Here's post number two for the 5th Annual Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest. Find the first post here.

775. Smoke

Beer Stats:
Brewery: Surly Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Style: Baltic Porter, BJCP Style Guide

Pours a clear, dark brown/red. Topped by a thick beige head. The aroma is smoky with a bit of maltiness and fruitiness. The flavors are malty and fruity with some light roast and a nice smokiness throughout.  read more »

Typically most people do not think to pair beer with food, or at the most they pair them with burgers and hot dogs. As beer lovers however, we know beer can be paired with a lot of different foods. I know many sevenpack readers have tried and are on the look out for [...]

When I first moved to DC, Dupont Circle, with its rainbow flags and history, was toted as the gay mecca. And with its bookshops and the fountain and shopping, why wouldn't it be? However, as the years went on, I began to realize that Dupont was more of a wankfest than meant as a haven for queens. The bars, overridden with frat-tastic creeps and their sorostitute counterparts, make even an impressive beer special or an appropriately grumpy waitstaff not worth the pain. Here I highlight the plusses and minuses of a night in Dupont Circle and environs, because sadly, we've all had to endure at least one.  read more »

Casey Hard of Max's on Broadway sent me the list of beers he plans to have on hand for Max's Fourth Annual Belgian Beer Fest. The dates are Feb 15-17, a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The times are 11 a.m....Rob Kasper

Someone pointed out that I hadn't posted anything since last month, but unfortunately I haven't been feeling the writing groove lately (and thus, no ranting and raving), and to be honest there hasn't been much in the way of new arrivals. That all changed today when we got several new beers, including 5 from from Snoqualmie Falls Brewing in Washington that have never been distributed in Oregon before.

New Imports:

Gouden Carolus - Triple: We've had this on tap a couple of times in the BierCafe, and it's always been well received, so I was pretty thrilled when they finally decided to bring in the bottles. Clear golden color, and topped with a billowy white head, this brew is almost as pleasant to look at as it is to drink. Fruity yeast character, light bready malts, and a long spicy finish characterize this beautifully made triple. One ratebeerian commented that it pairs well with Tillamook cheddar, and it would probably make a great accompaniment to most other "non-stinky" cheeses as well.  read more »

Again, this is a post from David and Win's visit in February. After leaving Deep Ellum we caught a cab to Washington Square and stopped by The Publick House to finish out the night. We were in pretty decent shape when we arrived, but we quickly remedied that. 800. Avec Les Bons Voeux Beer Stats: Brewery: Brasserie Dupont Alcohol: 9.50% Serving: Tap Style: Saison , BJCP Style Guide Poured a hazy, golden amber. Topped by a thin head that faded to a film. The aroma is fruity with notes of banana, pepper and grain. Sweet, citrus fruitiness with a good bit of hops in the finish. 801. Panil Barrique Next we ordered a 750 mL bottle of Panil Barrique, which I'd been saving a bottle of in the fridge for quite some time.  read more »

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Sat, 02 Feb 2008 3:10:45 EST

Overall Score: 83.3
Selection: 4.25 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 2.0

Reviewer: Howmer

The Brickskeller is essentially the epicenter of the Washington, DC beer world (at least as far as beer bars are concerned). With a staggering selection of bottled foreign beers and obscure American microbrews, and a very healthy and constantly changing selection of brews on tap, the Brickskeller will definitely have something new available for even the most travelled and experienced beer enthusiast. This world-renowned pub is located in a quiet, stately section of DC's Dupont Circle area, close to several embassies and about 2 1/2 blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro stop. The interior, while very spacious, is reminiscent of an old English pub, with low, thick-beamed ceilings, weathered brick walls, and a dark but inviting ambience. In addition to the main bar area, there are three main "rooms" (two on the bottom floor and one upstairs) that are open areas, but all with nooks for a more private experience for yourself or your group.  read more »

Saison Dupont from Brasserie Dupont in Tourpes, Belgium is a fine example of the saison style that’s loaded with lots of flavor and has a slighty “chewy” mouthfeel.

This farmhouse-style ale pours a slightly cloudy straw color with a massive, chunky off white head. There are crisp very fruity aromas with floral hop notes.

The flavor revolves around ever-so-slightly sweet “cereal” malt flavors with a noticable citrus hop astringency at the back of the throat. A small bit of spiciness is detectable in the beer’s flavor profile.

Malt and spice flavors continue into a long finish that finally ends with a fairly big hop astringency that turns the finish bone dry.  read more »