Oxford Brewing Company - Oxford Class Ale

Oxford Class ale is brewed with two row pale, crystal, carapils, amber, caramel 60 and caramel 20 malts! Oxford hops up this medium-bodied English treat with both Tettnang and Northern Brewer hops. Recently named Baltimore’s Best Local Beer by the Baltimore City Paper, the Oxford Class Ale is medium to full-bodied with a very dark copper to almost amber color. We noted a very well rounded body that suggested hints of a banana esteriness from the yeast and perhaps a bit of chamomile on the nose. Look for a big malty flavor which is pleasantly complemented with just the right amount of hop bitterness. We loved it! Note a slightly lingering bitter hop finish.

The Oxford Brewing Company was originally founded under the name British Brewing Company in Baltimore in 1986 and was the first microbrewery in the mid-Atlantic. The company was started by two British blokes – Craig Stuart-Paul and Steve Parkes – who selected Baltimore because of its large metropolitan area (including nearby Washington, DC) and excellent quality local water for brewing. The company’s mission? To produce classic British style ales which would be better than imports because they were fresher – "American Beer with a British Accent". We elected to feature the breweries original flagship beer this month, Oxford Class Ale.

The British Brewing Company was sold in 1994 and was renamed the Oxford Brewing Company. The boys have continued to brew the classic British styles and occasionally through out a new trick to the public such as Oxford Raspberry Wheat, a loose interpretation of a classic Belgian ale which is made with real raspberries. We really enjoyed the brewery’s interpretation of classic English Ales and are very excited to bring you their complex and flavorful Oxford class ale this month. Enjoy!