Beer Week 2010 Super Blog Pt.1

Day One Minus One


We were so excited for the start of the 2010 Beer Week. We still do not agree or see the logic of moving the Beer Week from March to June, but regardless, we were still excited for its coming.

Churchkey

Since Aiiyah had to be in DC for a few days, we did our Beer Week eve celebration at this hip bar with a bottle list that fills a binder. Churchkey is the beer-centric bar that sits on top of the restaurant Birch & Barley. Instead of a sommelier, Birch & Barley has a beer manager that will pair beers for every course of your dinner.

Yes, the bottle list does fill a binder and it does take some time to go through it.

With the threat of a thunder storm and the heavy humidity that blanketed over the city, Aiiyah started with a Harpoon Summer to combat the heat and stickiness in the air. This kolsch style 5% ABV beer was refreshing and absolutely made Aiiyah a happy man with his internal temperature lowering rapidly as he sipped each mouth full of beer. (Disclaimer: Beer in glass in picture is not the Harpoon Summer)

While Aiiyah was still trying to cool down from the walk from the Metro with a lighter beer, The Doctor Professor Tourist Tree went straight to the heavy duty good stuff; Dog Fish Head Palo Santo Marron on cask. Sweet Jesus! We had this unfiltered 12% brown ale aged in Palo Santo wood barrel before, but having it from a hand pump cask was a different experience with the flavor being more robust and profound.

The place was quite busy with a steady crowd coming in even on an early Thursday evening. All the drafts were available in a 4 oz pour or a full glass. We liked that very much since it allowed us to sample a few more varieties.

For beer number 3, we picked the Cuvée Alex Le Rouge from Brusserle Des Franches-Montagues in Switzerland. It is an Imperial stout that is brewed with vanilla, tea, and serawark pepper. The beer was dark and hoppy; and we have not seen any beer from this brewery in PA yet. We know Switzerland makes outstanding chocolates and watches; we know it also makes pretty good beer now.

After our slight detour to Switzerland, we returned to the US with a glass of Flying Dog Raging Bitch on Cask, then made a round trip back to Switzerland with a Duuzel from the same brewery. This 9% beer is brewed with Guérande sea salt and American hops. After we took our initial sip, we both collectively commented it as “interesting”.

With our stomachs growling, we ordered a plate of Devil Fries. So…, what the devil are Devil Fries? In the most basic Aiiyah explanation, it’s a plate of poutine wanna-be with French fries (pretty good and crispy), cheddar cheese (sorry, wrong cheese), and sausage gravy (humm, that gravy needed some work).


We finished our night at the Churchkey with a Heavy Sea Letter of Marque and a Great Divine Express Oak-Aged Yeti.

The Heavy Sea Letter of Marque is a 7.8% Baltic porter with rye from Clipper City Brewery in Maryland. IMHO, it’s pretty mild in flavor. I loved the strong intensive espresso in the Yeti. It was a great beer to finish the night.


Churchkey offers many choices for beer lovers of all tastes. The place is pretty if you can block out the fluorescent lights in the beer refrigerators that stare at you from behind the bar. The place offers several cubby low sitting areas with comfy couches at the back that are perfect for groups to hang out and work their way through the beer list…and nibble on the fake poutine.


Day One Minus One Beer Tally:

DFH Palo Santo Marron on cask
Harpoon Summer
Brusserle Des Franches-Montagues Cuvee Alex Le Rouge
Flying Dog Raging Bitch on cask
Brusserle Des Franches-Montagues Duuzel
Clipper City Brewery Heavy Sea Letter of Marque
Great Divine Express Oak-aged Yeti