BALTIMORE—The Super Bowl champions are kicking off their season with Maryland craft beer.

Flying Dog Brewery, out of Frederick, MD, will be the only Maryland-brewed craft beer available in M&T Bank Stadium throughout the 2013 season.

“It’s great to be back working with yet another progressive Maryland sports team,” Flying Dog CMO Ben Savage said, on the heels of its ongoing partnership with the Baltimore Orioles. “Our local teams see tremendous value in supporting Maryland-based products and businesses.”

A variety of Flying Dog beers will be available on draft in at storefronts in section 117 and 128.

And no beer-and-sports partnership is complete without a t-shirt. Flying Dog created a limited-edition spin on everyone’s favorite mascot with the Beers So Hard Tee, which is on sale now through the brewery’s website and gift shop.

Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods—more than 300 districts, each with its own culture and identity. Of course, no neighborhood would be complete without its collection of corner taverns. We found plenty of small, friendly and often inexpensive places with outstanding beer lists and knowledgeable bartenders. And yes, there are breweries too. There’s something for every beer lover, so let’s begin our journey just to the southeast of the city’s famous Inner Harbor, in the areas known as Fells Point and Canton.

Fells Point, a community lined with cobblestone streets, was once a hub for shipbuilding. In fact, some of the first vessels commissioned by the U.S. Navy, including the USS Constellation in 1797, were built here. The shipyards are perhaps most famous for producing topsail schooners that were used as blockade runners during the War of 1812. Today, the area is home to over 120 pubs.

One of the best, Max’s Taphouse (737 S. Broadway), is right on the main square. It’s a comfy, lived-in place whose slogan is “You’re Here for the Beer.” The list of what’s on tap, as well as the bottle list, is extensive. You can order something local, or many of the finest beers from around the world. There aren’t a lot of places that can boast having Cantillon’s Framboise and Kriek, as well as Chimay White on tap.

Make sure you look around. The place is full of interesting things: tap handles line the shelves just below the tin ceiling, just as other bars line up bottles and cans; the beams are painted with sage quotes about beer from everyone from Plato to Frank Zappa; glass display cases house vintage ales, including a collection of JW Lees; and the t-shirts in the “pro-shop” display an interesting sense of humor with words of wisdom such as “Beer is cheaper than gas. Drink don’t drive.” and “I’m probably lying.”

Max’s has a pub grub menu and wireless internet so it would be easy to stay forever. But there are other places you should visit, too.

A Walk to the Wharf

Walk a few blocks in either direction and you’ll find two establishments owned by breweries. The first is The Wharf Rat (801 S. Ann St.). The beer is brewed not far away at The Wharf Rat/Oliver Brewery (206 W. Pratt St.), not far from Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The look and feel of the Fells Point location is reminiscent of an old English pub. The hanging baskets of flowers greet you as you walk down the street. The interior has everything from an old English telephone cabinet to model ships above the working fireplace. There are two rooms and the ceiling beam between them sport wood-carved gnomes that depict the seven deadly sins.

Oliver is the house beer and they serve a solid collection of ales. We enjoyed a Best Bitter and an ESB on cask that was poured to perfection. There is a small collection of guest ales available too. Unlike the Camden Yards brewpub, the Ann St. location’s menu is limited and you’re likely to find the bartender pulling double duty as the cook.

Also along the waterfront is the DuClaw Brewing Company (901 S. Bond St.) on the Bond St. Wharf. DuClaw, which has three other locations in the suburbs around Baltimore, is a little more upscale and modern. Sitting at the large oval-shaped bar, you can look out the large picture windows and watch the hubbub as friends meet outside. When the weather is nice, as it was the evening we visited, the main attraction is the large outdoor seating area. This is definitely a place where people go to be seen.

Not only were we lucky with the weather, but when we arrived we realized that happy hour lasts all day on Tuesday. In addition to the attractively priced brew, we munched on reduced priced appetizers. Sipping the IPA and schwarzbier under the stars provided a perfect end to our day in Fells Point.

Naming one’s favorite beer cities is, of course, a matter of opinion, but I tried to introduce a bit of journalistic objectivity by identifying the criteria that would go into a decision whether to visit. No city on Earth meets all of these criteria (well, Munich comes close), but those on my top 25 list ranked high on at least several. Here they are.

• Local breweries. That means microbreweries and brewpubs, because that’s where you’ll find classic beer and unusual new styles. In some cities, historic regional breweries, such as Yuengling and Spoetzel, play a prominent role in the local beer scene. And touring a brewery, be it micro or macro, is a pleasant way to wile away a few hours.

• History and lore. America doesn’t have breweries inside medieval castles or taverns where Shakespeare drank, but there’s plenty of history to be found. Our country is rich in beer lore, ranging from beer barons’ mansions, like Colonel Pabst’s home in Milwaukee, to craft brewing landmarks such as the Mendocino Brewing Co.’s original location in the appropriately named town of Hopland, CA.

• Hard to find beer. Many a beer lover has visited Portland, OR, and brought back bottles of the formidable Adam and Fred, brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. Likewise, travelers to the Great Lakes region have come home with Bell’s Oberon Ale or Consecrator doppelbock. Beers like these are enjoyable travel souvenirs and a great way to impress friends.

• Taverns. In some parts of our country, the corner tavern is still a part of everyday life. These establishments are what author Ray Oldenburg calls “The Great Good Places,” those places outside the home and workplace where a person can unwind with friends and beer fulfills its traditional role as a social lubricant. The nation’s best beer bars are, in my opinion, those that keep electronic distractions to a minimum and invite conversation.

• Beer festivals. It’s no coincidence that many of the nation’s top festivals are in or near its best beer cities. The Northwest, where the craft brewing movement began, is especially rich in festivals. But many cities not in the top 25 have notable festivals worth a visit. A couple of examples: Cincinnati, which stages the biggest Oktoberfest in America; and Syracuse, NY, where the Empire State Brewing & Music Festival is a summertime must.

• Local food. A beer trip is also an excuse to get out of your normal culinary routine: you can eat when you’re hungry and have fun eating. For me, that means trying such local specialties as Chicago-style hot dogs, Texas chili, New England clam chowder, and a Hawaiian plate lunch. After all, man doesn’t live by beer alone.

• Last but not least, public transportation. We all know the drill about drinking and driving. Besides, there are cities, like New York, where a car actually reduces your mobility. A number of cities on the list have safe, reliable transit systems, and some offer an all-day pass for not much more than the price of a pint.