Forward Brewing

My husband and I live right outside of Eastport and have been coming to Forward regularly for many years. Our son was born last February, and when it came to brainstorming ideas for his first birthday (and our first year surviving parenthood), we could think of no better place to host. Naomi was amazing to work with — very responsive to emails, helpful with suggestions, and made our vision come to life. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every guest was taken care of so we could also enjoy ourselves & celebrate our son. The drinks were amazing (per usual) and the kitchen staff delivered excellent appetizers that everyone devoured. We could not have been happier with our experience having Forward host our event, and will definitely use them to celebrate future milestones in our life as a family.

Fun little spot if you can find a place to park. My Illumination IPA was good, not great. But the space is fun. No low carb food options other than salads 🤪 where's the beef? They had pork belly tacos. I'd love to see a pork belly entree 😋

my favorite place in DTA ( well, eastport) these days. beers are great and change frequently. food is always simple but very good. service is always super friendly. I love that they fill to-go growlers. hot tub pony shed just hits different. 😂

This place has huge 5 star potential, but I just could not get past the sheer volume (literally and figuratively) of small children running about in the outdoor area. I saw a review from 4 months ago asking if this is a brewery or a daycare center and I am sitting here wondering the same thing. Whatever rule they have about children being supervised is not enforced and it’s pretty disruptive to childless guests or anyone looking to experience a legitimate brewery environment. They claim to have an “adults only” area, but I don’t think that is enforced either. Not sure how it can be enforced with limited seating. If clientele is 85% parents with children and 15% average beer enthusiast, can you really dedicate a whole area to the 15%? And would it really even make that much of a difference? I honestly don’t have a solution. Aside from this, I would say it’s a great establishment with a nice layout and a wonderful, attentive staff. Also love their website and branding (I am a marketing nerd).

Sat outside on a warm day. The beer selection was smaller but each beer my group had we enjoyed. The pretzel was great as was the crab roll. It was packed with kids and couples having a nice time. It was a really nice relaxing time. Great spot to grab a good bite and hang with friends.

Hipster type vibe. We liked the beer we got. (Oktoberfest) The servers were very nice and let us taste before choosing. My only complaint was the smell in the place was VERY strong. I think it was curry (?) If there wasn't construction, we would have sat outside. Our clothes still smelled when we got to the hotel. They need better ventilation. 😣

Forward Brewing is an exceptional venue for any special event! Our recent gathering here was a huge success from start to finish. Naomi, the General Manager, was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her leadership, attentiveness, and organizational skills made the planning process seamless. As GM, she demonstrated a deep understanding of how to make our event shine, always quick to respond to our questions and accommodate our requests with enthusiasm. The venue itself is fantastic - the space is comfortable and inviting, allowing guests to mingle and relax in a great atmosphere. The food and drinks were the true stars of the show. Forward Brewing offers an impressive beer selection that caters to a variety of tastes. Their food menu is creative and delicious, with options to please everyone from adventurous foodies to those with simpler palates. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. On the day of our event, Naomi and her staff were friendly, efficient, and professional. They ensured everything ran smoothly, allowing us to focus on enjoying time with our guests. Forward Brewing provided the ideal backdrop for our special occasion. Their attention to detail, excellent service, and fantastic food and drink offerings made our event truly memorable. If you're looking for a unique, relaxed venue with great food and drinks for any event, we highly recommend Forward Brewing. A big thank you to Naomi and the entire team for helping make our celebration such a wonderful experience!

An experience that we won't forget! Service was excellent and food was great. We tried Cauliflower Tacos, Spicy Potatoes, Smoke II, Grill Cheese Sandwich. Plus a ton of beers 😁. I will tell you all that the service is what I was extremely impressed. If you want to have a great time either with family, couple or just friends this is a most. Even in covid the set up is amazing!

We've been passing by this relatively new brewery/restaurant for a while but only tonight decided to stop. OMG! Its amazing! Hung out in the outdoor area on a pretty summer night and got an amazing Mexican Lager and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. For the meal, shared the Mexican Corn Salad and each of got a couple of Fish Tacos. A good pairing for all. While all of it had a kind of simplicity, it was so very carefully thought out and amazingly delicious. Many patrons seemed to be regulars which contributed to the fun "buzzy" ambiance. The service was really outstanding and it was clear the owners (I think there are three) were there to insure the best experience for everyone. As a bonus to us, they are also very dog friendly. Without a doubt, we're going to be regulars, too, and are really looking forward to returning soon.

Cute spot in the neighborhood across the bridge in Annapolis. Plenty of solid beer options and the food they were bringing out to people looked delicious but didn't try anything. Lots of outdoor seating and enough indoor and patio seating. Friendly staff. Efficient service. Probably would prefer to come here when I come back to Annapolis than only stay on Main St.

A mandatory stop every time we're in Annapolis! Amazing robust beer flavors and delicious food pairings! Some of the best best smoked fish dip we've ever had and oh my that mushroom cheese steak is so crave! Served on a local bakeries, fresh pretzel bun, perfectly balanced

Such a cool place. Beer is great and we love to sit outside. Dog friendly they even have water bowls ready for them great after work place

This perfectly fits the vibe of Eastport! The beer is creative and wonderful! They have a good amount of IPAs that are flavorful and not very bitter. A mango sour that was to die for!!! We also had the pretzel crab dip with pimento cheese . They killed it! Staff was super friendly and engaging. Very chill atmosphere that is perfect for social hangouts but can also be quiet during the day to read a book or do some work over a beer. Highly recommend! We'll be back!

This place is a chill vibe. The chicken tinga tacos were yummy and the May Day sour beer was fire! It's self serve here so service will always be great.

Stopped by here after the kids pirate cruise and before dinner with the family. We parked a couple of blocks away at the Marina parking lot. It's a pay lot, but it's reasonable and you don't have to worry about finding parking on the street. The staff was very accommodating with my kids, even with a napping 3 year old in a stroller. The seating and inside is bright and inviting. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about their product. Their tap list had a decent variety of styles and wasn't full of hazy IPA's which was nice to see! I started with a black IPA Silent is the night. It was 8.6% heavy on the roast and chocolate, but well represented on the piney and citrusy hop side. I thought it was above average and delicious. My second was the Riposo an imperial stout at 11.6% brewed with chocolate and roasted malts, conditioned on biscotti compound. Notes of coffee, dark chocolate and rum soaked banana chips. I found it to be a solid sipper that matched the description, but lacked the complexity and intensity I was hoping for. Still above average and tasty. We were looking at the food menu and decided to snack on a Soft Pretzel - $9.00 - from Dough Boy Fresh Pretzel Co. w/ beer mustard. Add smoked gouda cheese sauce - $1 - It was different than the Bavarian style we are used to at most breweries. It was more of a roll of bread, but flaky and buttery. It was doughy in the middle but the body was more on the thinner flaky side. The smoked gouda cheese was delicious. It had lots of flavor and some smoke to it. Check out the take out fridge before you go ..... I snagged a two pack of Chupez Imperial Mole Stout that wasn't on the tap list. It was an above average brew and a very solid sipper. You can also take brews off the tap list to go in a crowler. I highly recommend spending some daytime/early afternoon hours exploring Eastport (Maritime museum, Pirate Adventure cruise, Cream of Crab soup at Carrols creek plus the nice view of spa creek and the drawbridge) and then enjoying some brews at Forward!

It was my first time stopping by this place today. They also have beer for carryout. They are environmentally conscious and community-minded. I found my favorite beer: Oak and Stone. It is really yummy. Next time, I will stay for food.

Forward Brewing is a modernly nautical spot that's perfect for grabbing a great IPA. We loved their Blue Cat IPA--refreshing and full of flavor. The ambiance is laid-back yet stylish, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy a quality brew. Definitely worth a visit!

Amazing dog-friendly outdoor space with great vibes! We were visiting Annapolis for the weekend with our pup and were on the hunt for dog-friendly food establishments. While we waited for our table at the ever-popular Boat Yard, we swung over to Forward Brewing nextdoor because we had read it wad dog-friendly. It really was! There were so many groups with dogs outside and it was popping on a Saturday night. You order inside (food and drinks) and they'll bring it outside for you. We enjoyed the drafts on tap and nibbled at their delicious potato wedges. Also really appreciated how convenient the water coolers for us and our pup to stay hydrated! Pro tip: if you visit on the weekends, park at Calvert Street Garage (free on weekends) on St. John's campus and take a ~20 minute stroll over the bridge over to Eastport!

Absolutely wonderful. Worth every penny. The beer is fantastic. The quaint, understated atmosphere is amazing and everyone was very friendly. I got the Oktoberfest and the Smoked Fish Melt. Absolutely delicious. 100% recommend for a quick lunch.

Showed up, they were only seating outside due to a private event. No big deal, except that after picking out food and waiting in line to order, we were told they were pausing food orders to due to the people inside (who were just starting to arrive). Very disappointing. Between this and the lack of parking, can not recommend.

Cute brewery with a welcoming inside space and a good sized outdoor section as well. We sat inside but watched plenty of dogs in the outside section. They serve their own beer but have cider options available as well if beer is not your preference. We also ordered a bit of food which was tasty! It's all counter service so if you do order food you'll bring a number back to your table. Overall I would recommend a visit for a casual drink or snack.

After boxing it three times we managed to find street parking. So good luck on that. This place is not big. So sending a search party ahead for space is not a bad idea. Ordering is indoor in a line which is often eclipsed by the line for the bathroom. But I'm not mad about it. We managed to find a barrel table and sent my hubby in search for drinks and food. The only sour was something chocolate and orange and that's a bridge too far. So I got a tasty Pinot Grigio. Hubby started with the black IPA. To mix things up he later had the white IPA and enjoyed both immensely. Food was several levels up from what I was expecting. Started with the pretzel bread. Super yummy. The cheese sauce was tasty. The mustard was awesome and some nice heat. Continued with the Buffalo cauliflower tacos and pollo panino. Both were excellent. Seriously. Great flavors. So impressed with this cute little place in Eastport. Our quest to visit MD breweries continues.

Small but mighty. I love this place. What it lacks for in indoor seating, it makes up for in every other aspect. Friendly staff, good food and most of all, great beer. We met one of the staff members parents at a table and they absolutely wrecked us in Uno. Such nice people. Great staff and service once again. Fun, welcoming atmosphere.

After a wonderful event in the area of even a nice outing with your friends, this is a great place to come get a small bite to eat and some adult beverages. The people behind the counter were so nice and accommodating with all my questions. They have great suggestions as well! So happy they have vegan and pescatarian offerings. I ordered the fish sandwich that comes with chips and a ale. The bread covering the sandwich was a bit thick for my liking and i couldn't finish the chips due to them being way too salty. The drink was perfect! So refreshing!! The pricing is a bit high for some of the small bites but due to the location and being the only brewery in the area, I believe that's how they get away with it. They have indoor and outdoor seating which is lovely! The indoor seating has great heat for a chilly night. Dogs are allowed!! When in Annapolis I would definitely try them out again!

Awful food. We ordered the pretzel which wasn't a pretzel at all, it was a roll. We also ordered the vegan kale Cesar salad with chicken and the chicken was probably the most terrible chicken I have ever eaten in my life. The kale was over saturated with nasty dressing. The beer was mediocre. I wouldn't recommend this spot to anyone local or visiting.

Nice, clean, efficient, and customer service is good.. indoor and outdoor seating available just wish they could have like an outdoor fireplace or pit on nippy nights. Heard they opened when the pandemic hit and I'm glad they were able to stick it out and I was able to join some fellow Elites here after our Capital SUP event... this place was nice very refreshing and the service is fast. I like how you could bring your dog/pet with you very neighborly of them since they are surrounded by homes and other local businesses. Many of us ordered the chicken tacos, pretzels, veggie tacos, smoked fish sandwich which all were tasty. We all ordered some type of beer which was expected since we were at a brewery. I enjoyed the Orange Sun something similar to a blue moon. Will come again

Welcome to the only brewery in Annapolis! I stopped by on a Friday night after an evening spent kayaking at Capital SUP. Let's just say I definitely worked up an appetite for food and a cold beer. The brewery is located adjacent to the main downtown area of Annapolis. I don't come down to Annapolis often but I was pleasantly surprised that this area is a lot less hectic and the parking was much easier. I managed to find a spot on the street almost directly in front of the brewery - not something I expected to find on a Friday night! The inside is very cute and features artwork from local photographer, Jay Fleming. This particular night had perfect weather so the windows were open and the bartenders were serving beer through the open windows to those sitting directly outside - pretty cool! They have a large outdoor area that fills up fast on busy nights. We started by sitting inside and then relocated to outside once a table opened up (they were able to add our names to the list while we waited for outdoor space). The outdoor tables are pretty small and skinny but make for a unique ambiance. Dogs are definitely welcome too! I tried ordering the sour (can't remember the name) but they were all out so I landed on the IPA Sour. I'm not a fan of IPAs (too hoppy usually) but I enjoyed this particular one since it was more sour than IPA. The person behind the counter was kind enough to let me taste it before I ordered a full size. I also ordered the chicken tacos which came with a green crema sauce and crumbly white cheese. Honestly I was SO famished that I barely even had a second to take the photo below, haha! The chicken was well seasoned and pretty spicy, the tortillas were your classic corn consistency. I will say the food here is nothing too special - a few of the folks in my party were a little disappointed with their orders. That being said, this IS a brewery so clearly the specialization here is beer! No one had complaints about their beer and the friendly service and charming atmosphere was enough to keep us all in good spirits! I definitely recommend paying a visit to Forward Brewing if you're looking for tasty brews and friendly service in Annapolis!

If the heart and soul of Eastport could be distilled down into a single spot--arguably it would be Forward. This brewery has become a core part of this community and it is easy to see why. An artisanal selection of beers, foodie-approved appetizers, and a joyfully relaxed culture.

Decided to come here for a dinner out of town, on a Saturday night, coming from DC. The place was hopping but they had spots for the two of us near the front of the indoor seating section. You order up at the bar, including food. They'll serve you your drinks right away and give you a number for your food. I've been to many breweries in the area, and I would say they either have great beer and no food or kind of fine beer and kind of fine food. On the contrary, forward brewing had both excellent beers and excellent food. We split the buffalo cauliflower tacos, potato wedges, and kimchi pork belly sliders. Everything was well cooked, well seasoned, properly dressed, and fresh and super hot. We tried a few of the beers, including the floral shirt, save the bay IPA and took a four pack of silent is the night for home. I like that the kitchen was right there behind the bar. It made for a very honest and transparent appearance about the food preparation. Overall, great night. Hope to find their beers in DC or we'll just have to come back to visit.

Visited a few times after work, decent selection of beers (10 or so). Had a pretty good sour in the summer/fall. Decent food. Smaller inside seating butlre seating outside in the beer garden area. Jake n kevin

We came here Saturday afternoon around 4 for a quick drink before heading out to dinner. I was excited to try the beer that came with a free glass because. Well duh. Free glass but sadly they were all sold out and I wasn't able to choose another that came with a glass so I ordered the bewitched. It was definitely a good tasting stout but I found it to be pretty heavy. My other half got the annapolis boat, his was alright. I thought it lacked something in the body. If they offered flights we would have tried some of others but they only offered short pours so I decided to pass. It was pretty hard to find somewhere to sit. The inside was so packed it was hard to did somewhere to even stand without being in the way. Overall, I'm glad I got to try them but sad i never got a glass. I probably won't be back to be honest.

Honestly disgusted. Every time my family goes here, we think it will get better but it never does... The staff never has a smile on their face which quickly changes the mood of this place. We have been coming here ever since it opened. You would think they would be warm and welcoming especially to those who live local, but they would rather treat you like a stranger no matter how many times you see the same employees. Having an attitude towards your guests is one way to ruin everyone's night. There is no brewery vibe at all. I've gone to enough breweries over the years, and this place is stuck up and preppy. You have to walk on eggshells if you don't want an employee to comment on the way you're eating, sitting. walking, etc. Just not fun. If I could give 0 stars I would.

If you were to daydream about an 'Annapolis Brewery', I believe Forward Brewery would match exactly what you would think up- a quintessential quaint neighborhood friendly backyard, nestled a bit outside downtown Annapolis. Parking was a B*$%#, with a capital B, as there is only street parking, throughout a residential area. Cross your fingers and hope its your lucky day- though your luck may change when you get to the brewery, because there was lots of ample outdoor seating (but ample for smaller parties of 2-4 people, larger parties would find it hard to find group seating). Inside they only have one bar area and a few staff, so the line gets pretty long. The beers were higher priced, compared to other breweries in the area, and flavor-wise nothing really stood out as yummy delicious. The black IPA was very weak, with no hoppy quality. The white IPA tastes like a hefeweizen with a weak crisp. The dry stout was creamy, but light. The dubble had a roasty piney smooth quality. So, overall while it was a beautiful one-time visit with friends; a chance to hang out outdoors, but it definitely isn't a frequent again and again spot for us.

Cute place in Annapolis for good food & good drinks! Lots of outdoor seating and some indoor seating. I really enjoyed the mushroom cheese steak - loved having a more unique vegetarian option that tasted good! I also had a ginger beer which was good! I'm glad they're were nonalcoholic drinks too. Love the casual vibe, would come again!

Great cold brews. Hubby got his ipa and I had the imperial stout . Great food too. I head the grilled pesto chicken sandwich. Hubby had the cubano and salad. Delicious. Definitely be back before leaving the area.

Fantastic little brewery located in quiet Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. A small but varied selection of beers available for enjoying inside the shop or outside in the spacious outdoor seating area. They serve some light food options and are very dog-friendly. As a testament to its popularity, this place was busy even on a weekday afternoon! Well worth a visit.

Second time here, just as good! Got the quesabirria and pollo panino, both delishhh. Nice to sit outside and as we were leaving i think they were starting a trivia night! Will definitely be back to catch that next time :)

Super good place in Eastport (Annapolis). This is exactly the place that Eastport needs. Food menu is good - some vegan options if you're in to that. The beer menu is very good. Nice 16oz servings. Grab a six pack or growler to go. A must drink while you're in the A-town area. -Dennis

Had an AMAZING time at forward brewing. The staff was incredibly friendly, the beer was good, and the food was impressive. We had the crab dip, cheese board, and pretzel- serving sizes were perfect for a group of 4. I loved the mayday beer, and am still talking about it. DEFINITELY give this place a try.

Great brew beer however food sucks. The Mushroom steak is too salty and the taste of soya sauce ( it tasted as such) is too strong 4/10. The Fish melt was OK 4/10 and Chilli sauce in it made no difference. Was also salty. Partner only finished half even though he was hungry. The brews were good 9/10 however plastic container spoilt the fun of drinking lager/E /beer from glassware. Was as if we were in a Stadium watching an empty field. Not a place I'll come back to. Price for the pretzel melts potato wedges and 2 brew/ $60 including tip.

This is a great, local brewery! The beers are tasty and there is a wide array of styles so even a picky beer snob is sure to find something they'll like. Only downside is that I wish there was more indoor seating - there is outdoor seating, but we were there on a chilly winter evening. We were looking forward to trying some of their food, but couldn't snag a seat so we had to pass on food this time (but that didn't stop us from thoroughly enjoying the beer). We also loved the fact that the place has a running club on Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays - they truly care about staying involved with the neighborhood. Thanks for the pint, Forward! We'll definitely be back.

It's a small place and I've only been once but my wife and I loved it. The beers were memorably excellent and we had the smoked trout, which was light but delicious. Can't wait to go back.

Great beers and a solid food menu, especially for a brewery. Super friendly service in a clean atmosphere that is well marketed and consistent. The cheese board left a little to be desired but recommend the Testify IPA and the ceviche!

Visited forward brewing on a recent Friday night and think I found one of my new favorite spots! A smaller brewery tucked on a side-street in Eastport, you may have to spent a bit of time looking for street parking or opt for a nearby paid lot. The indoor space is small, but bright and open. They have a large side yard with plenty of outdoor seating as well. The menu was a pleasant change up for your typical brewery food! They have mostly small plates and and sandwiches. I had the soft pretzel with cheese bad mustard dips which was amazing, followed by the summer vegetarian tacos. The tacos were fresh and delicious, and not your 'basic' taco. Sounds like they mix up their food menu quite a bit, and I'm excited to see what else they cook up for fall! The beer list is fairly extensive and has options to meet most taste profiles. I was thrilled to see several cider and sour beer options. I ended up going with a very nice pale ale, unfortunately, I can't remember the name! The staff was super friendly and accommodating, helping our group move from inside to outside when a table became available. I like that they brew beers to support local spots like the fire department, and that they had several beer collaborations on the menu. Overall, a great casual spot to grab snacks and drinks with friends! Will definitely be back!

Definitely recommend this brewery! The employees are so nice and welcoming and big variety of beers! We came from Jersey for 2 days and definitely will be back here. Thank you for making our first time here a great experience.

Phat Boy Philly here. Recently tried this kewl little spot. I only had the pretzel bread. But it was so good that I needed to write a review just on it. Perfect combination of buttery, flaky, salty, crispy and doughy. Bravo. The only bad thing was the gouda cheese. Way too strong. Wish they had a queso. The rest of the food looked good.

Amazing food, good boat beer! We ordered in the day they opened. We had bikes by and saw a bunch of vegan options and I was interested. I ordered a BCLGS and It was delicious. The roasted veggies and pico de lettuce was so good together. The picked veggies were so crisp. So good. And the cabbage was also good. The food was full of flavor and fresh ingredients. The coconut rice pudding was also incredible with berries and seeds on top. We will definitely be back to try everything else on the menu. Thank you!!

Atmosphere is not very warm or friendly, but their beer is good. There's not much space for socializing and table room is very limited. It's first come first serve, so be there when they open and not a minute later if you want a place to sit. Otherwise, you'll be directed to the back of the brewery to stand awkwardly in front of the doors to their cooler and brewhouse. This place is a big ol' meh.

Great little spot to visit. The beer was amazing as well as some snacks. Service was quick and friendly!

Not much to say about this place other than it was convenient place while waiting for the reservation for lunch down the street. Drinking in an alley in open air and one cannot venture from your barrel unless ur face is covered up and there is a someone watching to make sure you comply. Had 1 ipa and a pretzel before lunch called me away. People were gathering either at tables of in roped off pens which was weird since you were standing next to another group with just a rope between you and them?? Not sure you can seriously be worried about someone without a mask walking from the ordering window in open air and then separate others with a rope? Of course science is not respected here or any where else, just get on an airline and find yourself sitting 18" away from 8 people!

Cute brewery! Delicious beers, pretty decent food selection (can't comment on quality we did not eat, but saw many others order). Nice outdoor area as well that I'm sure gets packed on the weekends and in warm weather

cute little place, food is good, beer selection is good, bringing my dog is awesome. parking is a nightmare, as it is all over these days. atmosphere is not quite as fun as it could be, but give it some time.

Looking for a dog friendly brewery that serves great beer and delicious food? Look no further! Forward Brewing is just a few blocks away from the downtown Annapolis main strip and has outdoor seating so your fur babies can join in on the fun. They offer a wide variety of highly rated drinks - beers, ciders, seltzers. Save room for snacks because their food is so good! We built our own charcuterie board with pimiento cheese (absolutely get this!), la mancha, prosciutto, and smoked salmon (get this too!). We finished the crackers pretty quickly and they brought freshly baked baguette crackers for us! Originally my bf and I ordered a pretzel to split..do yourselves a favor and order one for just yourself! We ended up ordered a second pretzel because it was just that good. The cheese dip and mustard was honestly some of the best I've had. Did I come for the drinks or the food? The answer is both!

Great food and great vibe! Highly recommend the tomato soup and kale Caesar. Beers were phenomenal and the service was quick and friendly.

I'm so excited, I recently shifted to a healthy lifestyle so while not vegan I'm predominantly plant based and OMG the mushroom "steak" and cheese was delicious, I'd recommend asking to get the aioli on it, hubby tried the tinga tacos and loved them, I drank flavored kombucha (strawberry lavender) delish and hubby had fresh brewed (yes it's a brewery too) he loved it, we are definitely coming back, I need to try the cauliflower tacos oh and lastly but certainly not least all of the staff were so welcoming- awesome experience

Big fan! The crab roll was fresh and delicious and the beer is outstanding. Service was great! Feels like a bright and airy coffee shop but it's a brewery. Indoor seating is a little limited but arrive early and enjoy a bite or beer.

Delicious food and beer. Options change often and sell out quickly so get their specials while you can. We've liked everything we've tried. Unique takes on common offerings plus run of the mill things like a grilled cheese done perfectly. The beer is awesome and they offer local wine sometimes as well. Like so many neighbors, we're already regulars and so glad they're there!