!

This trail area is maintained by the Hollow Oak Land Trust, an environmental nonprofit based in Coraopolis. They care for 6 conservation areas totaling over 600 acres of protected space. The Montour Woods Conservation Area covers 320 acres of woods and offers over 10 miles of hiking trails. As I mentioned above, it also will connect to the Montour Trail and there are plans to connect to Moon Park in the future. There are three trailhead parking areas to access this site: Hassam Road (where we parked), Nike Road, and Downing Drive (in Londonbury). 

So there are 10 miles of trails here but we stuck to about a 3 mile loop since it was so snowy. Thankfully, there wasn’t much ice on the trails so we didn’t encounter any dangerous conditions. We cobbled together our own loop only vaguely following the Hollow Oak Loop on AllTrails. Based on the trail map above, I think we took Meeks Run → Honeydew Trail → Powerline Trail → Hemlocks Trail → Meeks Run. It was an awesome loop with some elevation changes that really got my heart pumping. 

This was my first truly snowy hike and it definitely changed my opinion about being outside in the winter. I had always been afraid of getting too cold or slipping on ice so I opted to stay home. But this year I’ve made a point to get outside every day and try to hike every weekend. I invested in a pair of slip-on crampons which I’ve really liked and I always wear two pairs of pants if it’s under 40F. No more staying inside all winter for me! This was a particularly beautiful hike because the day before the snow fell there was some freezing rain so all of the branches were encased in ice. There was still some snow falling as we walked around and it felt like we were in a snowglobe. We hardly saw anyone on the trail so it made for a magical winter hike. I highly encourage everyone to get outside in the winter, especially after a fresh snow. Just be aware of icy conditions and make sure you know where the trail is. It can be much easier to get off trail in the snow!

THE BEER: Abjuration Brewery

Address: 644 Broadway Ave, McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Distance from Trail Head:  5.2 miles, 12 mins 
Website: http://www.abjurationbrewing.com/
Food?: BYOF
H&H Rating: 5/5

Abjuration is one of those small local breweries that popped up in Pittsburgh after I moved away. It’s been on my radar for a while since I love the life they’re bringing back into the McKees Rocks area. This small town used to be a thriving town but has suffered decline once the steel mills closed down. But the small team behind Abjuration is doing their best to bring people back to the Rocks. 

The brewery is located inside of the historic Parkway Theater which has undergone a complete revitalization and is now known as the Community Reel Art Center. The Center’s mission is centered on bringing new life to the Stowe community through art and film. They work closely with the team at Abjuration so you can bring drinks from the full bar or a beer from Abjuration into the film screenings or live shows. Follow the Community Reel Art Center on facebook to keep up with upcoming events! 

The day we visited Abjuration it was HOPPING. They had two major bottle releases and were hosting a stop on the Pittsburgh Brew tours. We were lucky to grab a seat! As we like to do at a new place, we stuck with some tasters to get a feel for the place. As one of the owners informed us, you won’t find traditional “headliners” at Abjuration. They pride themselves on sticking to their homebrewing roots by making small batches and constantly tweaking the recipe. That’s why all of the names refer to the version of the beer. And keeping in line with their experimental mad scientist theme, all the drafts are served in beakers. I love it! 

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a brewery where I liked every single beer I tasted. Honestly it’s hard picking a favorite since they were all SO GOOD. But I think the standout beer was the Coffee Stout made with local favorite Prestogeorge French Vanilla Roast. Maybe I’m biased since Prestogeorge is always a favorite when I visit the Strip District but this was one of the best coffee stouts I’ve ever had. It was so smooth with none of the bitterness that sometimes crops up in coffee stouts. Especially after a long hike in the snow, this one really hit the spot! 

Another great thing about Abjuration: since the two owners were homebrewers themselves, they make all of their recipes available online! Nice job guys!

Our Beer:

  • Dip Hop IPA (v1.2) – New England IPA – 7.6%
  • IPA (v6.7) – IPA – 7.2%
  • Norwegian Farmhouse Ale (v1.3) – Farmhouse – 5.5%
  • Coffee Stout (v2.2) – Stout – 7.1%
  • Smoothie Style Sour (1.16) – Sour – 7.1%
  • Malty Amber Ale (v1.16) – Red Ale – 5.9%

SUM UP: Montour Woods Conservation Area is a 320 acre greenspace managed by the Hollow Oak Land Trust. It provides over 10 miles of hiking and connects to both Moon Park and the Montour Trail. The area offers peaceful woods, some opportunities for elevation changes, and a bubbling stream to follow. It’s surprisingly woodsy despite being so close to suburbia. It’s especially beautiful in the winter so don’t let the snow keep you at home! Afterwards, had into McKees Rocks to enjoy delicious small batch brews at Abjuration brewing located in the old Parkway Theater. Sit back and enjoy the old Hollywood atmosphere inside or take a seat in the biergarten complete with picnic tables and fire pits. You’ll definitely be treated like new friends here!

Assateague Island National Seashore & Sinepuxent Brewing Company (BONUS: Burley Oak!)

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Berlin, MD

It’s road trip time! J and I took a ride across the Bay Bridge and over to Worcester County. I’ve always wanted to visit Assateague Island but never wanted to deal with the humidity and the Ocean City crowds. My solution? Go to the beach in January! It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I absolutely loved being at the beach in the winter. It felt like we had the whole world to ourselves and we saw the wild horses almost as soon as we parked! It was a magical day and I highly recommend checking out your favorite summer haunts in the off season!

THE HIKE: Assateague Island National Seashore – Beach hiking & Short trails

Length: Variable
Elevation Gain: Flat
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: Variable
Trail use: Hiking, Biking, NO PETS
Parking: Large lots throughout park, $25 entrance fee, valid for 7 days
H&H: 4/5

A little chilly on the beach in January

Assateague Island National Seashore is located in Worcester County along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s only a few miles away from its much more popular neighbor Ocean City. The island is separated into two sections, the state park and the national park. The state park offers 2 miles of beaches and campsites and is open for a number of activities including swimming, camping, biking and fishing. The National Park side of the Island is 35 miles of preserved beach and salt marsh habitat spanning Maryland and into Virginia. The Maryland side (apart from the state park) is managed by the National Park Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service cares for the Virginia end (which is called Chincoteague)

The National Park is open all year round from about 7am to sunset. Be aware that there is no road connecting the Maryland and Virginia districts of the island so if you wish to visit both, it’s about an hour drive from one visitor center to the other. On our visit we opted to explore the National Park. The entrance fee is usually $25 per vehicle (which is valid for 7 days and includes both the MD and VA sections) but we used our America the Beautiful NPS pass to get in for free. I know I’ve said this before, but definitely invest in this pass if you think you’ll be going to more than one park in a year. It covers so much more than I realized and we’ve already used it for Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Harper’s Ferry, Great Falls, and now Assateague! It’s only $80 for the whole year. Okay end of my pitch. 

When you first get to Assateague, stop in at the Visitor Center before crossing over the bridge. We were able to get maps, talk to a ranger, and explore some museum displays. It was a great way to prepare us for what to expect on the island. It’s also a great place to use the restroom; there’s only vault toilets on the island! Also you can park at the visitor center and walk over to the park but this would add a few miles to your day and you’d be better off saving your energy. 

Once we crossed over and showed our pass, we pulled into the first beach parking lot. There was rain forecasted for the day and I wanted to get as much done as we could before the chilly day turned into a wet chilly day. We really lucked out because as soon as we parked, we noticed about five horses hanging out in the brush by the beach! I couldn’t believe that we were able to see the horses at all let alone first thing in the morning! They were so beautiful but without a fancy camera lens, we weren’t able to get close enough to take good pictures. But trust me, we saw them! 

Walking on the beach was probably my favorite part of the day. I’ve never seen such a long stretch of sand with no other people anywhere in sight. It really was magical. We did about a 2 mile out and back along the water before it started raining. If you do go in the winter, make sure to bundle up! It was about 40F that day but the wind on the beach made it feel SO much colder. We had on leggings under our hiking pants, sweatshirts, and big winter coats. 

After walking on the beach, I wanted to do some of the small trails along the island. There are three loops all focused on different habitats found on Assateague. We started at the furthest point and worked our way back. Also a side note: there is an Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) area which can be accessed by permit through the NPS. We didn’t pursue this but it sounds really interesting! So we started our hiking at the Life of the Dunes trail which is a short 0.8 mile loop that highlights the dune habitats. It’s full of interpretative signs, viewpoints, and even a walk along the asphalt road from the 1950’s when developers tried to inhabit Assateague. This trail was probably my favorite of the day. Although it was short, it was a completely different world from the hikes we usually do and I loved seeing the different plants and trees. Also walking on the sand is quite the workout! 

Next we did the 0.5 mile Life of the Forest trail which mostly followed a raised boardwalk. The views along this walk were incredible. It looks out over the Sinepuxent Bay and we spent so much time just watching birds swoop around. Next, we explored the Life of the Marshes trails which was also a 0.5 mile raised boardwalk. This was probably the best spot for watching birds and we even saw some horses in the distance. Part of the boardwalk leads right onto a small beach which was so peaceful and had some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen. We got a lot of walking in around Assateague but unfortunately by this time even our winter coats were soaked through so we needed to call it a day. 

A couple things to note about visiting Assateague: it’s very windy so it will feel colder than on the mainland. The trees are fairly short so there’s no shade on sunny days. In warmer months, the heat and humidity bring out a lot of mosquitoes and biting insects. Finally, make sure to pack water and snacks and don’t leave food out. We kept everything in our car and threw our trash away at the visitor center. Remember to always Leave No Trace!

THE BEER: Sinepuxent Brewery Company

Address: 8816 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Berlin, MD 21811
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, 7 mins
Website: https://www.sinbrewing.com/
Food?: Snacks, seasonal juice & smoothie bowls
H&H Rating: 4/5

THE BEER: Burley Oak Brewery Company

Address: 10016 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin, MD 21811
Distance from Trail Head: 8.5 miles, 14 mins
Website: http://www.burleyoak.com/
Food?: Seasonal Taco Truck
H&H Rating: 5/5

The best part about doing an overnight trip? I feel no guilt in trying out two breweries for one hike! Our first stop was at Sinepuxent Brewing Company which boasts a sprawling outdoor venue as well as an indoor taproom. Honestly I wish it hadn’t been snowing at this point because the outdoor area looked so nice! There were fire pits, picnic tables, games, and animals. This place must be hopping during the summer! Thankfully we got there when we did because the owner wasn’t sure about opening up since the weather was looking grim. Luckily for us we were able to snag a small table and try pretty much everything on tap. Everything was pretty good but I think J’s favorite thing was the popcorn machine. I’ve never met someone who loves popcorn as much as him! My fav brew here was the IPA, it was a solid, no frills kinda ale which really hit the spot! Also I really love their logo. It’s an old seaman with a beard made of hops, so original! 

Later on that evening, we also checked out Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin. I was super excited to go here because I had been hearing a lot of buzz about them in the Maryland craft beer world. Their space was rustic and cozy, also with a large outdoor space. It had started snowing so we opted to stay inside. Guys, this place makes so much beer! I honestly had a hard time choosing. Which of course means we have to try as much as we can. My favorites were the Aboriginal Gangster IPA which had the sweetness of a hazy without the thickness, and the Rude Boy which had a delightfully sweet malty flavor. All in all, this was a bucket list trip and I’m so glad we got to check out an incredible hike and have some good brews along the way! And if you’re looking to stay the night during the off season, I highly recommend the Atlantic Hotel. Our room had a claw foot tub! 

Our Beer:

Burley Oak Brewing

  • Bunker-C – Porter – 6.6%
  • Aboriginal Gangster – IPA – 6.6%
  • Rude Boy – Imperial Red Ale – 8.2%
  • Pear Gingerbread J.R.E.A.M – Sour Ale – 4.8%

Sinepuxent Brewing Company

  • Hefeweizen – Wheat Beer – 5%
  • IPA – 6%
  • Double IPA – 8.5%
  • Stout – 8%
  • Pilsner Sin Brew – 4.8%

SUM UP: The beach isn’t just for summer! Assateague Island is located in Eastern Maryland and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Sinepuxent Bay. It offers some of the most unique landscape in the state and is very well known for the wild horse herds that roam freely around. If going in the winter, dress warmly and be prepared to hike on sandy paths. After you’ve had your fill of wildlife, be sure to check out Sinepuxtent or Burley Oak breweries (or both)! Definitely consider staying the night in historic Berlin, known for its small town charm and plethora of antique stores.