Churchkey

Introducing our first ever guestblog! In order to get you more reviews (and to save my liver), I've asked some very talented writing friends to lend their talent and experiences at local bars. I always respect their drink choices & recommendations, and I think you will too. Thank you, Katie, for being my first guinea pig!

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Before Churchkey even opened I was dying to go there based on the design of the brand and it's display on the Web site alone. The bold fonts and simple silhouetted graphics showcasing the variety of beer glasses were enough to make every white hipster beer lover in DC rush out so they could experience it before their friends had the opportunity.

The first time I popped into Churchkey was on a whim, within a month of it's opening in October of 2009. My parents were in town for a visit and staying down the street at the Donovan House, so we dropped in just as it opened on our way back from a little shopping at Miss Pixie's on 14th Street. My father and I sampled a couple beers from the Crisp section of their menu and my mother, a strict non-beer drinker, enjoyed the vintage decor, high ceilings with sunlight pouring through the picture windows and a standard selection of liquor.

We didn't even need to confer before ordering the Mac & Cheese Sticks for the table, but just as easily concluded that they were an abomination. I will say this now, knowing that you will likely ignore my warnings and order them anyway...why wouldn't you? It's fried macaroni and cheese in stick form...they should be incredible! But when you bite into them and the inevitable disappointment creeps onto your face, think of me. Mozzarella stick appearance on the outside, but tastes like sweaty macaroni in a breaded rectangle. Sad.

Every other time I've ventured to Churchkey since, I have had to fight off some serious crowds, putting a real damper on my overall bar going experience. A couple tips to keep in mind during your next happy hour and to help you through during the hype:

Don't whine if there's a line.

It's typically for your own good. They try to keep it at a reasonable capacity upstairs so as to minimize the amount of elbowing and booty bumping you have to do once you get in. And they're also known to hand out tater tots to people waiting in line.

Don't crowd the plate.

Once you do get upstairs, you'll need to be quick if you want to get a booth or stool. Loiter within reason but don't make people feel uncomfortable like a slow-moving car full of Grandmothers in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. If you see people starting to wrap up, I recommend letting them know that you are interested in commandeering their area, but to take their sweet time. You'll be surprised at how loyal people can be with a small act of patience.

Don't be choosy about your glassware.

Each beer comes with it's own unique shape that is made for the particular beer, to enhance the flavor and ultimate enjoyment of the brew. According to their blog post, "Glass differentiation depends upon the beer's need for enhancing aromatic volatiles, showcasing appearance, and maintaining beer head." And, of course, they're above branding with logos.

Do expand your beer drinking horizons.

Maybe you're traditionally a wheat beer kinda girl or a stout drinking kinda guy, but you would be insane not to belly up for an early evening and chat with the incredibly knowledgeable barkeeps about some of their favorites from behind the bar. Though I am often guilty of sticking with Victory Brewing Company's Prima Pils for the night, my husband Tyler is a fan of their authentic cask ales, particularly when they featured Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Marron this winter. Though they're not the kind of thing you can drink all night, the amount of care that goes into their cask ales is definitely worth exploring.

So that's it. Churchkey is a gorgeous bar and a great place to soak up the knowledge about super rare beers so you can impress the pants off your friends at your next get together, but I'd prefer it if you didn't go. I want the hype to die down so I can just enjoy my super snooty beer conversations in private.

The Deal:
There is no deal. The beer is fantastic, the barkeeps are super smart and they serve you tots as you wait in line to get in. Check their blog for any information on a special guest star in the form of a new keg.

M-F they open at 4pm

S-S they open at Noon

Churchkey

Thank you, Katie, for this Guestblog!
To check out more of her writing, please visit her blog:
http://katieobriendc.posterous.com/

Mackey's

My friend Jess, her husband, and I decided to take advantage of the first nice night in the spring. We started off at The Meeting Place (which you must see to believe and will get its own post), and quickly decided to take it to a more chill pace and headed down the street.

At Mackey's we found some open tables outside where we could people watch. We really enjoyed Mackey's - after all, the extreme temperature drop once the sun went down can't be blamed on them!

The waitress was fast and efficient. I've read a few reviews about the terrible service, but that was not my experience at all. It could have been because we were on the porch and the waitress was constantly checking on the brave souls with no common sense sitting outside in the cold, thus avoiding the tired scene of trying to make eye contact with the bartender at a crowded bar. I do remember coming with a large group to my old roommate's birthday a few years ago and having fine service then, so my track record is 2-0: good service.

I plan on returning to get a sense of the inside, but if memory serves correctly: a very populated place directly after work with most people dressed in business clothing, with the TVs tuned to the news in typical DC fashion.

Great place for a beer post-work if you live in the area. The deals are fine, the food is standard pub fare. The outside seating was great, the beer was cold, and I'd visit Mackey's again. They had beers I like on draft, and Yuengling for those who froth at the mouth when its mentioned. Side note: I don't like Yuengling and think it tastes like metal. I think the day-to-day deals are fun and a great way of mixing it up, so check those out if you plan on stopping by.


the deal:
M-F, 4-8pm
1/2 price Apps
$2.50: Miller Lite, Bud Light
$.35: Sam Adams (Various), Yueng, Magic Hat #9

Every day of the week, there is an additional deal.
Example: Monday, 4-close
Corona, Corona Light, 5 bottles for $15
4-10pm 1/2 price burgers

Mackey's

Finn macCool's

Great beer selection, mediocre deals. We didn't get a chance to make it upstairs to the pool table and shuffleboard, but the main bar was just fine. Very dark lighting with deep red wood made me feel very warm with my Barrel Bourbon Beer*. For me this bar is a one-two punch — not only do they meet the standards of DC politics by playing the State of the Union Address, they also are among the few in the metropolitan area to have an extensive schedule of soccer games up on those big tv's. While waiting for the Address, I'm almost ashamed to admit we thoroughly enjoyed the new American Gladiator. "Hellga" could snap me in half.

In true DC fashion, we enjoyed a drinking game to the tune of Bush's **final** State of the Union Address. For the following words & their various forms, we would earn one drink:
1. America
2. Iraq
3. Terrorism
4. Economy
5. Freedom
Applause also got 1 drink and standing ovations 2. Needless to say we had an excellent time. In the past I have had run-ins at this bar with people vehemently supporting their party and getting into very uncomfortable (yet supremely entertaining) situations. This time the crowd was lively & very easygoing, and we ending up staying late purely do to the fun atmosphere created.

deals:
--Regular Happy Hour is 4–7pm
$3 Domestic Pints
$4.50 Premium Pints
$3 Rail Liquor
$5 Chili Cheese Fries, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders, Irish Nachos, Chicken Taquitos, or Mozzarella Sticks
--Specific to Mondays, 4–11pm
$4.50 Magic Hat Pints
1/2 Price Burgers
Finn macCool's

*check out Barrel Bourbon Beers (Stout, Ale, IPA etc) if given the opportunity. They are delicious.

Dr. Dremo's

Well. The rumors have finally come true. After hearing for years that this bar is going to close, the time has come... this upcoming Sunday (Jan 28, 2008) at 2am. The auction for "almost everything" will begin at 7pm on Monday. The Dr Dremo and Taco Bell property has been sold to Elm St Development. Plans call for 141 residential units and 34,685 sf of ground floor retail. Such is the story of the Over-Condo'd Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston area.

If you never checked this bar out, that sucks for you. It has (had?) a huge, ever-changing list of draft beers at reasonable prices. Chill setting. Jukebox. Friendly groups of patrons filling up old lounge-chairs... I hope you had the opportunity to experience the huge, round, tin enclosure/structure that (in my mind) is the pimp seat of the entire place.

Lefthand's JuJu Ginger Ale will now always remind me of the smoky bar that will be replaced by more little dwellings stacked on top of each other (hope you're getting the sense of my disdain.)

Please post your eulogies, sweet sweet memories, and farewells.

deals:
5–730 includes $1 select beers, and free pool
dremo's

XIII. Old Dominion Brewery

Many pro's and con's to this bar as Joel and I discussed it on the metro ride home. I'd love to hear other perspectives

First, the pro's:
- The selection at this bar I enjoyed -- from light ales, high-alcohol content "Millennium", my personal favorite the oak-stoat, and even a beer tower (for those long-haulers). 15 beers on Tap in total, plus various bottles to choose from.
- Nachos were standard. I'd give a 5/10 -- plenty of jalaps, squeezy cheese, but small servings and turns soggy fairly fast... no guac! Everyone seemed to enjoy the quesidilla's, and the sushi was even attempted.
- for the non-alcohol drinks, the root beer was faaaaaaantastic!
- they played infomercials on one tv when no sports were on, if it makes me laugh its a good thing.

con's:
- not convenient, at all... no one lived nearby, and the walk through the convention center's concrete surroundings was desolate and eerie... making a girl feel a little unsafe when walking it alone (&*@^%#& metro and its *#$@&*% delays! Don't get me started on 20 minutes in a tunnel with 30 kids screaming about how they don't want to be late to *#%$&@*@ Hanna Montana)
- has the potential to be a really great brew house, but I felt it was a little spoiled by trying to also be a sports pub (hence the beer tower). I haven't been to a bar yet which can do both in tandem well... I think these guys should focus on the brewery aspect and go whole-hog for it... no more dallying.
- took about 20 minutes to get our check. blah.... other then that the service was good. Though when a waiter says a beer is his "least favorite", I'd like to know specifics on why. What if his favorite beer was miller lite? Then I certainly wouldn't enjoy his favorite, and his last-pick may be my new #1! Details people, details.

deals:
4–7pm
$3.99 Large Drafts
$3.25 Small Drafts
1/2 price apps
old dominion

CM IX: Cafe Saint-Ex

Happy Hour specials blow, only Miller and other such inferior brands (yes, snooty comment, I know) are cheaper, while the beers you go to get are still the same price. That being said, the beers are delicious, served in fancy-pants glasses, and people come from off of the streets to join in the fun! Love the atmosphere. I know for many people this is their favorite (or among their favorite?) bars in DC. Definitely a fun nightspot with a lively crowd at the bar and a hot dance floor with live-dj's below.

deals:
5–7pm Mondays
4–7pm Tuesday–Sunday
see above for vague details.
www.saint-ex.com/