Gordon Biersch opens in Baltimore's Harbor East

Gordon Biersch, an upscale casual brewery restaurant known internationally for award-winning, handcrafted beers, opened its first Baltimore location at 1000 Lancaster Street on Monday, October 29, bringing a made-from-scratch menu with California-influenced cuisine and handcrafted German lagers to Harbor East.  Gordon Biersch features a fresh, made-from-scratch California-inspired menu that can be found in 20 states across the country and the District of Columbia. The menu is not fancy-typical brew food pre- Farm-To-Table era style. Menu sounds more like comfort food but I am game to try during the opening party this Saturday. (Photo Courtesy of Briana Berg).

Briana Berg, CITYPEEK Guest Blogger reports

At Saturday night’s pre-opening party at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, the bartenders were busy and the beer was flowing. As far as I could tell, the entire event ran as smooth as their Märzen beer. From the warm welcome as you entered the bustling brewery, to the cheery well-trained bartender who were pouring $1 drinks, the night could not have better.

Known internationally for their large menu of fresh California inspired cusine and handcrafted beers. The beer is made in small batches in house using only four ingredients. My first drink of the night was a Blonde Bock, a lighter brew with a hint honey. This, combined with the California Cobb Flabread, a toasty flatbread topped with grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes, was the perfect aperitif to the start of my night. Waitresses also passed around garlic fries to guests nestled in cozy booths. And a quick glance at the menu sent me into tizzy as I counted down the days until I could order off of the whole menu.

Gordon Biersch should also be praised for their well-trained, calm bartenders. Even when the crowds were long and thirsty, no bartender ever looked the slightest bit fazed by the craziness. It was clear that they had all been very well trained. One bartender told me she had been previously trained and then retrained by Gordon Biersch – talk about qualified! She surely proved this as I watched my cosmopolitan’s glass being chilled before the perfectly mixed mixture was poured into its glass.

Need I say more? Beer, cocktails, a cozy atmosphere and more await you at Gordon Biersch Brewery. It’s certainly a meal you won’t want to miss!

##

MORE ON THE LOCATION:

The 9,500 square foot location features an on-site brewery, where Head Brewer Chris Cashell will create signature lagers and seasonal brews in-house to be served in the restaurant and bar. These brews include Hefeweizen, a traditional German wheat beer with subtle notes of banana and clove; Czech Pilsner, a classic Bohemian-style Pilsner with a rich golden hue, medium-bodied and boldly bittered with spice, signature Saaz hops from the Czech Republic; and Schwarzbier, a light-bodied, dark lager with a dry, roasted coffee finish. In addition to its award-winning beers, Gordon Biersch will serve a wide-variety of appetizers and entrees for every taste – from premium burgers, salads and pizzas, to fresh seafood and steaks. Jacob Pulcher will serve as the Baltimore location’s Executive Chef.

Some appetizers promoted are: signature Garlic Fries and American-style Kobe Sliders, to Lobster and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and Southwest Egg Rolls.

Some main courses suggested by their website are: lobster and Shrimp Mac 'N Cheese, Steak Frites, New York Strip and Chicken Parmesan . Other favorites include Lobster and Shrimp Tacos, Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry and Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

Jon Jones, Gordon Biersch General Manager says “Baltimore has become a city known for its food and we are eager to bring our fresh handcrafted beers and made-from-scratch menu items to the area for the first time.”

The restaurant holds 300 diners with additional seating on the outside patio for 50 people. Hours of operation will be Sunday and Monday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (bar 11 a.m. – midnight); Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. (bar 11 a.m. – midnight); and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight (bar 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.).

The parent company is CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc. through its three principal operating units, Old Chicago, Gordon Biersch and Rock Bottom. They call themselves the nation’s leading operator and franchisor of craft beer-focused casual dining and brewery restaurants with nearly 200 owned and franchised locations across the United States. CraftWorks also operates strong regional brands, including ChopHouse and Big River and maintains intellectual property rights to the Boulder Beer, Inc. microbrewery. The company maintains dual headquarters in Chattanooga, TN and Louisville, CO. For additional information, please visit www.craftworksrestaurants.com.