Mark’s Score 8.4
Craft Brewing is an important part of the fabric of life here in Delmarva. It is also a significant business and employer. If you are going to write a blog about Delmarva, you cannot ignore the dozens of local craft brewers. I am not a big beer drinker, in fact, my taste in beer begins and ends with wheat and sour beers. I am also a light weight, one beer, and I am done. So, I may not be your best guide, for rating breweries. When I rate breweries, I am rating not only their beer, but their food and the overall experience.
Evolution is the largest and best-known brewer in the Salisbury area. It is part of the Southern Boys franchise (see SoBo’s review), owned by the brothers John and Tom Knorr. Tom has a passion for craft brewing and John’s passion is food. Evolution Craft Brewery is their showcase location for Tom’s crafting abilities. The Public House is where John works his magic to create the perfect marriage of food and beer, creating recipes designed to complement the beer, using quality ingredients sourced from local farmers and watermen. Many of the dishes served at the Public House include Evo beer in the recipe.
Like SoBo’s, Evolution Public House is in my neighborhood, and therefore a place I have visited multiple times over the years. The brewery is located next to the railroad tracks running through town. They no longer do this, but if you happened to be in the brewery when a train passed, they used to offer a discount on a rye whisky shot. I am not a whisky man, but it was a fun little routine that gave the bar a neighborhood pub atmosphere.
The great thing about the Public House is that you have an opportunity to try some of their seasonal specialty beers that are made in small batches and only sold at the Public House. Brew pubs tend to offer the same old same old food items, their brewers, not chefs. The Public House is an exception to that rule. The combined skills of Tom and John create a unique pub experience. I would have to say that Evo Public House has the most interesting and extensive food menu of any brew house in the area. I do not have enough space here to go through the dishes I have tried at Evo, but I especially love their deviled eggs, parm fries, crispy Brussels, and their club sandwich. I am an adventurous eater, so I am loathe to admit that more often than not I order the club. So much so, the bartender now assumes that will be my order when I walk in.
Evo can rightly claim the title is the lead brewer in Salisbury, the combination of good food and beer make a perfect gathering place with friends, and if you are there on a Saturday, take the brew tour, you won’t be sorry.
Leave a Reply