Peabody Heights Brewery: Come for the Beer, Stay for the Button Mashing Family Friendly Fun
If you're looking for a spot in Baltimore to hang out that has great beer, cool history and fun vibes, Peabody Heights Brewery is the place to visit next time you find yourself in Baltimore. I checked it out recently with my retro gaming daughter for a fun daddy-daughter night out. I already knew Peabody Heights had great beer, but everyone was always whispering in my ear that I needed to visit the tap room and Dugout Arcade. I am glad I finally did. It lived up to the hype and recommendations, for the beer, for the history, for the games and for the atmosphere.
Let’s start with the beer (because obviously, that’s what we’re all about). Peabody Heights has an impressive tap list that covers all the bases. Hands down, one of their most well-known beers is Astrodon, a 7% Hazy with notes of citrus and Grapefruit that will satisfy almost any IPA fan. If you’re from Baltimore, you probably already know it’s a classic. But a couple of other beers really stood out during my visit:
Feral Bloom American Pale Ale – It’s a 5.5% ABV pale ale with light, floral flavors. Super refreshing, hazy and easy to drink.
H8erade – A 4% grape sour that tastes like the vineyards of Boordy smacked me in the face, but with actual electrolytes, so I made myself believe I was being healthy while drinking it. It’s different, in a really good way.
Whether you like IPAs, sours, lagers, pilsners or stouts, Peabody has something you’ll love.
It would be wrong of me to not bring up the history of this spot. One of the coolest things about Peabody Heights is that it’s located on the site of Old Orioles Park, where the original Orioles used to play, before it burned down in 1944. Being on hallowed ground where baseball legends such as Babe Ruth once played makes any visit extra special for baseball enthusiasts. The whole brewery has a passion for the Baltimore Orioles, and you’ll definitely feel that hometown pride when you’re there. Watching a game on the TVs with a cold beer in hand just hits different when you’re that close to Baltimore baseball history. (Sadly the Orioles got clobbered by the Cincinnati Reds on the evening of my visit)
But Peabody Heights isn’t just about beer and history—it’s also home to the Dugout Arcade, and this place is awesome. You pay once ($12 on weeknights and $15 on the weekends) and get to play all the games you want. We’re talking old-school classics like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, Asteroid, and Tapper. There are also classic pinball machines, racing simulators, fighting classics, dancing games and a lot more. It’s not very often you can watch two guys casually drinking a beer at the bar while competing against each other in N64 Mario Kart. Pretty cool stuff for a nerd like me. It’s a perfect setup for families too—kids can play for hours while parents chill with a beer and play some games themselves, proving to their kids how dominant we can be on the machines of yesteryear. One of the highlights for my daughter was setting the high scores on a few of her favorite retro games, Ms. Pacman and Donkey Kong, Jr.
Outside, there's a laid-back dining area with food trucks that switch out regularly. While we were there, we saw a melting pot of Maryland beer lovers from all walks of life just hanging out and having a good time. They were chatting with their friends and loved ones at picnic tables without a care in the World. It really showcases how a cold beer and a fun arcade game can bring everyone together.
Peabody Heights Brewery felt like a mini version of Maryland itself. Diverse, full of life, casual and friendly. Peabody Heights is more than just a place to have a beer. It’s a chill, family-friendly hangout spot with good beers, cool vibes, and a deep connection to Baltimore’s roots. Whether you go for the beer, the games, the history, or just some Shitty Trivia on a Wednesday night (yes, its a thing), you’re going to love it here.
