The packaging is silvery, as opposed to the straight blue or red that normally is used for Bud Light or Budweiser.  Some think this may be done purposefully to lure typical drinkers of Coors Light to look at the package. The bottles are cobalt blue. Like Zima.

The price is, well, more expensive.  I don’t know if they’ll keep the price significantly higher than a typical 12 pack of Bud Light or Budweiser once it is released nationally and production increases. It’s about $1.75 more expensive per 12 pack. (A friend commented to me that “a 16% price increase for between 20-43% increase in alcohol and a cool package isn’t a bad trade off.” Which is a fair point.

The name “Bud Light Platinum” sounds like an airline miles membership or a credit card. Some of my friends cracked that it is “made with real bits of platinum, so you know it’s good.” It’ll be interesting to see what the cans look like. They say it is “triple filtered” which is something I am sure their Superbowl advertisements might explain a little bit.

The normal ABV for Bud Light is 4.2%. Bud Light Platinum boasts, and almost brags about about having a higher ABV of 6.0% — Budweiser is 5.0%. A typical can of Bud Light runs about 110 calories, Platinum has 137. The taste is familiar, almost sweeter than normal Bud Light and Budweiser. Overall, it’s not a bad drink.

What will make or break this as a brand, in my opinion, is how it is marketed. Anheuser-Busch had a history for a marketing bonanza for new brands, and many of them flopped or disappeared. World Select. Golden Wheat. American Ale. Budweiser Select. Sure, you can find these beers from time to time in various places, but some are gone for good.

Whether “Platinum” will have staying power is something of an unknown.

If the marketing is chotchy, the brand will likely be rejected. If the marketing is snobby, the brand will likely be rejected. Normal people don’t want to drink what’s perceived as a beer douchebags drink just as much as they don’t want to drink beers snotty people drink. Remember that iconic Sam Adams commercial where the guy goes to the place with a dusty thick beer menu and says “I’ll have the Sam Adams.” That is the sweet spot.

In its press release, A-B InBev notes:

“Bud Light Platinum provides beer drinkers an upscale light beer option as a companion to their social agenda.”

Which makes me think — well, maybe the Platinum moniker isn’t as stupid-sounding as I thought. Remember the kids in grade school that would walk the teacher’s dog if it got them one of those gold stickers? Status plays a role — and if Platinum didn’t work, credit card companies would stop using it. (I always got bronze stars.)

I don’t have any beer companions to my social agenda, but I guess this beer is going to be an upscale wing-man? Who knows.

Conclusion: This isn’t a bad beer. It isn’t an amazing beer. It’s a Bud Light-like product that has a sweeter taste and more kick. Will it stick around? We’ll see. I do like it more than regular Bud Light, though. The marketing and how the beer is perceived by consumers is key. At the end of the day, there are a ton of higher ABV large-scale brewed beer alternatives.

Post used with permission from JimSwift.net

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Super Bowl Sunday is an American tradition like no other, bringing together friends and family to revel in great food, mediocre beer, and of course the commercials—er, I mean the game.

If you can’t make it all the way to Indianapolis, the greater D.C. area has lots to offer in terms of Super Bowl Sunday deals so no matter what tickles your fancy, you can find something amazing to do.

The House Party. Nothing beats a good ‘ol fashion Super Bowl house party. The host cooks the food, the guests bring the booze and then they get to leave once the game is over. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

The only downside to these house parties is that there is inevitably one or two “fans” that don’t know jack squat about football. They will sit in the corner and make terrible comments like “Eli Manning is so cute!” or “Madonna is, like, the perfect choice for the halftime show.” If you can ignore these “fans” and sit back and enjoy the homemade guacamole dip, the house party is a perfect choice.

Mmmmmm….50,000 calories

The bar. Marked up beer prices, greasy bar food and people packed together so tight you’d think it was the Metro at rush hour but not one single person is complaining. Bars are great for the game if they are your team’s official bar. Patriots fans run the upstairs of Capitol Lounge and Giants fans party it up over at Nanny O’Briens.

If you’re at an official team bar you probably won’t have to deal with the lame “fans” but instead you get the opposite breed—super fans. These guys (and gals) will cuss out the referees despite being three million miles from the action, pound an unhealthy amount of Bud Light and chicken wings and then when the game is over they will either strip naked and run through the streets with unadulterated joy, or they will go looking to beat the crap out of anyone not wearing the same colors as them.

Beware the Super fan

Other Options. Arlington Drafthouse is offering free admission to watch the big game on the big screen as well as table service. Cafe St-Ex will be having specials on beer from Boston and New York after 5 p.m. ($15 pitchers and $4 pints) and if you get there early you win free swag in the form of custom team beer glasses. The State Theatre in Falls Church will also be showing the game on their big screen, and providing free hot-dogs and drink specials. The Pour House will also be employing game-day deals like $10 pitchers of Yuengling. (Note: The Pour House will most likely be filled with hoards of bitter Steelers fans. You’ve been warned.)

No matter what you end up doing, Super Bowl Sunday is about having fun and enjoying the game. So when Monday comes around don’t be the only one at the water cooler not discussing the amazing ending to the game, or that hilarious/controversial/expensive commercial with the monkey.

Uh-O…PETA is pissed

(party at the front page)

Know of a Super bowl party we don’t? Put it in our comment section!

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National Barley Growers Association and it’s brewing partners for
Barley Brews & Blues
Cannon Caucus Room – Cannon 345
RSVP barley@inkovation.biz
from 5-7pm
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2012-01-31
End Time: 19:00

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SUSSH… it’s in the Rayburn Cafeteria.

Sorry visitors, we’ve been asked to take this down.

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American Ice Company

917 V St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

202.758.3562

Hours:
5pm – 2am Sunday – Thursday
5pm – 3am Friday & Saturday

When speaking of restaurants, some things just cannot be bought.  Aspects like the environment and feel of the establishment are instantly recognized; both creating a lasting impression that no amount of money can mask.  This was the problem I ran into when I recently ate at American Ice Company.  Despite an excellent beer selection (try the Racer 5 IPA and the Porkslap), American Ice Company loses its way when it comes to the food.  And to be honest, that shouldn’t be an issue.

Let me start out by saying that I enjoyed American Ice Company.  The interior design, with an emphasis on industrial details, seamlessly blends into the outside area with its picnic tables.  Air freely flows throughout, creating an ambiance perfect for conversation.  The blue-collar aesthetic that American Ice Company tries to establish is, for the most part, appealing; fitting the eastern section of U Street without skipping a beat.

Moving past the visuals, the true disconnect exists once you try the food.  I ordered the four-rib platter with beans and coleslaw.  In less than five minutes I had the platter in front of me.  The ribs were really tender, falling apart with the slightest pull.  It is then unfortunate how generic the ribs actually were.  Slathered with BBQ sauce that had no personality or depth, the ribs were hastily prepared.  All of the taste, all of the layered sensation that comes with eating ribs was absent; the flavor disappeared after the first layer of BBQ.  Lackluster, the ribs were a gutless offering, detrimental to the character of American Ice Company.  Surprisingly, the beans and coleslaw were quite good.  The beans enveloped in a smoky sweet tang, retaining their solidity, and the coleslaw providing a smooth crunchy deviation from the ribs.

American Ice Company is executed well until you try the food.  The blatant disconnect between visual appeasement, supplemented by an environment encouraging you to relax, and the food is too hard to ignore.  Eating at American Ice Company you get the sense that the place latches onto an idea/concept that is never fully fleshed out or actually established past appearances.

–Amendment202

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First Friday Returns w/ SE Cupp

We’ve got a big night tonight. First of all, join us 5:30 to 9:00 PM tonight as we return to Union Pub to kick off the summer. We will be joined by best-selling author and political commentator SE Cupp.

In addition, the new liberal First Friday knock off, creatively titled “First Thursdays,” (read more here: http://goprockstars.com/?p=821) has inspired the Washington Post to write a story about which is better. Let’s make sure we leave them no doubt.

Finally make sure to follow our new Twitter account and like our new Facebook fanpage.

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/ItsFirstFriday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-First-Friday/222312621121196

See you tonight. Be there or be talked about.

Cheers,
Rich and Tom

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American Craft Beer reception

Location: Cannon Caucus Room
RSVP @: Click here
Description: DATE: Thursday, June 2, 2011
TIME: 5:30-7:30 PM
PLACE: 345 Cannon House Office Building (Cannon Caucus)

Widely Attended Event. This invitation is not transferable. Attendees must be 21 years of age or more to attend. Show 112th Congress staff ID and proof of age at door.
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2011-06-02
End Time: 19:30

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Granville Moore’s

1238 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Hours:
Sunday – Thursday 5:00pm – 12:00am
Friday & Saturday 5:00pm – 3:00am

I must admit that I went to H Street this past Tuesday with the full intention of going to Toki Underground to try their ramen and dumplings.  In a twist of culinary fate, the wait at Toki Underground was over an hour.  With the wait too much to bare I decided to venture into a dark eerie place with Motown music coming out: Granville Moore’s.

For someone who has never been to Granville Moore’s – or let alone heard of it – the initial aesthetics are not overly welcoming.  A singular sign posted outside indicates frittes, ales, and moules are found inside seven days a week.  Yet any worry, any doubts I had about the place disappeared the moment I stepped inside.  Gloominess ebbed in just enough light created an atmosphere so unexpectedly inviting that despite being there never before I felt welcome and relaxed.  As for the Motown music blaring from the speakers, there’s something to be said for being at the right place at the right time.

After situating myself at the bar I ordered mussels.  The mussels come in five different variations, all of which are $16 dollars – less if there is a daily special.  I picked the Bleu Mussels with Hook’s blue cheese, pork belly, shallots, spinach, white wine, and lemon.  The combination of ingredients was hard to imagine in a singular plate with mussels being the centerpiece.  What came out though was a juxtaposition of flavors, smells, and textures.  The scent from the broth alone was enough to make this place a new favorite of mine.  With the tanginess of the blue cheese, the smokiness of the pork belly bits, and the crisp sweetness of the white wine formed a perfect aromatic partner for the mussels.  As I dove in I began to appreciate the role of the lemon within the broth.  With each mussel you are flushed with the brass tartness of the cheese only to be pulled back from the edge by the simple citrus.  It was addictive in every conceivable way.

Bleu Mussels with Hook’s blue cheese, pork belly, shallots, spinach, white wine, and lemon

I felt ashamed when I finished my last mussel.  I blamed myself for not cherishing every bite more, never thinking of a moment without them.  This feeling quickly dissipated when I realized the broth with chunks of spinach and pork belly was still left.  Using the fork I fished out every piece of pork and combined them with the few rogue spinach leaves floating in my bowl.  For a second the mussels became a distant memory and feelings of newfound love were born.  Unfortunately, reality set back in when I saw the bowl of empty shells staring at me.

Granville Moore’s – like any other great restaurant – offers a temporary escape.  Each bowl of mussels is made with a dedication that hooks you in.  In spite of sitting next to a man who was eating the same exact dish I felt as if my mussels were different.  I felt as if the culinary play on senses was only meant for me.

–Amendment202

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Standard

1801 14^th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

Hours:
Monday – Tuesday (closed until the weather warms up)
Wednesday – Thursday 5:30pm to 1am
Friday 5:30pm – 2am
Saturday 12pm -2am
Sunday 12pm – 1am

With new restaurants opening every single week in Washington D.C. you would imagine it takes something unique, something different to really stand out.  But Standard on 14^th street bucks that trend.  Instead the founders Tad Curtz and David Rosner have combined a backyard barbecue with a Bavarian beer garden to create something truly special.

Standard – Outside

At Standard simplicity is more so the rule than the exception.  Located on the corner of 14^th and S Street NW, the restaurant is actually quite unassuming.  There is no sign indicating you’ve arrived at Standard.  The feeling that you’re in a cozy neighborhood establishment really resonates.  The menu – despite still being in its early stages – provides a good choice of quintessential barbecue staples.  Furthermore, though short – with about 10 beers, 5-6 on tap – the beer menu has a few distinct microbrews both domestic and international for a relatively cheap price (between $5 – $10 for a liter).  I ordered the Kostrizer Schwarzbier, a German black lager that’s been produced at the Kostrizer brewery since 1543.  It was smooth and reminded me of a Guinness but without the heftiness.

Kostritzer Schwarzbier

Once I was situated at one of the long communal beer garden tables I ordered the barbecue brisket sandwich and a side of battered and fried half-sour pickles.  Though I had to wait longer than usual due to the kitchen not being ready at the time of my order, the wait was well worth it.  The portions were quite small but with the sandwich costing under $8 and the side under $4 this made relative sense.  The brisket was cooked to perfection and was slathered on a sesame seed bun.  The bun served as a sponge that absorbed all the delicious juices and sauce.  Warm and moist, the brisket was seasoned just right, with the barbecue sauce never masking the smokiness of the beef.  Moreover, the marbleized fat – with all its intensity – melted with every bite.

Barbecue Brisket

The half-sour pickles were whole pickles lightly battered and fried.  The sharp flavor of the pickles cut through the outer fried shell and were at first a tad bit disappointing.  As I had more though I began to realize that with semi-thick beer in one hand and the rich sandwich in the other, the relatively bare pickles were a refreshing aspect.

Half-Sour Pickles

Each course is embodied by the individualistic tone set at Standard.  Despite being simple dishes, each is created with the utmost quality and really drives the point home that food – and your enjoyment of it – is at the core of Standard and not a gimmicky afterthought.  You can almost taste the devotion this place has to cementing its attempt at a barbecue place mixed with a beer garden.  I was really happy with my meal and thoroughly looking forward to what else is in store for Standard in the coming months as the weather improves.

– Amendment202

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Everyone’s Irish: Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Washington

The spots to hit for Guinness specials, green beer, and a chance to get lucky

By Laura McKenzie from washingtonian.com

DC

There are happy-hour specials from 11:30 AM to 10 PM at Againn, including $5 Irish beer (Harp, Guinness, Smithwick’s, and Kilkenny) drafts and $5 to $6 shots of whiskey, along with a spread of Irish food. O’Kane Mutiny will play Irish jams from 5 to 10. $5 cover after 4.

St. Patrick’s Day means happy hour all day at Belga Café, which means 50 percent off draft beers and two waffles for $10.

Café Saint Ex is serving up Irish dishes such as classic Shepherd’s Pie and St. Kilian Cheese. Cocktails include the Crazy Leprechaun—Irish Whiskey, Absinthe, sugar, and bitters—and to wind down the night, sugared Irish coffee—Irish whiskey with coffee, topped with brown sugar whipped cream.

At the Dubliner, for a $10 cover, you can hear three bands on two stages, while enjoying the full menu of Irish pub fare.

Starting at 1 PM, at Duffy’s Irish Pub, see dancers from the Culkin School of Irish dance, and from 6 to 11 catch the band Points of Roguery. Drink specials include $2 Green Jello shooters and $5 green beer, plus the first 200 people score a free T-shirt.

Fadò’s Irish Pub thinks happy hour is for the weak—here you can get your Guinness starting at 8 AM. Live music starts at 3 with 40 Thieves, Irish dancers, and Llyod Dobbler Effect at 9, plus enjoy an Irish breakfast all day. Visit the Web site for a complete list of events leading up to the big day.

James Hoben’s has happy-hour prices from 9 AM to 2 PM, meaning $5 imported drafts, $4 domestic drafts, $4 imported bottles, $3 domestic bottles, and $4 rail drinks and glasses of wine.

March 12 is St. Practice Day at McFadden’s, so practice your chugging with $5 Guinness drafts and Jameson drinks from 11:30 AM to 9 PM. On March 17, get started with $1 drafts when the doors open—they go up to $4 from 11 to noon. From noon to 4, Green Bull Vodkas and Green Bombs are $4, ending at $8 by 9 PM.

The Mighty Pint (1831 M St., NW) is hosting a friendly Keg Kill from 4 to 5 PM. Two teams, Locals and Transients, race to down the most green beer. $10 entry fee; e-mail info@themightypint.com with full name and team preference. For spectators, the regular happy-hour specials apply ($3 16-ounce beers and $5 16-ounce rail drinks).

Rock & Roll Hotel is promising “The Bestest-Drunkenest Most Rockinest St. Patty’s Day Show” with performances by Black Dog Prowl, Chute, and Force Major. Get tickets ($10) at Ticket Alternative.

At Sign of the Whale, compete to have your bar tab taken care of with contests for Best Green Ensemble and Best Leprechaun Look-Alike. Starting at 11 AM, enjoy $3 Guinness and $3 whiskey, plus carbombs, green beer, and bagpipes.

The Spirit of Washington is offering a two-hour dinner cruise, with an Irish meal and dessert and a cash bar with Irish drinks. $45.90 per person (includes one beer ticket); 6:30 to 8:30. Make a reservation at the Web site.

MARYLAND

Hear a different Irish band every night beginning Sunday, March 13, at the Irish Inn at Glen Echo.

Celebrate all day at McGinty’s from 11 AM to 1:30 AM with Irish dancing performed by the kids of the Culkin School of Irish Dance, traditional music from Pete Moss and the Bog Band, topped off with rockers 40 Thieves. $10 cover after 6.

VIRGINIA

Clarendon’s 3 Bar & Grill is serving $2 Harp all day (11 AM to 9 PM).

Arlington Cinema ’N’ Drafthouse is screening the cult classic The Boondock Saints. Catch the story of two Irish brothers taking down mafia thugs, along with a beer or two. 7:15; buy tickets ($5.50) at the venue’s Web site.

Lunch seatings are available at the Auld Shebeen for 11 AM and 1 PM, and dinner is at 4 and 7. There’ll be live music by the Flying Cows of Ventry and Edsall Road, plus live Irish dancers.

The 15th annual celebrations at Ireland’s Four Courts include all-day food specials and music, plus a heated tent. Earlier in the week, there’ll be a pre-and-post Shamrockfest party (Saturday, March 12) and Irish-themed karaoke starting at 9 on Sunday, March 13.

Clyde’s in Reston is throwing its first St. Patrick’s Day party. Come for hand-carved corned beef with cabbage and Guinness beef stew, plus live bagpipe music from the Washington Scottish Pipe Band.

Start the day at Ireland’s Four Provinces with Kegs and Eggs from 8 to 10, followed by live music from the Dirty Pints all day. Special three-course menus are available for lunch and dinner, plus sandwiches in the bar if you don’t want to slow down. The night before, brush up on your knowledge with a St. Patrick’s pub quiz.

The Old Brogue is serving Irish breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 AM. The pub opens at 10 AM with three bars stocked with traditional Irish brews and live entertainment featuring Ted Garber. $10 cover charge.

Starting at 11 AM, P. Brennan’s (2900 Columbia Pike, Arlington) will have Irish music, dancing, and food. After 6, there’s a $5 cover. Leading up to the big day are events like Irish trivia on Tuesday, March 15, and a whiskey tasting Thursday, March 10, for $34.95; call 703-553-1090 to make a reservation.

Make a reservation at Pat Troy’s Irish Pub for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which are served in a heated tent in two-hour block seatings. There’s a $10 cover for the live music in the main restaurant.

Go to Whitlow’s on Wilson for a night of Irish music, including bagpipes, traditional Irish dancers, and the Washington-based band Shannon Tide. The music starts at 6. From March 9 through 17, there’ll be dishes such as bangers and mash with Guinness gravy if you can’t wait to get your fix of Irish food.