This place has so much potential, but it's been wasted on the shitty bartender's and shitty management. Their food is ok bar food and their beer selection is really great. These bartenders don't give two shits about you and feel like they are doing you a favor by getting you a beer and you paying them for it. I've been to tons of bars in Baltimore and across the country and I've never felt so offended and angry towards the bartenders and management. I always reflect the attitude of the bartenders in my tip, don't get me wrong I have no problem tipping 20%+ if I get good service but here it almost never happens, even if it isn't busy. read more

A laid back corner bar with an extensive list of beers on tap and bottles. Our Baltimore UYE continued its journey here at the prompting of RichL. In the mid-afternoon, we kicked back with a few rounds. I had the Stone's Ruination which is one of my favorite beers and one of the many craft beer offered here on tap. Away from the tourist trap of the Inner Harbor and conveniently located in Fells Point, this should be on everyone's list of places to frequent when they're in the area. read more

It's not pretty - the bar or the people. beer selection is good, but not worth it for the boredom you have to endure while there. read more

Fantastic selection and great sandwiches - what more is needed? Very quiet when we visited early on midweek night but looks like it could be rocking on a "game night" read more

You had me at Cantillon ... on draft, when I stopped by last weekend. It's hard to find Cantillon anywhere these days, much less on draft, much less for $12. Sure, that's definitely expensive for a beer, but it's cheaper than what most people are paying for Cantillon (in the States) when they can find it. The rest of the beer list was pretty interesting too, and fairly extensive. Although I didn't love that the only option was to get a full glass or nothing, sometimes it's hard to commit $12 to a beer you're not sure you'll like. Add to the beer selection some solid food, and you've got yourself a great little pub. The fish in the fish and chips was nothing special, but the homemade potato chips were absolutely perfect. And the BALT-O sandwich (BLT with avocado and onion) hit the spot after a long drive. Overall, a very pleasant stop on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Max's is a great bar and everybody knows it. This unfortunately leads to it always being packed wall to wall (and it's a pretty large bar too). However, when you do happen to get there at the right time to snag a seat, or better yet grab a table upstairs, it's a great spot to spend the bulk of your night out. Lots of beers on tap including local favorite Resurrection. They periodically have beer festivals. We went to the German Beer Fest a few years ago and they had a great selection of imports on draft. A lot of fun, keep your eye on the upcoming events. Update: Last time we went on a Saturday afternoon it was packed as usual, but we ventured in further and discovered they had expanded the lower floor and added a second bar downstairs. It was like being in a different bar all together with the same great beer selection. Much calmer and nicer if you enjoy having a conversation. read more

I LOVE tasty beers, and boy does this place have em. Plus we got buy one get one drafts from the water taxi coupons - can't beat that. I'm a little bummed we didn't get to sit in the table made out of the front of a bus, but maybe next time. read more

We went to Max's for the first time on New Year's Eve with friends who have been before. They talked this place up a lot and it did not disappoint. Not even a little bit. They have pages of bottled/canned varieties of beer and they have a huge list of draft beers as well. They are willing to let you try a sip of a couple of different drafts, but they are not fans of you trying each beer before you buy as my friend found out. :) I do not usually try beers unless I am specifically getting a flight somewhere, so this was not an issue really. We also got the crab pretzel. You HAVE to get this if you go. I don't care if you aren't hungry.... order it. Share it with friends. It was delicious! I think the pretzel creation in and of itself deserves 5 stars. The vibe of the place is very relaxed although the guy checking IDs at the door has had better days. I never understand why bouncers can't just smile. We aren't all walking through the door with fake IDs and... frankly... it's annoying to have your ID checked when you're very much old enough to be inside the establishment. So, if I have to have my ID checked and you have to check my ID, let's exchange a smile or other pleasantry! It can't hurt. Other than the door guy, there are a couple of great photo opportunities with the front parts of vehicles on display with seats inside to enjoy your drinks at. The bartenders were fantastic. Knowledgeable about the beers the place offers, sense of humor, and they smile. Imagine that! The next time I am in Baltimore, I am definitely going back. read more

Standard unpretentious and sportsy bar peopled by 20somethings that is either evidence of everything that's wrong with our "so-called, faltering civilisation" or just the sort of place you feel at-home inside. If you're a regular fun-loving guy/gal based in the Baltimore area, you've probably already been here. If you're not? Why are you reading this???* This warning should be sufficient. * I mean lulz aside, I'm really not the audience for this and probably should delete this review but for some reason am the sort entitled tosser who thinks because I've paid money somewhere, I should exercise right to expressing a useless opinion on a website. read more

Always fun! Good beer, good staff, good atmosphere. Best place to hang out with friends at Fells Point! read more

Refrigerated/ice coasters BUILT INTO THE BAR and over 65 draft selections. What else needs to be said? What's that you say Meghan, Ashley, Emily, and Amber? There's no place for you to dance or get your "chardonnay" on? That's the idea. Can I give this place 6 stars? read more

Went up to visit a friend in Baltimore and had to stop by this place. There were about 70 taps (impressive) and really no crap on tap. There were a couple of questionable beers on draft but overall a great selection. The bar feels a little like a sports bar, which is fine. Lots of wood, lots of TVs, seating at the bar and at tables. Several rooms, a pool table, we sat for several minutes before I decided that we probably had to order at the bar. The bar tender asked me my name and then remembered it all night, I was impressed and she was attentive and filled my orders without any problems. I ordered beers on draft and no bottles but after my second beer I asked for a bottle menu and this is where I got really impressed. Not only were there a lot of bottles (100s of bottles) there were really rare and really expensive beers. If I lived in Baltimore I would be there all the time wasting my paychecks. No one in my party ordered food so I won't comment except to say that there was food there. Overall, table service would be nice, maybe prices on the draft menu (there were prices on the bottle menu) but for a beer bar it was a good place with great selection. There was also a full bar, usually this annoys me but I didn't see anyone really ordering liquor. read more

The good: they have a lot of taps. The bad: The bartenders are frequently rude, and really not all that knowledgeable for a place that prides itself on their beer selection. Or if they are knowledgeable, they don't have the patience to share that knowledge with new customers. It's also Canton-bro central on weekends. I hear they treat their regulars well, but I've never felt comfortable enough to consider becoming one. read more

Stopped here after a happy hour down the street. I was surprised about the diverse selection of beers and also quickly overwhelmed. The bartender was very helpful with selecting the type of beer I should get based on my preferences/likes/dislikes. They also provide a comprehensive list of beer to ease your decision. I would go back to this bar during a higher volume season because it was very slow in New Year's Day. Good spot to watch games! read more

Max's Taphouse - American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

RJ brought me here on a Friday night in May because he used to spend time here 20 years ago. He said it changed a lot, but the bartenders were still friendly and the drinks were good. It's a fun bar, and we enjoyed it until they made everyone go downstairs so we wrapped up and left. read more

Max's is the famous beer bar in Fells Point that has a lot of beer. A lot. Lots of beer. Mostly on tap. There have been several instances when we have heard about some obscure beer and wandered in there to find that sure enough we could get a draft. Needless to say, this place can get loud and rowdy at busy times. At those times it can be tough to find a seat in this long sprawling place that stretches through several rooms and an upstairs, but you can usually find some niche to squeeze into. All food orders are placed at the bar, and while the bartenders are always moving you can usually get served pretty quickly since they really know what they're doing. The food they serve is pretty standard pub grub, but they do sometimes have theme events like Oktoberfest, so sometimes you can find something interesting. This is the place to go to get your beer on and then some. read more

Simply the biggest selection of worthy beers in the US, including NYC (with Brooklyn in the mix), Philly and SF. Max's used to be second to D.C.'s Brickskeller, but with their closure, Max's now definitely reigns supreme. A huge first floor with a seemingly endless wall of glassed in coolers with shelf after shelf after shelf of awesomeness to coose from...brain melt down may occur. Upstairs behind the secondary bar in back there is yet another bar, a dark, cozy, low key affair and sitting area and a locked cabinet on the wall with aged vintages of Thomas Hardy. We went here as a destination for my brother's bachelor party, and I got on the phone with the owner to purchase his 25 year old Hardy...I drank it on the way down the steps to hand it to my brother...I only meant to have a sip. Some girls came over to assuage my sin. Max's...long may you reign. read more

Formerly one of the best places to hear live music, Max's has been demoted to a bar that houses the youth who tend to drink too much on the weekends. No longer possessing a permit for bands, this pub has focused on its extensive beer selection. If you don't see it on one of the many taps, you are sure to find it in bottle form in the beer menu (yes, they have a beer menu- actually more of a list really). I love Belgian beers and their selection of wheats and Trappist beers is the most varied I've seen in Baltimore. The food is what you would expect at a bar, nothing more, nothing less and will do if you are there for the night drinking and/or playing pool. Upstairs is the cigar room, dark walls, another bar, and comfy chairs. This is a great level for a private party or other small event. Since the MD smoking ban, I'm not sure whether the cigars are still there or not. read more

Probably the best beer bar in the Inner Harbor area. Everything you could ever want is either on tap or available in bottle. I always hit up Max's whenever I visit Baltimore for at least one drink. Make sure you check out what's on the hand drawn taps for a unique experience of cask conditioned beer. The food is a little better than average bar fare, but not somewhere I would recommend to someone for lunch or dinner. The bathrooms are disgusting to the point my girlfriend actually wouldn't use them and waited until our next stop. The guy's isn't much better but we are better equipped for dirty bathrooms than our female counterparts. read more

Was really hoping to like this place. We walked in and were excited by the "Welcome to the Land of Beers" sign, but were disappointed upon arrival. The environment was average at best. The service was slow; it took 10 minutes for one person to get two beers. Our group of twelve found two small tables (seats 3) right at the entrance and pushed them closer together. The bouncer came rushing into our group and yelled at us for pushing the tables together and muttered things under his breath. Not even ten minutes later, he came and yelled at our group for a baggie of popcorn that was left on the table from the previous group of people. I'm a frequent flyer at late night, busy bars. This bar needs to step up their game and hire friendlier staff - there's too many bars in the area to have such poor service. read more

Max's get two stars based on their beer selection. However, they're often out of several of them. So their beer list looks good on paper...but reality is a different beast altogether. Some of the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, but many of them simply aren't. It's bad when I go into an establishment and know more than the staff about the items they're selling. And there's one bartender there in particular who is so full of himself it's not even funny. I overheard him talking to another patron about how he's been working in Baltimore bars his whole life, and how he's gotten to the point where he can pretty much name his nights and price. Well whoop-dee-shit, son. You're not even making cocktails. You're slinging beer for a living. Mostly in bottles at that. And mostly to fratjocks and sorostitutes who wouldn't know a Heineken from a Hopfenstark Blonde if their life depended on it. You're a nobody. I guarantee that no one outside of Max's has ever even heard of you. You're not a celebrity. Get over yourself. Also, the food here blows. read more

I'm sitting at Max's Taphouse in Fells Point, in Baltimore. I want to recommend this location if you (LOVE, LIKE, AND CRAVE) smoked RIBS and CHICKEN. THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! I spoke with the Mastermind who is responsible for grilling and HER name is "ROC" Johnson. She uses (3) types of rub blend which provides the unique and awesome 'perfect' hickory taste. I ate my chicken to the bone and licked my fingers. I still smell the hickory blends on my fingers . Thank you Roc and team. You are magnificent!!! read more

I LOVE BEER! And Max's satisfies the beer lover in me. The bartender (wish i knew his name) was so honest and funny and led me to my perfect beer. It never fails! He even gave us a quick tour of the keg room, which he claimed was haunted. Cool! But the icing on this cake is the FOOD! Last Saturday we spent my bday lunch there and played pool. We got the nachos with pulled pork which was ENORMOUS and just right, the wings (perfectly saucy and crunchy), the jalapeno poppers which were STUFFED and (drum roll please) the MUSSELS (3 orders btw). i dream up here in NYC about them from time to time. the buttery garlic sauce is wonderful and the mussels themselves are pretty big and meaty. the garlic bread they give you to sop up the sauce is so damn good, we always order an extra side it. the first timers in our party of ten were soooo happy we took them there! it is just a no pressure/no frills bar, cheerier inside than most dank places in Fell's Point and happier bartenders. ps...they are way better than bertha's. there. i said it. read more

Although I was not much of a beer drinker, Max's has converted me to liking and even enjoying beer--Belgian beer, that is, which comes in so many styles, flavors, and varieties that one could have a different kind (and quite many of them from Max's) every day of the year. Having said that, I never quite understood the bar's pithy wine selection, which was _a_ red and _a_ white of barely palatable wine (i.e., acceptable only if you must have wine) for years. To be fair, the collection has been expanding ever so slightly as of late but, by DC standards where even an Irish bar is guaranteed to have 3-4 reds and the same number of good whites by the glass, there is much to be desired on the grape scene here. The food selection has varied greatly as cooks have come and gone; currently, the standing is at a 'decent' for burgers, spinach/goat cheese quesadillas, nachos, and--except for being located in the seafood capital, Baltimore--shockingly good mussels (just remember to order these seasonally for optimal taste: month must have an 'r' for this to be the case). Pricing of food has been climbing recently, which is unfortunate as beer efficianados will have less dough to spend on the main attraction of this place. Overall, it's a safer bet to eat prior to arrival. In terms of atmosphere, Max's is two stories and features an ex-tobacco lounge upstairs that has since been converted into a classy, chill bar area with fancy leather armchairs. (For those interested in lighting up, their cigar bar is relocated next door in place of the dart room; as for darts, look for a few--like 2--remaining boards in a corner of the second floor.) The more traditional downstairs features a loooong bar surrounded by mostly comfy stools, some tables, and there's a pool table in the back. Partly owing to the Belgian beer and partly to its block-from-Harbor location, this bar gets stuffed senseless on the weekends (and, of course, main drinking holidays/events) so, if you would like to sit down and enjoy a few beers with friends over a conversation without having to holler, come during the week. As a fun aside, Max's features bar trivia night on Thursdays at 9 pm that is very popular for its entertaining hosts, challenging questions, various tie-breaker competitions, and a generous gift certificate of $50 to the winning team. In sum, Max's is a 5 for the Belgian beer, 5 for location, 4 for atmosphere during the week (less other times), 2 for food, and 1 for wine. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon during Hopfest a few weeks ago. They're beer list is extensive and comprehensive, and the prices were competitive with every other bar in the area. Something for everyone, for sure. We chose to sit outside and people watch. There were a few tables, all with umbrellas, available to sit at. Although there's no table service outside of sitting directly at the bar, there was no trouble getting served. The guys behind the bar made sure everyone was served in a timely manner. The bouncer was friendly and answered all the questions we had about protocol with sitting outside and service. The bathrooms were eclectic but clean. Would definitely come back and recommend to others. read more

I've never posted a one star review here before and I don't want to hurt an establishment's reputation if this is an off day, but would like to share my experiences. I called this place a few days prior to try and make a reservation. The hostess explained that they do not take reservations. She was extremely helpful and asked how many people to expect and based on that, recommended high top tables. She also mentioned that they could push two low tables together for us if we would prefer. She said that it would be fine and she would be expecting us even without reservations. When we walked in, the place was very dark and grimy. No one greeted us and the bartender ignored our large group. None of us had been there before, so we stood there waiting/looking around for a hostess. Finally after 5 minutes, the bartender pulled out some menus and told us to come up and tell him what we want. We asked if there was a hostess and he rudely told us that it's self serve and we do everything ourselves. We wandered around trying to find tables and found the high tops to say "reserved" for a different party (even though we thought thy didn't accept reservations). Armed with nothing but beer selection menus in our hands and no seats, we didn't know how to even order food and ended up having to return the menus and give up. Bartender didn't even glance at us on the way out. I was disappointed since I saw relatively high reviews for this place and wanted to check it out. read more

So this place has been pretty thoroughly reviewed but I thought I would make a quick list of things I wish I knew before I went in. 1. Everyone knows there is a ton of beer here, but beware there are a ton of different drafts, so don't think because you found one batch of them you have seen them all. Also, different bars have different draft lists so be careful. 2. No waiter service here. You go to the bar and order food and they ask where you are sitting. This worked out for our table, but I definitely would have preferred a waiter/ess. 3. They pour heavier shots here than anywhere I have been in my life. Besides seeing and tasting how big they were I also counted while the bartender poured. If they aren't full double shots they are very close (1.75 by my count). So good luck, and don't underestimate the draft beers or shots at this place. read more

Reviewing strictly on the beer selection -- I haven't had the food here. The beer list is almost overwhelming as they have seemingly 50 drafts on a given night. It was a busy Saturday night, but this is the nightlife district of B'more and I'd expect nothing less than frat bros, baseball hats and woo girls! We lucked out and grabbed a table as a group was leaving and stuck around to sample a few beers. A friend had a 3.2% session (I forget the name) and it was miserable. Live a little and indulge the local brews if you're visiting -- the Loose Canon by Heavy Seas is a nice and light citrusy IPA if you are frequenting the Inner Harbor this summer. Cheers! read more

Stopped in when our plane was delayed coming back from Florida. The food was okay (spouse's was good, my burger was a bit small and the roll itself stale but still edible). They were out of a lot of beer as there was a Belgium fest coming up this weekend so we were relegated to beers we never tried before. My wife wanted to have a taste of one and was told if she wanted to taste it she would have to purchase a 5 oz. glass for $3.75. C'mon, it's draft beer. Don't ask us to buy something we may not like because you are out of stock on other well know beers. I guess the reason I was so disappointed is that Max's was recommended to me by no fewer than 4 people and not one of them lives in the area. read more

I live in Arlington, VA, and actually found this place through a distributer, when I was looking for a rare Belgian beer that I only had while in Europe. Of course, Max's also had a delicious keg of it, and was offering it up at a reasonable price. This is a great spot to sample some new (to you) beers, meet some cool people, watch an O's or Ravens game, and hang out with friends. I really wish the world had more bars like Max's. It gets crowded, but the bartenders are efficient, and you will be served quickly. Man, I love this place. read more

The beer selection is out of this world. The atmosphere isn't too great, and the bartenders are a bit aloof outside of their regulars. And the crowd is a bit much; Not exactly my scene. The parking can be a nightmare as well, but so can anywhere in Fells Point. It's not a bad place. In fact, it has the potential to be fantastic. It just suffers from being entirely too popular. read more

Awesome place for Friday happy hours, $6 for 32 oz beer from 5-8 PM and there are a lot of options! Max's tater bowl is a great choice for food - tater tots, pulled pork, cheese, bacon - what more can you ask for? It gets crowded later, but if you get there early, you can definitely grab a table or two upstairs for groups. read more

Max's was the second stop on my first bar hopping at Fell's Point! I had a blast! We had shots and a few cider's. The beer list is extensive and the crowd is fun. Pull up a seat and enjoy the scene! read more

See all

I've definitely found my go-to taproom in Baltimore! The selection is incredible and for all the stout and porter lovers out there, this is definitely the place to go to. On top of that, the beer is really affordable! $3.50 for house draft beers!!! We're about to have fish tacos, bison sliders, and the classic cheeseburger. I'm already happy about his place and haven't even eaten yet. read more

Don't expect a quiet night or anything overly flashy when it comes to Max's. It's a simple bar with a simple premise: Good Beer. The list of beers on tap is ridiculously long, ever changing and can be quite intimidating when you first see it. It's always packed with people in all areas (game room, side bar, main bar and upstairs), but relatively easy to get the attention of the bartenders. Definitely try to come during one of their many festivals (Belgian Beer fest, American micro brew, German Beer fest); the environment is absolutely amazing. The food is surprisingly good as well. I highly recommend the nachos with beer chili and the peanut-satay wings. read more

Yay for this place existing! The beer selection is seriously unrivalled... last time I went in, I had the Allagash Victor, the Hitachino HX, and the Ommegang Rouge - three of the coolest beers I've had on draft ever - and my boyfriend got really excited about finding the Nogne O Imperial Stout on draft... and rightfully so, because it was amazing! These are draft beers you seriously can't find anywhere else, the list is thoughtfully compiled and the taps change frequently. The bartenders are incredibly nice, helpful, and quick. The food seems a little pricey at first glance ($12 for nachos?!) but it turns out the cash is worth it... huge portions and kick-ass ingredients... the nachos are smothered in lots of perfect barbeque pork, which was unexpected and fantastic. For the relatively touristy Fells location and the totally impressive draft selections, this place could either be really douche-y or painfully snobby, but somehow it easily manages to be neither. Instead, it's a great bar to sit at and throw back a couple fantastic drafts at totally reasonable prices... this place is totally representative of why I love Baltimore... no bullshit, just good stuff! read more

I want to move in above this place... It was always a stop when Fells was the destination. I stopped by last week on the last part of Belgium Weekend so the specials were still in effect for the Beer and the Pub Grub. I am a fan Loose Cannon, but now that Heavy Seas has opened up a storefront, it has disappeared. Either that or I was blinded by the sheer deluge of Belgium Beers that were on the menu. "The Good" - Insane amount of beers on tap in addition to a huge bottled selection. - There was a special food plate "Smoked Meat Platter" Smoked Trout, Salmon and Sausages. Served with Crusty bread and mustard. - Awesome service! It has been a while since I have been here and I walked over to the taps to get a refresher and the bartender slid me a Beer Menu... not in a snooty way but in a "Let me give ya a hand" way... - Decent crowd for lunch on a weekday. - They have a webcam so you can check out the crowds before leaving the house. "The Meh" - Parking, but it comes with the neighborhood, so learn to adapt. - If you do not like crowds... you may want to stay away during peak hours. "The Bad" - Nothing really bad to comment on. read more

EXCELLENT selection. Okay prices. Just make sure you avoid the middle-aged bartender with the ponytail. I've been in twice and he's been consistently rude and condescending. Not the kind of customer service you should be able to expect during a night out with friends. read more

I love da Taps here's so many Taps that I can never decide and den I get da pbr but I still happy and I wish they would let me take my shirt off in dare. But maybe one day. The guy w da red hair and smile and glasses us cool. He know what up! read more

We came here for a drink and we were very happy. I was on a quest to try oranges crushes all weekend all over Baltimore. The bar tender made a hybrid tangerine crush and we all agreed it was the very best of the weekend! Thank you! read more

See all