Sam Adams

Sam Adams carried the label of underachiever when he arrived in Baltimore eight months ago. Now he's hailed as a Pro Bowl candidate. Back then, he was largely unappreciated. Now, he's widely regarded as a vital cog at the heart of the NFL's best defense. It has been a curious transformation for the veteran defensive tackle, who signed a four-year, $20 million free-agent contract with the Ravens in April after six mostly unfulfilled seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Having reinvented himself in Baltimore - or at least reshaped the way people view him - Adams, 27, answered his critics the only place that mattered.

Frank & Nic's West End Grille is offering something different for Valentine's Day - a beer dinner. Featuring Sam Adams brews, the four-course dinner will be served at 8 p.m. on Feb. 14. The menu begins with a carrot, ginger and crab soup followed by a scotch egg. The main course is veal scallopini with a Boston Lager demi-glace, and the dessert course is hard-cider baked apples with vanilla paired ice cream. A Samuel Adams representative will be on hand to guide the dinner and for beer chats.

The Ravens see a couple of reasons why the Washington Redskins would want to run the ball Sunday. But the Ravens provide about 670 big suggestions why they shouldn't. With Redskins star receiver Michael Westbrook out for the season and veteran wide-out Irving Fryar out for Sunday, the Ravens are anticipating a run-first attack with featured back Stephen Davis. It's a challenge that has the Ravens licking their chops, especially their defensive tackles - 340-pound Tony Siragusa and 330-pound Sam Adams - a total of 670 pounds.

Bo Burnham at Loyola: The off-color and politically incorrect YouTube sensation will serenade the Loyola community with some of his comedic ballads, such as “I'm Bo Yo” and “New Math.” 9 p.m. Friday, Reitz Arena, Loyola University Maryland. $20. Available at the Loyola University Box Office. GirlTalk and Sam Adams at Towson: With GirlTalk's mind-blowing mashups and Sam Adams' catchy combination of rap and dance music, TU's Homecoming Concert might be the dance party of the fall.

Their rallying cry is derived from a shared past, a history of overcoming skepticism about their abilities. Rob Burnett was considered a liability after his knee surgery. Tony Siragusa was believed to be overweight and one-dimensional. Michael McCrary was pegged as too small to play end. And Sam Adams was labeled an underachiever. Together, these Ravens turned away the doubts and became the NFL's most fearsome front four. On the field, they're brothers in arms. Off it, they're brothers squabbling.

A couple of weeks ago, I featured some outdoor drinking spots where you can ice your glasses. Now, it's time to pimp your cup. Though this city is better known for Mr. Boh's famous one-eyed wink than its list of high-end beverages, it does have some swanked-out swills. Here's a sampling: At Max's on Broadway (737 S. Broadway, 410-675-6297), you can wow your palate and lighten your wallet with a $200 bottle of Sam Adams Utopia. Billed as the world's strongest commercial beer, it's 24 percent alcohol and comes in a replica container that looks like a copper kettle.

Thumbs up: Defensive end Dwayne Missouri had a couple of impressive pass rushes during full-squad drills, drawing praise from the defensive coaches. Thumbs down: The first-string offense struggled to find open spots against the first-string defense in seven-on-seven drills. Quarterback Elvis Grbac often had to hold the ball longer than he normally would have. Trainer's room: Defensive back Pete Destefano (ankle) left practice early. Defensive tackle Sam Adams (swollen knee) did not practice.

Elvis Grbac With the loss of running back Jamal Lewis, Grbac finds himself in a situation similar to last year with the Kansas City Chiefs -- having to carry the offensive load. Sam Adams Adams was dominant against the run and impossible to block one-on-one last year. He was voted to the Pro Bowl as a starter after making a career-high 69 tackles. Other than Ray Lewis, Adams is the most important player on the defense. Tailback Terry Allen, Jason Brookins or Moe Williams will have to perform well enough to augment the passing game.

THE RAVENS should have spent the last two days on the telephone talking with the agents for free-agent defensive tackle Sam Adams. They should have looked over the $2.5 million to $3 million salary they offered Adams recently, and increased the ante. If it means putting more money into the signing bonus, then do it. If it means adding some incredibly easy attainable incentive clauses, then be creative and get it done. This is not to suggest that the Ravens should drastically overpay Adams, but it's time to get back into the serious hunt for a player whose presence is sorely missed.

Bo Burnham at Loyola: The off-color and politically incorrect YouTube sensation will serenade the Loyola community with some of his comedic ballads, such as “I'm Bo Yo” and “New Math.” 9 p.m. Friday, Reitz Arena, Loyola University Maryland. $20. Available at the Loyola University Box Office. GirlTalk and Sam Adams at Towson: With GirlTalk's mind-blowing mashups and Sam Adams' catchy combination of rap and dance music, TU's Homecoming Concert might be the dance party of the fall.

Pittsburgh mash-up artist Girl Talk, aka Gregg Gillis, will headline Towson University's homecoming concert on Sept. 18 in the Towson Center, reports the Towerlight . Boston rapper Sam Adams will also perform. Campus Activities Board Director Sam Silverman told the school paper that Girl Talk's "style brings a different energy to the show. In this case, it'll be like one huge interactive party.” Silverman also mentioned decorations will include confetti and toilet paper, adding to the overall "party" vibe.

Public service requires some personal sacrifice, but this is extreme: forcing a man to keep bottles and bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape all to himself, instead of reaping sure glory in the Highlandtown winemaking competition. Such is the sad fate of Steve Fogleman, who became chairman of the Baltimore liquor board yesterday, and in so doing, gave up his chance to be crowned East Baltimore's most prestigious home vintner. Fogleman's new job doesn't explicitly prevent him from entering the competition, part of Sunday's Highlandtown Wine Festival.

A couple of weeks ago, I featured some outdoor drinking spots where you can ice your glasses. Now, it's time to pimp your cup. Though this city is better known for Mr. Boh's famous one-eyed wink than its list of high-end beverages, it does have some swanked-out swills. Here's a sampling: At Max's on Broadway (737 S. Broadway, 410-675-6297), you can wow your palate and lighten your wallet with a $200 bottle of Sam Adams Utopia. Billed as the world's strongest commercial beer, it's 24 percent alcohol and comes in a replica container that looks like a copper kettle.

The Ravens' surprising loss of Sam Adams won't be any free agent's immediate gain. After learning of Adams' signing with the Oakland Raiders yesterday, the Ravens indicated they would not splurge away their remaining cap room on a thin free-agent market. Ravens officials have had discussions about re-signing fullback Sam Gash and have continued talks with receiver Antonio Freeman, but both would be brought in as only backups. "We're prepared to go to battle with what we've got," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.

THE RAVENS should have spent the last two days on the telephone talking with the agents for free-agent defensive tackle Sam Adams. They should have looked over the $2.5 million to $3 million salary they offered Adams recently, and increased the ante. If it means putting more money into the signing bonus, then do it. If it means adding some incredibly easy attainable incentive clauses, then be creative and get it done. This is not to suggest that the Ravens should drastically overpay Adams, but it's time to get back into the serious hunt for a player whose presence is sorely missed.

Bone-jarring hits, defensive leadership and that funky little dance. Those are things Ravens fans have grown accustomed to seeing from All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis since the team drafted him out of the University of Miami in 1996. His supporters - and his teammates - are pleased those traits will be around for a while longer, thanks to a seven-year, $50 million deal Lewis and the Ravens reached yesterday. "He's the best player there is," said Rick Wagner, who toted an autographed mini-football in one hand and a Ravens Super Bowl yearbook under the other arm, at Ravens' training camp.

ONE OF THE AREA'S most active publishers of children's books uses cardboard cereal boxes, donated fabric and household sewing machines to bind its publications.Paw Print Press, run by parents at Clemens Crossing Elementary School, publishes exclusively the work of students at the Hickory Ridge school. Last year, its first, the press published more than 200 titles, said project director Lori Jenner. This year she hopes to double that number.Students in every grade can submit poetry, fiction or nonfiction.

The Ravens didn't allow Sam Adams to fly the coop. After talks had broken off Friday night, the free-agent defensive tackle sat at Baltimore-Washington International Airport yesterday morning and planned to take a 9: 30 flight to Green Bay, where he was prepared to sign. But the Ravens called Adams on his cell phone and agreed on a deal about an hour before he was to board. Dressed in a gold suit, Adams arrived at the Owings Mills complex in a BWI taxi at 11 a.m. and sported a black Ravens cap before the draft began.

As contract extension talks with linebackers Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware linger, the Ravens are becoming less confident about their chances of re-signing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sam Adams. Team officials spoke with the linebackers' agents on Thursday but said there has been no progress made this week. With the second round of free agency officially beginning on Monday, the Ravens are going to be locked out of the market until either Lewis or Boulware agrees to a restructuring of his contract.

The other night, I treated myself to an after-dinner drink. It was a dark, rich beverage poured from a handsome decanter. It reminded me of one of my favorite after-dinner libations, vintage port. What I was sipping however, was an after-dinner beer. It was Sam Adams Utopias MMII, brewed by the Boston Beer Co. It is the latest example of the increasingly complex and unconventional bottled beers made by a few craft brewers that are being distributed nationally. These are not mass-market beverages.