New Holland Mad Hatter India Pale Ale
Slightly hazy copper color. Impressive head which really stays around and leaves a bunch of lace on the glass. More than lace really, it's so thick.
Very hoppy aroma, pine and grapefruit.
Good hoppy bitterness, not overwhelming to the palate though. I probably expected more from an "American" IPA, but it was nice to not have it fall on the extreme end of the bitterness scale.
The hops do hang around, even though I'd say it has a fairly dry and clean finish to it.
Overall rating: 4.3
Beat the Reaper
Beat the Reaper: A Novel by Josh Bazell
My review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think the producers of the Saw movies could take some ideas from this book. Some of the stuff is seriously messed up. Of course, this book is so much better than Saw. At its core, it is very nearly a formulaic mafia novel. Bad guy starts new life in witness protection after the mafia screws him. Mafia catches up to him, chaos ensues. But Josh Bazell manages to pull the novel out of the formula with the awesome Peter Brown/Pietro Brnwa/Bearclaw character alone. He was too much fun, and I'd love to read another Bearclaw novel, no question about it.
Next up is The Strain by Guillermo del Toro (yes, that guy) and Chuck Hogan.
Thirteen Reasons Why
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really didn't care that much for the storyline of this book, for the most part. We're supposed to feel for the character who we know has committed suicide and sent out a series of tapes explaining why she did it. And the reasons end up largely being the usual seemingly superficial high school angst type stuff. And yet somehow, over the couple of days since I finished the book, I found my thoughts drifting back to Hannah and Clay, and wondering if I knew people like that back in high school, and whether I would recognize them in my own kids. So for that, the book succeeds.
Next up is Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell.
New Holland Golden Cap
Light golden color, nice thick head that does a nice job of grabbing the side of the glass.
A grassy aroma, a bit of funk to it as well.
This one is a lot more refreshing than I would have thought. 6.5% saison doesn't really scream out to be an easy summer drink, but it is. It has a lovely tartness to it, which does a fine job of counteracting the funkiness and that little bit of spice.
In spite of everything, it doesn't leave much behind, which is a good thing, nice and crisp finish. Very quaffable.
Overall rating: 4.15
Best New York Deli in DC
I figured I had to specify New York deli as opposed to another kind of deli, but really, is there another kind of deli? I'm talking about the place you go to get a big-ass sandwich filled with more meat than anyone should possibly consume in one sitting. They have to have real bagels, and bonus points for matzo ball soup. In this area, there's only one place to get all this and more: Chutzpah Deli.
I spent one summer working in New York City, and if there was one thing I missed, it was walking to the corner deli (any corner!) and getting a sandwich overflowing with corned beef or pastrami. On rye bread, with mustard. You want mayo? Gedouttahere!!! In fact, Chutzpah even warns you against mayo on the menu, you can't get more New York than that. And they're not going to put a couple of slices of meat on your sandwich like, shudder, Subway. Nope, you're getting the real deal, the heart attack on a plate, baby.
If you go, I highly recommend the “Fuggedaboudit”: Hot corned beef and pastrami with a schmear of chopped liver on grilled rye with melted swiss, cole slaw and Russian dressing. You won't be able to finish it, guaranteed. Couple that with an egg cream, and you are good to go. Man, I am making myself hungry over here! You can also get any of their meat and cheese sliced to go, and their awesome bagels come in from New York!
There you go. The best New York deli, heck, the best deli in the DC area. Two locations in Fairfax and Tysons Corner.
The Way Home
The Way Home by George P. Pelecanos
My review
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I've wanted to read some of George Pelecanos' stuff for a while now. He's probably now best known for his work on "The Wire," but he writes a lot of novels set in and around DC. The Way Home is no exception, of course. A large portion of the novel is taken up with setting the framework of Chris Flynn's troubled youth, to his current situation laying carpet for his dad's business. It's not to say that there isn't any action in the first 250 pages, but the last 75 pages are where the stuff hits the fan. I was a little disappointed in the book. The characters are real, that much I enjoyed. But Pelecanos seemed too intent on spelling out every thought and motivation going through his characters' heads, and it got distracting sometimes. Even so, this is a fun quick summer read.
Next up is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
Best Pizza in DC
Church Street Pizza. No contest. It's not even worth listing runners-up. Church Street has the crust, the cheese, everything you want from a real New York pizza. The only downside? Everyone else loves it too, so odds are, they're going to be busy. Well worth the wait!
OK, I lied, I will list one runner-up: Two Amys Pizza in Woodley/Cleveland Park. Good Neopolitan wood-fired pizza with interesting toppings (real mozzarella, for one).
Southern Tier Hop Sun
Just on the orange side of golden, with a lovely looking head all the way down.
Definitely citrus aroma, tending toward lemon, maybe a touch of grapefruit.
Flavor follows, but not nearly as bitter as expected, some flowery tones and a smidge of sweetness as well. Creamier than expected, with a lemony tang hanging behind.
Just got back from my 7 mile bike commute home on an 85 degree day, and man, does this ever hit the spot.
Overall rating: 4.15
Best Burger in DC
By now, many people have seen Obama on CNN stopping by various DC area restaurants for lunch. During the campaign, he went to Ben's Chili Bowl. In recent weeks, he's been to Ray's Hell Burger and Five Guys. Then, I noticed Shane participating in a Twitter discussion on the best burger in KC. This, in addition to my recent post on hating ketchup (sidebar: I recently replaced Evan's ketchup with BBQ sauce for chicken nuggets, and he didn't even realize I had switched! Muhahahaha!), inspired me to start a new series of posts on "Brian's Best of DC." Well, the DC area at least. First up is obviously the best burger in DC.
There have been many contests and polls on the best burger lately. Ray's is a name that comes up often. I've been there once, and it was a damn good burger, second on my personal list. EatBar won Washingtonian's poll, but I haven't been there yet. Five Guys is a chain that started here, and has a big local following, but I like them for their fries more than the little burgers. Elevation gets the organic, grass-fed crowd in a tizzy, but again, their burgers are too small for me to really get into the flavor of the meat.
I prefer a bigger, juicy burger you can order medium rare, and they actually cook it that way. So for my money, I'm going to Big Buns. They lightly season their big angus beef burgers, and have a wide range of toppings, should you be so inclined. But I have found that you can leave it plain, and it is plenty tasty all on its own. They also have killer sweet potato fries and shakes.
There you have it, my vote for best burger in the DC area. Feel free to chime in with your own favorites, or the favorite from your hometown.
In future installments, look for my take on best deli, pizza, and more.
Wrigleyworld
Wrigleyworld: A Season In Baseball's Best Neighborhood by Kevin Kaduk
My review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Look, Kevin Kaduk's chronicle of his year living in Wrigleyville and going to all the Cubs games he could won't win any awards. But even though it's pretty self-indulgent predictable fare (the Cubs didn't win the World Series, spoiler!), it is still entertaining enough to make it worth the read. The characters inhabiting the neighborhood - Ronnie Woo, the Ballhawks, the scalpers - bring life to this tale of drinking and watching baseball. And he gets a bonus star for saying what needed to be said: Old Style sucks!
I've started on The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau, but I'm not sure how far I will get before putting it aside for more "summer reading."
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