DC ain't just for stupid politicians

I think that my previous visit to DC occurred when I was a super cool high school trumpet player and our Symphonic band was given the chance to play at a few venues in the area. That would have been the late 80's and I don't really remember much about it, but I think that my most recent trip was more fun.

We missed a week of blizzards and horribly messy cold weather, so when we arrived, there was just snow and slush everywhere. During the daytime we ventured out to hit a couple of the Smithsonian Museums and wander around the National Mall, but at night we sought out refuge from the cold with some good food and beer.

Good Food
The visit was short, but we manage to enjoy two great meals out on the town. The first night we made it to Matchbox. It's a rather hip upscale pizza joint with a large brick pizza oven that dominates the two story open-floored eating and bar area. We feasted on some great thin, crispy crusted pizzas, a few mini-burgers, and then we washed it all down with a few beers from their good draft selection. In an apparent coup, we managed a pint of Bell's Hopslam before the keg floated, but more on that in the beer summary below.

Our second night was an even hipper and tastier experience, as we gorged on Mexican small plates at Oyamel. We ate too many things to list them all here, but table-side-made guacamole was a table pleaser and a couple of my favorites were roasted brussel sprouts in an arbol chili, pumpkin seed and lime dressing and a pork taco with crispy pork rinds. Mmmmm, pork tastes good.

Good Beer
Thought nothing we drank was actually brewed in the immediate area, most of it was new to me and not available out on the west coast. It's always good to know that while the politicians in DC can't make a decision worth a damn, the beer drinkers can. Good beer seems to be thriving, based on my two day's experience.
Here's a sampling of the beer downed in the nation's capital:

Yuengling - I've had this previously, but it's worth mentioning. It's a smooth crisp lager from the oldest brewery in the US. (from Pennsylvania)
Bell's Hopslam Ale - A malty big bodied, high octane beer with copious levels of hop flavor and aroma. It's a limited release beer, so we were lucky to be in town at the right time and place, as we by chance found it on tap just before the last keg died. It's similar to my favorite, Racer 5, so this was very welcome after a long day of traveling. (from Michigan)
Bell's Two Hearted Ale - This was my second choice after Hopslam ran out. Lots of hops came through in this IPA, though I'd like to try it again when my taste buds haven't been previously 'slammed'.
Great Lakes Eliot Ness Amber Lager - Rich caramel hue to this malty, crisp lager. (from Ohio)
Troegs Nugget Nectar - Another seasonal brew that we were fortunate to be in the area for during its run. Labeled as an Imperial amber, it has definite caramel flavors with a strong dose of hops, though much more restrained that the Hopslam or other 'Imperial' beers.

Even though my pregnant travel buddy couldn't partake of the beer bonanza, I think that she had a great time with the food, venues, and company. Many thanks to Daria and Kevin for being excellent tour guides and beer finders.