By Kyle Jenkins

I would not say that the bars of downtown Annapolis are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than those of Coconut Grove.  They are simply different.  Each nocturnal scene has its pros and cons.  The party crowds of either town are certainly horses of a different color.  However, either crowd can be quite the company.  The WAKA Kickball league that ventures into the Grove after their games on Friday nights is quite the bit of entertainment.  Their flip cup tournaments are a certainty every Friday night at Boardwalk Tavern.  They party hard.  On the other end of the spectrum, the Annapolis crowd is typically more low-key.  The younger locals can be a bit rowdy but most Annapolitans generally like to enjoy a beer and a conversation.  I am a laid-back personality myself and I do enjoy simply taking it easy some nights.  Additionally, I find it relatively easy to kick back and relax in a bar where several pages of our nation’s history were written.  Speaking of history, in downtown Annapolis a person can have a drink in historical landmarks such as Middleton’s Tavern, which is literally a two-hundred and sixty year-old establishment.  How does that taste going down?

Still standing tall as a proud symbol of Annapolis’ cultural history, Middleton’s Tavern originally opened for business downtown in 1750.  That is twenty-five years before the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired.  Today, the tavern is still pouring the booze for the Annapolis locals.  History even suggests that Middleton’s was a popular hangout among the 1786 Annapolis Convention delegates during the earliest drafting of the U.S. Constitution.  Representatives such as Founding Father Alexander Hamilton used to throw a few back at Middleton’s after a long day of laying the bricks of our country’s foundation.  Other frequenters of Middleton’s Tavern included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.

Unlike the relatively modern buildings of Coconut Grove, the ancient structures of Annapolis are not always accommodating to a night of drinking.  That is not to say that the buildings in downtown Annapolis are not safe.  However, such architectural relics can make a trip to the restroom feel like an obstacle course.  For example, a bathroom trip in McGarvey’s Saloon requires one to hike up a flight of stairs that is nearly as steep as a construction ladder.  When I gave climbing those stairs a shot I almost felt like I needed to hold somebody’s hand.  Conquering that staircase would be tough to do sober.  Regardless, the architectural obstacles ultimately provide the tourists with a fresh experience.

Lastly, what is either town serving?  What drinks does one town have that the other does not?  Fat Tuesday in Coconut Grove concocts some tasty grain-alcohol frozen drinks.  A few flavors on the menu are the Dirty Monkey, Purple Passion, and Mango Tango.  Mr. Moe’s makes its own frozen drink as well.  Those will do you in for the night.  Annapolis is more traditional with its drinking.  You won’t find any frozen drinks here.  The pride of downtown Annapolis is beer.  Several bars in downtown Annapolis carry Samuel Adam’s seasonal brews.  Additionally, at least three bars in downtown Annapolis have their own personal brand of beer brewed just for them including Middleton’s “Oyster Ale” and McGarvey’s “Aviator.”  Can you honestly claim that you’re not at least a little tired of drinking the same store-bought brews?  Are you ready for a change?  Take a chance and try something different whether it is a different beer, a different bar, or a different town altogether.