Yesterday we toasted the 4-year anniversary of our engagement. Amtrak delivered us to Penn Station and within 20 minutes we (and our suitcases) were at Rattle and Hum, named by Draft Magazine as 1 of the top 100 beer bars in the U.S. We discovered brewery decor galore and a chalkboard boasting 40 beers on tap plus 1 cask.
Kelly ordered Pearl Street's Dankenstein Imperial IPA on cask then Kuhnhenn's Foreign Export Stout, a fantastic example of the style. As usual, I opted for a sampler - Schmaltz' He'Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale, Greenport Harbor's Black Duck Porter (best of the lineup), Sixpoint's Otis (oatmeal stout), and Butternuts' Brutus Imperial IPA.
We had a weekend of drinking ahead so called it quits after lunch and hailed a cab to Brooklyn, where the remainder of our posts will take place.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Winter 2011-12 Recap
We're gearing up for the next great beer adventure, so let's spend one post looking back at the winter's best events.
November
ChurchKey's 21st Amendment and Ninkasi beer dinner featuring:
November
ChurchKey's 21st Amendment and Ninkasi beer dinner featuring:
- 21st Amendment 5-South
- 21st Amendment HQT
- 21st Amendment Roasted American
- Ninkasi Sleigh'r Dark Double Alt
- Ninkasi Maiden the Shade
- Ninkasi Total Domination IPA
- Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale
- Ninkasi/21st Amendment "Allies Win the War!"
- 21st Amendment Mo' Tcho Risin'
December
- Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper
- Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Bourbon Barrel-Aged
- Lavery Brewing Company Devil Bird
- Evil Twin Soft Xmas
- Evil Twin Before, During, And After Christmas Beer
- The Bruery 4 Calling Birds
- Saint-Germain Page 24 Bière de Noël
January
Justin's 30th birthday at Smoke and Barrel in Adams Morgan
2nd Annual Bootlegger's Beer Dinner at Smith Commons featuring:
- Lost Abbey - Inferno Ale
- Hair of the Dog - Fred
- Cigar City - Guava Grove
- Alaskan - Smoked Porter
- Alchemist - Heady Topper
- Flying Dog - 2008 Horn Dog Barley Wine
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| Smith Commons on H St. NE |
President's Day Barleywine Bash at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle
March
ChurchKey's "Surly Goes to Washington" event including the sought-after Surly Darkness 2011
Elysian Beer Dinner at Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown featuring:
- Nibiru
- Slight Return
- The Perfesser
- Idiot Sauvin
- Perseus Porter
- Arboreal
- Dragon’s Tooth Stout
Monday, March 26, 2012
Roanoke, VA
Greetings, friends. Due to some slack editing (we won't name any names) this post was drafted 8/19/11 and is surfacing now. We're back on track, promise!
So in August 2011 we visited my hometown - Roanoke, VA - and while there, we attended the 14th annual Microfestivus with my parents and uncle. My dad and I actually went to one of the early Microfestivuses (Microfestivi?) before I met Katie. I didn't know much about craft beer back then, but it was my first exposure to breweries such as Troegs and St. George.
Microfestivus took place in the heart of downtown in Elmwood Park where I have many fond memories, especially of the annual Festival In The Park - jumping across boulders and even watching one of my best friends play on stage with his ska band.
For a Southwest Virginia city where craft beer hasn't really taken off, we were pretty impressed with the selection. The line-up featured over 30 different breweries ranging from local Virginia ones like Legend, Starr Hill, Bull & Bones, and Roanoke's very own Roanoke Railhouse, to the more well-known breweries such as Stone, Allagash, Left Hand, and Ommegang.
In general, most breweries brought their recognizable big-sellers, but that's not to say there weren't a few gems here and there. Some standouts for me were the Legend Quad, Devil's Backbone Turbo Cougar, and Dogfish Head Chicory Stout. It was also a good opportunity to sample some beers that we've been meaning to try, such as the Boulder Mojo IPA, Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale, and Roanoke Railhouse's new IPA.
Unfortunately, regardless of their structure, beer festivals tend to attract (and breed) zealous samplers who want to “get their money’s worth”. Our major criticism of this event was that tickets were sold in 2 tiers with a wristband allowing either 10 or 21 notches. We felt this increased the potential for overconsumption as attendees drank to achieve the max. We wondered if a safer approach would have been charging 1 general admission fee for unlimited tastings, or providing paper tickets that could be shared among groups.
All in all though, Microfestivus was a fun experience (which also showcased some local talent like the cover band Polychrome) and it's encouraging to see a city like Roanoke celebrate the craft beer movement. Cheers!
So in August 2011 we visited my hometown - Roanoke, VA - and while there, we attended the 14th annual Microfestivus with my parents and uncle. My dad and I actually went to one of the early Microfestivuses (Microfestivi?) before I met Katie. I didn't know much about craft beer back then, but it was my first exposure to breweries such as Troegs and St. George.
Microfestivus took place in the heart of downtown in Elmwood Park where I have many fond memories, especially of the annual Festival In The Park - jumping across boulders and even watching one of my best friends play on stage with his ska band.
For a Southwest Virginia city where craft beer hasn't really taken off, we were pretty impressed with the selection. The line-up featured over 30 different breweries ranging from local Virginia ones like Legend, Starr Hill, Bull & Bones, and Roanoke's very own Roanoke Railhouse, to the more well-known breweries such as Stone, Allagash, Left Hand, and Ommegang.
In general, most breweries brought their recognizable big-sellers, but that's not to say there weren't a few gems here and there. Some standouts for me were the Legend Quad, Devil's Backbone Turbo Cougar, and Dogfish Head Chicory Stout. It was also a good opportunity to sample some beers that we've been meaning to try, such as the Boulder Mojo IPA, Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale, and Roanoke Railhouse's new IPA.
Unfortunately, regardless of their structure, beer festivals tend to attract (and breed) zealous samplers who want to “get their money’s worth”. Our major criticism of this event was that tickets were sold in 2 tiers with a wristband allowing either 10 or 21 notches. We felt this increased the potential for overconsumption as attendees drank to achieve the max. We wondered if a safer approach would have been charging 1 general admission fee for unlimited tastings, or providing paper tickets that could be shared among groups.
All in all though, Microfestivus was a fun experience (which also showcased some local talent like the cover band Polychrome) and it's encouraging to see a city like Roanoke celebrate the craft beer movement. Cheers!
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| Microfestivus - Roanoke, VA - Summer 2011 |
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