For some people, their dream destination is Disney World. For beer lovers, it is absolutely World of Beer.
Something exciting has happened outside of Annapolis Mall. The old Applebee’s location has officially been reborn as World of Beer, and judging by the crowd when we visited, people were more than ready to trade dollar margs for craft beer heaven.
This new spot opened just last week, making it the first World of Beer location in Anne Arundel County. We stopped by right after work on a Friday night, and the place was already packed, loud, and buzzing in the best way. You could feel the collective joy of people mentally clocking out for the weekend and physically clocking into good food and good beer.
World of Beer does not mess around when it comes to selection. There are around 40 beers on tap and more than 300 varieties available in bottles and cans. The menu covers all the bases, including stouts, IPAs, lagers, light beer, ciders, seltzers, cocktails, wine, and spirits. If you enjoy beer, love beer, are curious about beer, or are simply tagging along with someone who loves beer, you will find something here.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm, which is honestly the kind of information we all need more of in our lives.
Happy Hour Highlights
- $4 select drafts
- $5 select drafts
- $7 select spirits
- $7 select wines
- $7 select shareables
Yes, we took advantage.
The Food
For our shareables, we ordered the mac and cheese bites, the loaded taters, and the crab rangoon dip. This is the correct order and I stand by it.
The mac and cheese bites were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and clearly not something that came out of a freezer bag. The spicy pepper jack mac and cheese is hand rolled in herbed panko breadcrumbs and fried to perfection. The sriracha lime aioli deserves its own fan club.
The loaded taters were exactly what you want them to be. Crispy tater tots smothered in house made beer cheese, topped with fresh jalapenos, applewood smoked bacon, scallions, and drizzled with sour cream. Zero notes. No changes. We inhaled these in .25 seconds.
We also ordered the crab rangoon dip because only absolute maniacs (and people allergic to shellfish) dislike crab rangoon. This creamy blue crab dip is baked, topped with sweet chili sauce, and served with wonton chips. It was rich, indulgent, and impossible to stop eating.
Bringing kids along? No problem. World of Beer offers crowd pleasers like flatbreads, sliders, chicken tenders, and other kid approved options that make family outings easy.
The best part is that none of the food tasted like it was reheated in a microwave, which is a real risk at sports bars. Everything tasted fresh, hot, and intentionally made. This is bar food that cares about its reputation.
Beer and More
On the beer front, I tried the Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA NA, a low alcohol option at 0.5 percent ABV. Finding a non alcoholic beer on draft is still surprisingly rare, and this one was genuinely delicious. Balanced, hoppy, and satisfying without making you feel like you are missing out.
I also had the Secret Llama Winter Lager, a German bock with a 7.1 percent ABV. It had a subtle spice and warmth that felt perfect for cold weather and post work relaxation.
If beer is not your thing, World of Beer has you fully covered. There are seltzers, ciders, hard teas, canned cocktails, fresh cocktails, mocktails, and wine. The Strawberry Margarita is bright, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink, made with Patrón Reposado, strawberry purée, pineapple juice, and fresh lime. They even have shots if your Friday night plans escalate quickly.
As someone who grew up on Mountain Dew and still hears “I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew” echoing in my soul, the Hard Mountain Dew Baja Blast cocktail is absolutely on my list for the next visit.
World of Beer feels like exactly what this area needed. A lively, welcoming spot with an impressive drink menu, genuinely good food, and the kind of energy that makes you want to stay longer than planned.
Whether you are a serious beer enthusiast, a casual happy hour fan, or just someone looking for a fun place to meet up with friends, this spot delivers. Annapolis, your new after work hangout has arrived.
Don’t Bug Out Over Head Lice or Bed Bugs