February is the month of love and my birthday, (coincidentally on Valentine’s Day), so this month treat you and that certain special someone or whoever you’re hooking up with to a tasty beer and let them know you care…or care enough to get them in the mood! God knows that in a month of Super Bowl hangovers and Mardi Gras bead and boob action we can all use a beer that sits well on the palate and sets the tone. So this month is for you ladies! Have a beer and have our hearts…you make the world go round!
This month I trekked down to Little Miss Whiskeys Golden Dollar (1104 H St. NE, DC, www.littlemisswhiskeys.com), the perfect date location —and also my girlfriend Gina’s favorite beer bar on H Street where DJ’s and shenanigans abound. It’s also a Saints bar—perfect for Mardi Gras in February! Here you find a variety of awesome bottled beers and Gina is a big fan of the Duck Rabbit Milk Stout (5.7% ABV). It’s a dark black milk stout with toasty/creamy/chocolate notes brewed with lactose (milk sugar) that is essentially the better version of the light Butternut’s Moo Thunder Stout (4.9% ABV) can you find at most bars and grocery stores. Rating: A milkier sweeter version of Guinness…good stuff. In typical Nick-style I picked some “stronger and heavier” malty German Dopplebocks to continue the night. The Spaten Optimator (7.6% ABV) is a sweet dark dopplebock (strong German malt lager) that has a fruity and sugary (yet still malty) strong aftertaste. Rating: solid with a kick! The Paulaner Salvator (7.9% ABV), is also a dopplebock and had a similar taste, but definitely a little more syrupy with the same malty, caramel, and booze filled goodness. Rating: Sweet…no literally, syrupy sweet! Not for the timid, but tasty. If you’re a regular Joe and want something a little more casual I recommend my go-to beers here — the Stiegl Tallboy, Dab Original or Konig Pilsner Tallboy! They are the perfect lighter beers for pounding like a true H Street Beirdo!
Also on my radar this month was the new 21st Amendment Brewery’s Bitter American (4.4% ABV). You can call this beer my Valentines/B-day gift to myself, as I’ve already stocked a few cases from Rick’s Wine and Gourmet (3117 Duke St., Alexandria 703-823-4600, www.rickswine.com) in my fridge for recreational home “tasting.” As you know from reading my column this is one of my favorite breweries, but what makes this beer so good is how amazing the hops and malt flavor are in this low-alcohol light session beer. It’s a slightly complex hop bomb in a light beer format with citrusy notes that’s extremely refreshing. Go down to Rick’s and pick up a sixer and drink this for the Super Bowl…you’ll thank me later!
Seasonal Alert! February is the last month to grab the last few pints of the winter seasonal beers out there, as by the end of the month the spring seasonals and all their citrusy golden goodness will be taking over the taps and beer shelves. I went down to Cafe Pizzaiolo Crystal City (507 S. 23rd St., Arlington, 703-837-2250 www.cafepizzaiolo.com) to catch a slice for lunch and happened to notice they had a great selection of craft beer raging from Bells and Dogfish Head to Lagunitas. We picked up Starr Hill’s The Gift WinterBock Lager (6.5% ABV) and Bells Winter White Ale (5% ABV) to commiserate on our lunch break. The Gift is a malty winter lager that’s got a smooth lager beginning but ends with a sugary bitter aftertaste that isn’t quite what you’d expect. Rating: Good start, different finish. The Bell’s Winter White Ale is mildly sweet with some tangy orange flavors and spices that remind me of a really good Belgian style beer. I could drink these all day if work would let me. Rating: Best winter seasonal I’ve had this year! Get them while they last!
Want to help me with the hunt? Feel free to reach out to me (and of course, samples are welcome.) Email me at nick@ontaponline.com or send your info to On Tap Magazine, 25 Dove Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
