Ravens bar of the week: Max's Taphouse

is a beer lover's nirvana.

There are selections from across the world, rare brews, cask-conditioned ales, and a collection of some 1,200 bottled beers in stock. In total, there are 140 rotating drafts and five hand-pumped cask ales. It is not a sports bar, per se, but the bar also has 17 flat-screen TVs scattered over its sprawling location in Fells Point.

When the Ravens play the Texans this Sunday, Max's is likely to be the only place in town where you'll be able to watch the game and have your pick of Belgian IPAs. On Sunday, it'll also be the last day of Baltimore Beer Week, so the bar will be especially packed.

Drinks:

Amateurs and beer geeks have their pick of flavors at Max's. There are brews like

Stillwater Debutante, that the geeks can appreciate, and friendlier fare like Brewer's Art Resurrection. Regional brewers — like Heavy Seas, Flying Dog, in addition to Brewer's and Stillwater — are also widely represented. On game day, a nice selection of 32-ounce drafts are just $6.

Food:

Max's has an ample menu of bar grub that's more polished than you'd expect. There's a Shroom and Swiss burger ($10.75) and a peanut satay chicken wrap ($9.75). Prices start at $3.25, for the fries in a basket, and go as high as $14 for the garlic mussels. On game day, nachos and wings are half-price.

Décor:

Spread out over two floors, Max's is one of the most inventively decorated bars in the city. Its owner, Ron Furman, uses architectural salvage — including the tail section of an old purple Chevy — for decor. Also, the flooring upstairs comes from the Seagram's Distillery in Dundalk, and the floor siding is made out of bobbins from a defunct sewing factory. And Furman bought wood from the burnt Clipper Mill's former beams to make cabinets, tables, walls and even flooring. Every season, the bar comes up with a new window display.

Distance from stadium:

Max's is about 15 minutes away from M&T Bank Stadium by car. You can also take a combination of buses and the Baltimore metro for a twice-as-long commute from Fells Point.

Parking:

Fells offers mainly street metered parking.

If you go:

is at 737 S. Broadway. Call 410-675-6297 or go to maxs.com. The bar is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

erik.maza@baltsun.com

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