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Jug Bay Wetlands & Calvert Brewing Company

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Upper Marlboro, MD

*As of March 2024, Calvert Brewing Co has permanently closed*

I have been so excited to share this hike & brew! Jug Bay is one of my favorite places in Maryland and this time was so special because we got to introduce it to my parents! We saw so much wildlife at Jug Bay and had some truly delicious beers at Calvert Brewing. I could do this combo every weekend! Let’s go!

THE HIKE: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Length: 5.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 250ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking Only (No Pets)
Parking: Large parking lot, $6 per car
H&H: 5/5

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the Patuxent River and is operated by the Anne Arundel Department of Recreation and Parks. It’s so much more than just a park with tons of educational events and conservation efforts happening all the time. Before you head out, check to see what events are happening, there might be something to interest you! There’s a lot of parking at the Main Entrance but please remember to stop in the visitor’s center and pay the entrance fee. It’s only $6 per car and it goes to a great cause. 

We’ve done several different trail combos at Juy Bay but no matter where we trek, we always have to go on the boardwalk overlooking the river wetlands and we also have to visit Mark’s Pond along the Upper RR Bed Trail. It’s a small pond that is just teeming with life! We sat here for over an hour, barely talking, as we watched the animals of the pond. We were completely fascinated especially by the frogs who were in the throws of mating season, singing out their calls loudly and fighting off their competition. There were turtles lined up on logs in the sun watching the entire ordeal. To be honest, we didn’t end up getting much hiking in because we couldn’t tear ourselves away from this pond! 

On a different trip, J and I did the full park loop from the visitor’s center down to the pier, about 5 miles. It’s mostly flat so it makes for a nice easy hike. Watch out for bugs though! It’s close to the water so they can get brutal. Most of the hikes in Jug Bay are easy which makes them great for the whole family. Every time we’ve gone, we’ve seen hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages! If you’d really like to get a good workout, try adding on a few extra trails. But don’t forget to stop and enjoy the park around you! This place really is all about the fantastic ecosystem!

In case you can’t tell, I really love Jug Bay Wetlands and I know I’ll be back soon! If this hike is close to you, consider getting a membership so every visit is free for a year. 

THE BEER: Calvert Brewing Company

Address: 15850 Commerce Ct, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Distance from Trail Head: 9.6 miles, 20 mins
Website: https://www.calvertbrewingcompany.com/
Food?: Food Trucks (Some weekends)
H&H Rating: 5/5

We’ve been going to Calvert Brewing Company after Jug Bay since we first moved to Maryland. Calvert has such a friendly atmosphere and we always end up chatting with someone new. Recently, they set up tents and adirondack chairs in the parking lot and it’s been the best spot to relax with a brew. The inside is also huge so you’ll always find a spot to relax. 

Calvert’s spacious taproom
We appreciate art and nature on this blog

Since we had family with us this time around, we were able to sample quite a few of Calvert’s offerings. My favorite this time actually surprised me, the Watermelon Pucker! It was the perfect summer beer and was so refreshing after being outside. My dad is a big fan of NEIPA and he really liked the Single Hop: Sultana. We’re both really interested in single hop series that allow you to isolate the taste of a single hop variety. J has been finding a new love for saisons so he went with the Battle of the Beltway which was a collab with Peabody Heights up in Baltimore. Finally, my mom likes light beers so she went with the Indigo Luna, a refreshing wheat beer. After lots of chatting and snacking, we got one final glass to share, the incredibly thick Milkshake Smoothie Sour. This was really tasty but I’m so glad I didn’t get a full pour. I think it would have been delicious as a slushie though! 

We really love Calvert Brewing and we can’t wait to come back! We also really like their Route 4 IPA and the Excellent Adventure IPA which you can find in store around Maryland!

Our Beer:

  • Indigo Luna – Wheat Beer – 5.2%
  • Battle of the Beltway – Saison – 5.2%
  • Single Hop: Sultana – NEIPA – 6.7%
  • Watermelon Pucker – Sour – 5%
  • Strawberry Pineapple Milkshake Smoothie – Sour – 5%

SUM UP: Jug Bay is a large wetland park maintained by the county that offers miles of hiking and educational activities that are suitable for all ages. The park is teeming with wildlife so keep your camera ready. There is a $6 entrance fee and the park is only open to hikers (sorry, leave your pets at home). There are wooded trails and boardwalks over the marshlands. About 20 mins away is Calvert Brewing Company which is at the end of a business park. They make a wide variety of beers and the atmosphere is always laid back and friendly. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself chatting with someone new!

Beer Byte – August

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MALT: The Backbone of Beer

Barley is one of the main grains used in beermaking

So we’ve already talked about hops, let’s get to the next main ingredient in beer: MALT! Okay so we need to clear something up first. Malt is actually a verb and a process but in the brew world it’s generally understood as the grain used in beer. It’s better to understand malt as “grain that has been malted” 

Malted Barley

What is malt? – Malt is one of the four main ingredients of beer (the other are hops, water, and yeast). It refers to the roasted grain in a beer recipe

What is it for?  – Malt adds flavor, sweetness, and color to beer. It’s what adds carbs to beer, giving it the classic “liquid bread” nickname. 

A maltster raking grains to dry out before kilning

What is the malting process? – Let’s keep it simple. First, grain is picked and allowed to dry. Water is then added so the kernels sprout. Then heat is added to stop germination and finish drying out the grain. The temperature and time used in the roasting process creates different malt. This whole process allows for the starches in the grain kernels to begin to convert to sugar but stops them before they can grow into new plants. This sugar is key to the brewing process since it’s what the yeast will feed on! (Spoiler alert: yeast is my next Beer Byte!)

What type of grains are malted? – Most brewers use malted barley in their brews. Wheat or rye are also common but barley is definitely the king. But any grain can undergo this process. Over 90% of malted grains processed around the world end up in beer! Some beer are even made with unmalted grains

Beermaking Term: Grain bill refers to all the grains used in a specific beer recipe

Is malt used for anything else? – There are plenty of other things that use malt! Whiskey also uses malt (think a blended vs a single malt scotch). Malted grains can also be used in baking, either as the ground up grain or as an extract that takes the form of a sweet syrup. Malt is also found in treats like malted milk balls, malted milkshakes and Ovaltine. Malts are more common than I thought!

Are there different kinds of malt?  – Just like hops, there’s a huge variety in the types of malt used in brewing. The type of malt used is really determined by the type of beer one is making. The majority of the malts used in a recipe are called base malts which make up 60-100% of the grain bill. But their flavor can vary wildly based on type of grain used, where its grown, and how it is malted. These base malts also effect the color of the beer! Pale Malt is the most commonly used variety which gives the resulting beer a nice golden color. Malt that is roasted (kilned) for longer are darker and are used in dark beers like stouts. Some of these darker grains are called specialty malts and are used in lesser quantities than base malts. The biggest difference between base and specialty malts is that base malts must undergo the mashing process to add fermentable sugars to the beer. Specialty malts add color, aroma, and flavor and only need to be steeped in hot water to add their deliciousness to the beer. Science!

What about non-barley beers? – until the early 2000s, beer needed to have at least 25% barley to be considered a beer. But with increasing interest in gluten-free beer, that definition has changed to include any cereal grains. Now, brewers make beer using sorghum, millet, buckwheat, corn, rice and more! In fact, some breweries are completely gluten-free! I’ve personally been to Aurochs Brewery a completely gluten-free brewery in Pittsburgh and had the Session IPA made with millet and quinoa. Fascinating, right?

All of these beers have a different grain bill that gives them all unique colors and flavors!

I’m already learning so much about beer! I can’t wait to dive into yeast next month! Cheers!

Resources:

Rachel Carson Conservation Park & Elder Pine Brewing and Blending Co

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Brookeville, MD

This is not a drill! Brewery only 0.2 miles from the trailhead. I repeat, 0.2 MILES! Yup this is what beer hiking dreams are made of! Rachel Carson Greenway is a delightful little park in the Brookeville area that has fields, forests, and streams! But the best part is that Elder Pine Brewery is just around the corner. In fact, you can see it through the trees! We should start a petition for extending the trail into their parking lot! Plus if you’re feeling really frisky, Waredeca Brewing is only 1.3 miles away and Brookeville Beer farm is only 4 miles! Truly a beer lover’s mecca. So let’s get to it!

THE HIKE: Rachel Carson Conservation Park

Length: 4.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 314ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, biking, dogs
Parking: Large parking lot, no fee
H&H: 3/5

The Rachel Carson Conservation Park is managed by Montgomery County Parks and features over 6 miles of trails! It’s popular with hikers and horseriders alike, although most times I’ve been there, it’s very quiet and peaceful. There’s plenty of parking and the trails all start in a meadow that has beautiful wildflowers in the spring. Be warned though, the sun in this open meadow can be brutal so bring a hat! It was incredibly hot and humid the day that J and I came so we knew it would be a short hike day. We decided to follow the Rachel Carson Greenway trail which runs the perimeter of the park, then took the Scarlet Tanager trail back to the meadow. There are a few other trails in the park that you can take too if you’d take a different route.

We liked this hike because it ran along a river which offered plenty of chances for scrambling over rocks if that’s your thing. J prefers to stay on land and be my photographer. This hike also had some cool rock formations. I’m always surprised to see such huge rocks in the woods so far away from any mountains. We also found plenty of ripe wineberries, delicious! 

Despite the pretty views, parts of this trail were pretty overgrown. There was one trail that we had to turn around because the stream crossing was too deep and there were no stepping stones. It was also pretty muddy and incredibly buggy. I wish we had waited until later in the year to do this hike! This is just a reminder to bring plenty of water when hiking in the summer!

THE BEER: Elder Pine Brewing and Blending Co.

Address: 4200 Sundown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Distance from Trail Head: 0.2 miles, 1 min
Website: https://www.elderpine.com/
Food?: Food Trucks
H&H Rating: 5/5

We hadn’t been to Elder Pine since they first opened in 2019 so it was really good to be back. This place has really expanded and opened up tons of outdoor seating. There’s a really cool section of the pine forest that’s decked out with string lights and seating. Unfortunately, this was all full when we got there so we sat on the patio. Easier access to the bar! Elder Pine always puts out some solid beers. This time we were feeling something more light (did I mention it was SUPER) hot out?? To start out we tried two of their pilsners. The Ameno was an italian style pilsner that was super grainy but very refreshing. The 10 Plato Pivo was a Czech style pilsner which was cold fermented and made with a yeast from the Czech Republic. It was incredibly crisp and went down very easily. It was really neat to compare the flavors of these two pilsners; so similar but with slightly different tastes that made a huge difference. 

Overall, Elder Pine was a great time! They had plenty of seating and everyone was so friendly. They also had a great food truck serving up some delicious BBQ. Honestly, we were having such a nice time sitting on the patio that we completely forgot to look at the inside taproom. Guess we gotta go back soon. 

Our Beer:

  • Veritable Villein – Saison – 6% 
  • Every Villein Is Lemons – Saison – 6%
  • Anti-Hot – NEIPA – 6.6%
  • Ameno – Italian Style Pilsner – 5%
  • 10 Plato Pivo – Czech Style Pilsner – 4%

SUM UP: 

Rachel Carson Conservation Park is a quiet park in Brookeville that’s open to hikers, leashed dogs, and horse riders. There are over 6 miles of trails including wooded and field trails. It can get buggy so be prepared. Just around the corner is Elder Pine Brewery which makes incredible beers and has a delightfully woodsy vibe. See if you can get a spot in an Adirondack chair under the pine trees!

Nature Nugget – July 28

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If a tree falls in the forest…should it stay there?

We’ve all seen fallen trees in the woods. Whether it’s from a bad storm or just the end of a tree’s life, eventually a tree will die. If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that in some state parks and forests, when a tree falls it’s just left there. Coming from a world of manicured lawns where anything unsightly is removed, this always felt wrong to me. Shouldn’t they remove the log? Can’t it be used for something?

In today’s Nature Nugget, I want to talk about how dead and decaying trees actually form an important part of a forest’s ecosystem. Although the tree has died, its part in the story is just beginning! But first some terminology: a dead tree that has fallen is a log. A dead tree that is still standing is a snag.

Fallen tree that was cut to remove from trail

What do dead and decaying trees provide?

  • Roosting spot for birds such as woodpeckers
  • Main home for bugs like ants, beetles, wasps and bees. Dead logs are also prime homes for larger critters like salamanders, frogs, and even snakes. Some scientists estimate that dead wood provides food and homes for more than 40% of forest wildlife species!
  • Form the bottom of the food chain for detritivores (organisms that feed on dead material) like fungi and bacteria which are then consumed by other animals
Fungi growing on decomposed log
  • Prevents erosion by reducing stormwater runoff. Logs in running water also prevent bank erosion, as well as trap sediment so that it doesn’t flow any further along.
  • Replenishes nutrients in the soil. Research has shown that trees are the main source of organic material in soil!
  • Plays an important role in forest regeneration. Not only does a fallen tree open up the canopy and make room for new trees, they also can become an extremely fertile growing medium for seeds and seedlings that have gathered there.
  • In ponds and streams, downed trees serve as sunning spots for turtles, fishing perches for birds, and even nests for fish.
Turtles sunbathing on a log

I think it’s pretty clear that dead tree are essential to the forest ecosystem! Now some people might be wondering about dead hazards and that’s a good point! Dead trees, especially snags can be seen as a fire hazard. And with wildfires constantly in the news, it’s definitely something to be concerned about! But remember, some wildfires are natural and can even be good for the ecosystem. There are certain species of plant that even need fire in order to germinate! However, if you have a dead tree on your property, you should get it removed. Dead wood is still a fire hazard and also a falling hazard especially near homes and people. Leave the dead wood to the forest!

Dead and decaying trees form an important part of a forest’s ecosystem. That’s why they are often left on the forest floor in parks. It doesn’t mean that the park isn’t well taken care – quite the opposite actually! Next time you pass a decaying tree, just think of all the life that could be starting a new inside of it.

Sources:

https://www.thewildlifenews.com/2018/12/20/the-ecological-value-of-dead-trees/
https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/sciencef/scifi20.pdf
https://www.americanforests.org/blog/nurse-logs-healers-forest/
https://www.nnrg.org/habitat-piles/
https://woodlandfishandwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Family-Forests-and-Wildlife_What-you-Need-to-Know_reduced.pdf
https://dnr.maryland.gov/streams/Publications/WoodyDebrisForWeb.pdf

Liberty Reservoir & 1623 Brewing Company

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Eldersburg, MD

Liberty Reservoir is one of those amazingly peaceful places that I am more than happy to drive over an hour to visit. But I’ll be honest that it was originally 1623 Brewing that brought me to the Eldersburg area. When I’m on the hunt for a new Hikes & Hops, I actually start with a brewery and then find out what trails are nearby. Finding Liberty Reservoir was my lucky day since it has quickly become one of my favorite hiking spots in Maryland. Not to mention that 1623 Brewery is worth the drive in their own right! They have excellent beer and a HUGE space with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. They never disappoint. So let’s get to it!

THE HIKE: Liberty West-Morgan Runs Trail (Includes Coots Peninsula) 

Length: 7.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 987ft
Difficulty: Moderate 
Time: ~3 hours
Trail use: Hiking, biking, dogs
Parking: Lot on side of busy road so be careful when parking
H&H: 4/5

Liberty Reservoir is pretty big and there are no shortage of different trails you can take. My absolute favorite hike here is Coots Peninsula, so much that I hardly ever try anywhere else in the park! If you’re looking for a shorter hike than this, just the peninsula loop is about 4 miles and starts at the end of Bollinger Mill Road. J and I have been wanting to build up to longer hikes so we chose this extended loop that starts from a parking lot off of 32. Please be careful when pulling in and out of this space, there are some blind corners and it’s a major road. 

Although many of these trails are listed as “heavily trafficked” in the AllTrails app, every time I’ve been here it’s felt so peaceful and I hardly ever see anyone else. The highlight of this area really is the reservoir with its sparkling clear waters. The Reservoir is owned by the city of Baltimore and brings water to nearly 1.5 million people in the city and surrounding suburbs. It wasn’t always a lake though and in 1954 the city made a LARGE purchase of the land. It had once been a thriving mill town and after all of the buildings were abandoned they were left intact and the reservoir just filled in around them. Kinda spooky to think of factories and houses just sitting under that pristine water! 

Anyway, now the reservoir is perfect for hiking, especially since only paddle boats are allowed on the water, so you feel miles and miles away from civilization. Coots Peninsula is particularly beautiful as you are surrounded by water as you walk through the pine woods. The point at the end of the peninsula was really stunning with some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen! No swimming is allowed but we bent the rules and dipped our feet in. I’d call this trail moderate since the loop back had quite a few steep hills which I really enjoyed! If you go in the summer, make sure to bring plenty of bug spray! Even with it, at times the gnats and flies got pretty annoying. This has definitely been a favorite spot of ours and we’ve been back a few times! 

THE BEER: 1623 Brewing Company 

Address: 5975 Exchange Dr Suite H-L, Eldersburg, MD 21784
Distance from Trail Head: 4.3 miles, ~8 mins 
Website: https://1623brewing.com/
Food?: Snacks and Food Trucks (Everyday) 
H&H Rating: 5/5

1623 Brewing has been brewing since 2018 but only opened their brand new taproom in February 2020 right before all of the ‘rona shutdowns. But it never seemed like it held them back because their brand new facility was AH-Mazing! We were so impressed with the amount of seating available and the living room vibes. We settled in on their patio under a pergola which was so inviting and kept the sun from frying us. Although they don’t have a kitchen, they do have food trucks every day that they’re open. Score! But the most important thing: how was the beer?! 

We were really excited to finally get some 1623 on tap, having had cans of their Dry Irish Stout in the past (Go get it, it’s delicious). Everything we had on tap was great! I didn’t get it this time around, but my favorite 1623 beer is their Hefeweizen. It’s the brewer’s specialty and really it shows. It’s quite honestly the best hefe I’ve had on draft! This time around I wanted to have a sour since it was hot and muggy out. Dang, this was the sourest sour I have ever had! Still delicious though with a subtle passionfruit flavor. J opted for the Ella Mental Lager which was part of a series of Single Hop Single Malt lagers. I’m always really into SMaSH series because I love to learn more about beer ingredients and to single out flavors. This one was made with Australian Galaxy hops and was quite refreshing. They also made a version conditioned on spruce tips that my nature heart desperately wanted, but I know I don’t like sprucy beers so we passed on that one. Oh and we got a 6 pack of the pilsner to take home as a porch beer. 

(Also I’ve been having a moment with pilsners? So underappreciated and yet it’s one of the harder styles to make! Yup, I’ve already got plans for a pilsner appreciation post for one of my beer bytes soon!) 

Another thing I really appreciate about this brewery is all of their glassware. No basic pint glasses here! They’ve got all of the proper glassware for the style of beer! Ah, it’s the little things. 

Our Beer:

  • Tart Attack – Sour – 3.1%
  • Ella Mental – Lager – 6.4%
  • Pilsner – Pilsner – 5.2%

SUM UP: Liberty Reservoir has a variety of trails and the Coots Peninsula Loop is particularly beautiful and is of moderate difficulty. There is ample off-street parking at the trailhead. While the water views are beautiful, be prepared for mud and bugs. Nearby is 1623 Brewing Company which always has rotating food trucks and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a perfect combo!