De Kleine Duivel

A great selection of beers both on tap and in bottle form. The bartender let us taste a few before making our selections, which was very helpful having never tasted half of the beers on the tap menu.
It’s great that the management lets you bring in your own food. I will be back, with food next time, to help balance out the high alcohol content of the Belgian beer. I’m always looking for a low key place to grab a beer and not be driven out by loud obnoxious music or pretentious customers; this place fits the bill.

Keep your phone handy so you can use it as a flashlight to read the extensive Belgian beer list in the too-​dim lighting. But that’s really my only complaint — the beer is I prefer Belgian style beers, but at this place, that doesn’t mean much — everything on the list is from Belgium, so it’s as diverse as an American beer bar. Just better. Much, much better. And they do it right — each drink in the properly shaped glass for the particular beer, so you’re really getting the full flavor profile of each drink. Since the menu is so large, it is split by type of beer, so look for a style you know you like, and try something new!

The beer list is amazing, and well priced, but the bartenders make this a great spot. Scott and Megan are genuinely cool people and know thier beer & cocktails. They made great recommendations.

The beer selection was tremendous. A huge menu of Belgian brews at decent prices. Bartender didn’t know prices of items and had no computer to tell him, so manually calculated on paper from menu.
The atmosphere was nice, fairly loud but we could still maintain regular conversation.

An absolutely fantastic addition to the Baltimore beer scene, DKD has quickly become a favorite. I am actually not even that much of a Belgian beer fan, and this place is authentic. If it is not made in Belgium, they do not carry it. But their selection is simply superb. Even if not strictly a Belgian fan, there will be something here for almost anyone.
The staff is exceptionally knowledgable and seem to enjoy their craft. It has a feel of yesteryear, when bartending was a profession, not just a part-​time job. I have been here a number of times and have always been treated well.
The space itself is just what I like: woody, on the darker side, and no television (though I hear they do show the Tour de France). It is also spacious, with a sparse décor that really allows the space to be felt and absorbed.
Right off 36^th Street, DKD is accessible. Check it out.

This place is a great spot to grab some quality Belgian beer, and I do mean Belgian — No Belgian ‘style’ beers here, this place serves the real deal. Their selection is very, very good, and perhaps even more impressive is that they have the glassware to back it up. I’d be amazed if you ordered a beer and they didn’t have the glass for it. Unfortunately, they don’t sell any of their glassware although that’s probably good for my wallet.
The prices are a tad higher given the area, but don’t let that detract you from going — it’s par for the course for Belgian beer and Hampden in general. I chatted with the owner (manager?) one day and I believe he said that the building used to be some kind of theater in the 1920’s or 30’s. The lighting is very dim and the décor is pretty hip and modern (I guess?). Usually someone has their iPod hooked up playing some kind of chill, electronic music. It suits the atmosphere well. There’s lots of open room and a few tables scattered around the walls. The bar is pretty large and the bartenders are all attentive. They all seem knowledgeable and I’ve had some beer-​nerd discussions with them.
Overall, if you’re looking for a bar to grab some Belgian beer and/​or a cool spot to take a date or meet up with some friends, this is the place. They don’t serve food, but it’s Hampden — there’s a ton of great restaurants within eyesight. Definitely worth checking out.

Quite Lynchian in most aspects. In situ the feeling is that one could be in PA, Pacific NW, Olde Bavaria, (Belgium, sure!), etc… it’s like a movie set that has long been left desolate and is now haunted by ghosts. I don’t drink beer, so that’s what I got out of it.

Super fun bar with great service. The selection of beer is pretty good. I love the ambience. It’s a great place to enjoy a beer and catch up with friends!

I have delayed my review for well over a year, wondering what changes DKD might undergo. However, I have given up and learned to simply love the bar. It’s perfect just as it is. Maybe one day we’ll get better décor, more live music, or a kitchen. Or not. Who cares? I was the first customer to order a beer at this bar and I am here several days a week. I have no regrets for the time I’ve spent here. Come for the delicious Belgian beer and the professionalism and dedication of the staff. Don’t fret over anything else.

De Kleine Duivel is a bar just off the main strip in Hampden. They specialize in Belgian beers, with several on draft and many more by the bottle. They don’t sell food, alas, but apparently they don’t mind if your bring it in (BYOF?) We were there on a busy Friday night during a charity event that was selling pizza slices to raise funds. There are many tables scattered throughout, but service seems only to be done at the bar. There is an extensive beer list (of course) but I just asked for something dark and malty for my wife. The attentive bartender offered me two samples from their drafts, and both were excellent so I ordered a glass of both. It would have been nice if the bartender said, «By the way, this one is 10%» before he blithely handed it to me, but it was delicious. While this bar could benefit from table service, and actual food, the only other real detriment is the dim lighting is kept so low it can be difficult reading the beer info scrawled on the chalkboard behind the bar. A great place to get your drink on, by design, but be careful what you order.

We were looking for a place to get a drink Sat night and pleasantly surprised to find this bar in Hampden. Our other option would have been Love and Regret which also has a large selection of beer and this place has a very different vibe. The place looks like a big hall with a large bar area and tables around it. The whole place has a casual atmosphere. I see people bringing boxes of pizza since they do not serve food. We sat at the bar area and tried a few Belgian beers and they were really good the price was very reasonable. I saw the bartender offering samples of beer of other customers since they serve beers that we are not familiar with. A perfect place for a low-​key hang out with a bunch of friends. It would have been nice if they served food such as Belgian waffles or pommes frites for a late night snack.

This was a great find. Over 200 different Belgian beers available (8 – 10 on tap and the rest in bottles). The place is large, so there is ample seating. Plus, since they don’t serve food, feel free to bring your own.

De Kleine Duivel is a funky little joint tucked in one of the side roads that connect to The Avenue in Hampden. There’s not much in terms of signage save for some random signs on the sidewalks pointing to building in which De Kleine Duivel resides.
You go up the stairs and then go in the glass doors immediately to the left. Upon entering, you see a bar directly across from you in the huge room. The room is pretty barebones (just tables and chairs) with a touch of retro vibe. Don’t expect to see any TVs showing football games or what not either… quite simply, this place is all about the beer and about conversations between friends and drinking-​buddies.
Anyhow, my friends and I came by here randomly on a Sunday. One of my friends wanted to go to the Food Market for drinks but as they were closed, we walked down a block to De Kleine Duivel, a place I had heard good things about from another friend who lives nearby. It was just before dinner and the beer hall was completely empty except for the bartender.
We sat at the bar (tip: there are hooks under the bar to hang your coats/bags…they are just hard to see) and were promptly given the beer menu. It’s a significant menu: one page – front and back – of beers listed in a tiny font, categorized by style. The only other place in Baltimore that had a comparable beer selection was Max’s. Unlike Max’s, however, the focus is only on Belgian beers and ciders and are mostly served from bottles.
I noticed there were a few taps at the bar so I asked the bartender what beers are available on tap. He directed my attention to the chalkboard behind the bar that listed everything on tap and explained the style of each beer, along with flavor notes, and such. It was very helpful… and I was really impressed with the bartender’s knowledge; I’ve never had a bartender or server explain to me the beers available much like a great sommelier might do with wine. Plus, the bartender never seemed to be condescending or snobbish either. Anyways, after talking with the bartender, I ended up with a Christmas beer which was fantastic.
Unfortunately, we had to go elsewhere for dinner so couldn’t stay long but it was a fun place to be at.
Overall, I enjoyed my time at the beer hall and expect to go back at some point. It has a bit of an underground hipster-​vibe to it (with so little signage, it’s almost for those «in the know»). If you don’t know anything about Belgians, it might be a little overwhelming at first. I mean, I’m no stranger to Belgian beers, but even I was a little shell-​shocked at all the options available here! But it’s truly a gem if you are into Belgian beers.

I have been here a few times and it is always fine. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and it is nice and quiet, with an occasional dog running around, which is fine with me. It has a long bar with every variation of beer glass for every variation of Belgian beer, with a menu that will make you dizzy. It’s a nice place to catch up with friends and try new beer.

Some of us are of the opinion that Belgian beer is so far superior, those other countries should just pack up their equipment and go home. You can keep your quadruple-​hopped IPA, your iced water with lime and your chocolate-​ice-​cream stout. I will be right here luxuriating the infinitely complex range of sweet and sour, light and dark, strong and foamy, that this ingenious little country continues to dream up while the rest of us are banging our heads against the tank.
The evening I was lucky enough to go to De Kleine Duivel, for instance, I enjoyed a Flanders red that mixed tangy fruit notes with luscious creamy smoothness. My husband had an inky-​black strong ale with hints of coffee and toasted grain. My brother had a golden effervescent tower of fragrant banana-​scented foam. Okay, in reality I drank all three of those beers. Can you blame me?! Belgian beer has something to please every drinker in every mood, even if that mood changes hourly.
Lest you think I would rate any Belgian beer hall this highly, however, I have to say something about the ambience and the service. It’s a nicely-​understated interior, a single room that feels much smaller thanks to the booths and tables that give structure to the space. The focus is the bar, where they serve craft cocktails as well; a huge antiqued mirror, fresh flowers and candles add class. There is an entire wall dedicated to glassware, as Belgian ales are properly served in a wide variety of vessels. Patrons are fairly quiet and the music is unobtrusive. The bartenders enjoy what they serve and are knowledgeable enough to direct you toward something you will enjoy — I jealously watched them create a custom six-​pack for a patron who was heading to the beach for the weekend. In short, it is the PERFECT place to discover or nurture a love for Belgian beer.
Word to the wise: though they do allow you to order from a nearby restaurant, they don’t serve food here. Belgians can be highly alcoholic, so eat before you arrive!

Atmosphere a little dark overall but great recommendations from the staff with little information!

For a beer hall with a single focus, De Kleine Duivel (the little devil) does it perfectly. All Belgian beers, served up in proper glassware in a proper bar. With a strict focus — no «Belgian-​style» American craft beers here. This is the real deal. Abbey ales, sours, lambics, gueuze, oude ales, witbier, fruit beers, faro, Saison… The bottle list runs both sides of a sheet in rather small type, along with ABV, size, and price.
A further eight tap heads offer a rotating selection of drafts as well. The bar staff are affable and efficient. There’s good music too, at a level that doesn’t interfere with conversation.
The only drawback of a place like this can be the clientele. Beer snobbery is an unfortunate thing, and insidious hipster judgmentalism from fellow patrons is a risk you might have to take to start delving into the selection.
My recommendation — expose yourself to some craft beers, and then go in and ask the bartender for an introduction to the Belgian styles that are similar to the ones you already enjoy. If you’re already familiar with dubbels, tripels, saisons, and lambics, dive right in and ask for a suggestion on a beer you haven’t tried before. And screw that guy with the facial hair two stools down who rolls his eyes when you ask what a kriek is.

I’ve been here a handful of times now. The atmosphere is cozy and u can get gourmet pizza delivered from art house pizza. It’s a great place to come and catchup with friends or to have a nice romantic date and I’ve done both. I feel so comfortable here I would/​could also come and drink alone since the bartender is so nice and remembers my beer. lol.
Good beers and good times.

The bf and I have been here 3x. Every time (it does not matter if they are busy or not) we are greeted and feel welcome. The. Beer is yummy, strong and filling. So I can’t wait until they are allowed to serve food because I can’t have more than 2 beers here without feeling light headed!
One thing to note. Do not come here and try and order a Belgian style beer… They ONLY carry beer actually from Belgium. That’s their niche and I respect that!

Ah, I remember the days when you couldn’t get Belgian beer on tap in the US. Times have definitely changed for the better. It’s common to see draft Belgian beer at a lot of places now, even places that don’t specialize in craft beer. Well, DKD does, and you Baltimoreans (did I get that right?) are lucky to have it.
The bartender who served us was friendly and was quite knowledgeable about what he was selling. I couldn’t resist the St. Bernardus Quad, not having had it in a long time. Actually, it’s possible that that occasion was in Belgium, and DKD would fit right in there. I like the no-​frills atmosphere which really gives it an air of European authenticity.
With such a great selection, there is a beer here for everyone, even for those who don’t think that they like beer. Careful: DKD could convert you!
If you come hungry, ask to see the Alehouse menu. I’m not sure what kind of arrangement the two places have, but I’m sure that your bartender will.