By Timothy Long

When I was in college and living in the fraternity house, we would roar through the weekends. Fridays and Saturdays were full of football, basketball, parties, and the pursuit of sorority girls. The latter reminds me of an old joke.  In their later years, Groucho Marx once asked George Burns “Do you remember when we used to chase the girls?” George replied “Yeah. Remember when we used to catch them?”

All that revelry on Fridays and Saturdays lead to one thing, being flat broke on Sunday. College boys were not then and are not now known for their financial acumen. But we were creative, as college kids always are.

On Sunday’s we would often have “Dollar Parties.” Everyone would throw in the few bucks they had left, then we would buy the refreshments for the Sunday afternoon festivities. Although the occasional bottle of cheap gin or bag of ganja was purchased, the celebration was usually a pizza and beer party.

Pizza and beer are one of the greatest pairings of all time. The two are right up there with peanut butter and jelly, steak and potatoes, top hats and coattails, and wine and cheese. This pairing can be suited to almost any occasion but goes perfectly with sporting events. A good slice of pizza and a great pint of beer can enhance any football game, basketball game, or soccer match. Hell, if it’s really good pizza and beer, it might even make a cricket match palatable.

Atlas Brewing Company opened last June in the Carlyle Crossing neighborhood of Alexandria. Not only did they open a brewery with their award-winning beer, but they also partnered with Andy’s Pizza, who make award-winning pizza. Now that, my friends, is a great pairing.

Do you want to know the best thing about our new brewery?

It’s in my backyard.

Ok, it’s not exactly in my back yard. But it’s only about a fifteen-minute walk. What a great way to get my steps in.

“Honey, I’ll be back later. Gotta hit my 10,000-step goal!”

I would probably have to walk to Atlas several times a day to hit that mark. But I’m willing to adjust my fitness goals accordingly. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Plus, they have a dog friendly patio.  So, in good weather, I can bring our dog Crosby with me.

“Honey, the dog needs to go out. I’ll be back later.”

Atlas’ space is very large, sporting 12 big screen televisions. Their patio is huge as well. The main room is more of a bar than a tasting room. It’s well-designed, not thrown together like many brewery tasting rooms. Although I do enjoy the eclectic hodge-podge tasting room, this one does have a good feel to it. It has a clean industrial look. You can see the brewing equipment from almost any seat.  Right as you walk in, Andy’s Pizza catches your eye. Andy’s has an open kitchen and pick-up counter, with their fantastic pizzas on display, just steps from the bar. If you haven’t had Andy’s pizza, you need to go there and try it. It’s delightful. There’s a great happy hour special, $10 for a pint of beer and two slices of pizza. That in and of itself is worth the trip.

When I arrived, I met with Michael Temple, the Atlas Assistant General Manager. Michael’s story is similar to a lot of brewery managers. He fell in love with the craft beer industry, and dove right in. He was a beer tender at Manor Hill Brewery in Maryland. Then he owned his own brewery for a short period. His beer knowledge is great and his passion for the craft is contagious.

They just recently started brewing in-house beers. The others come from their brewery in DC. Michael wastes no time and puts a beer tasting flight right in front of me. It’s their Hometown Hero Flight, all brewed in-house.

We start with their Mexican lager, Atlantico. It’s light and refreshing with a great lime taste on the back. What I love about this beer is that the lime flavor comes from the selection and treatment of the hops. No lime juice is added to this beer. Next, we had Noah Lyle’s 100 Meter Golden Ale, an obvious tribute to Alexandria’s Olympic Gold Medalist. This golden ale is bready with hints of biscuit up front. As you drink it, you get a soft cashew flavor. It finishes clean and smoothly.  The last beer we tried was the Tidewater Session IPA. This is a whole bodied beer that gets lighter while it’s on your palate. It has a soft red berry flavor that is cut very quickly by melon. It’s an IPA, so you need to like hops. But the hops in this great brew are not overbearing.

We also tried a beer that is a partnership between Patagonia and Atlas brewing. That’s right, Patagonia the winter apparel company. The result is Atlas’ Kernza lager. It’s made with the sustainable Kenza grain, which Patagonia is promoting. The beer was husky and a bit nutty with good lager flavor. **

It’s fun watching Michael’s excitement grow as he describes the beers. He began describing their winter release which will be out soon. A honey-brewed double IPA named Money Trouble Honey Double. I hope I got that name right. We both had a good laugh while Michael stumbled over it several times.

It’s great having another brewery in the area. The more breweries the better, I say. They offer such a fun experience. There’s nothing like craft beer. The Atlas Brewery and Andy’s Pizza combination doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been to their Navy Yard location; this one is different. The focus here is family and dog friendly. It’s also a great spot to gather with friends at happy hour or for a game. And it’s located right by the AMC Hoffman theatre. So, it’s perfect for a date night. Michael told me that he advises people to go to the movie first, then to come to the brewery, not vice versa. That’s sage advice, especially for anyone who snores. Cheers!!

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Foxfire Cinnamon Whiskey

It’s the holiday season. So, I figured I’d have some fun with this month’s whiskey recommendation. Foxfire Cinnamon Whiskey is made with 100% Virginia-grown corn and infused with cinnamon and Grade A Vermont maple syrup. It’s made by Copper Fox Distillery, which I have recommended a couple of times in this space. They make quality whiskeys. This one is both bold and sweet, with a little spice. The cinnamon flavor is not overpowering. Our publisher, Bob Tagert, likes it on the rocks. I prefer it in a hot apple cider. It’s perfect for many different cocktails. One of the suggested cocktails is a Foxfire Mule: Foxfire Cinnamon Whiskey with apple cider and ginger beer. It’s a fun addition to any holiday gathering.

Camacho Corojo

Camacho is one of my go-to brands. The Camacho Corojo is a great winter cigar. It’s spicey and full bodied from the first puff. This is a peppery cigar, but not in an overpowering way. As you get into the smoke, it becomes savory and buttery. The pepper flavor remains, but hints of pine nut and cedar also come through. It’s a great lounging by the bonfire smoke. Enjoy. This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% off the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com. Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com