By Timothy Long

But you may want to hide me from the crowd.

I was pondering over a subject for this article. So, I went back to visit some of my previous April articles. Spring was the theme. A good theme for a beer article, but I’m not feeling it. And a writer has to “feel” it.

Our editor, Lani, always sends out an email out around the tenth of the month. It’s always a nice and complimentary email. In reality, it’s a kind reminder to ensure that the writers are doing their homework. I always smile when I get it. I think of my mother at the table during dinner.

“Timmy, if you don’t finish your dinner, you can’t have your evening bourbon and cigar.”

That’s obviously a joke. Mom always let me have my bourbon and cigar.

Lani always suggests possible subjects for the next month’s articles. I look at April’s list: Springtime, Taxes, and Easter.

Beer, bourbon, and cigars do not go with Easter.

Can I put a fun spin on taxes? The thought dissipated as quickly as it appeared. This column is meant to be entertaining and informative. I’m no tax expert. And there is nothing fun about doing taxes. I might as well write about having a root canal.

I visit the list again. Wait! Where is baseball?  The season traditionally opens on the first Monday in April, and most of the first games are still played then. The game of baseball and beer are as American as mom and apple pie. The search is over.

I grew up a huge Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Our whole family was and still is. I remember when my dad called me off from school because he had gotten opening day tickets. He always had connections for tickets. My mom walked into the kitchen just in time to hear him ending the call with the school.

“I’m sure Timmy will feel better by tomorrow. Thank you”

She looked at him confused. “Is Timmy sick?”

“No. I got tickets to Opening Day!”  The joy was radiating from his face.

“Francis Long! You’re taking him to the baseball game on a school day?”

“It’s one day, Wanda. He’ll be fine.” He then looked at me. “Go get dressed.”

I still remember going to Three Rivers Stadium to watch Pirate’s games with my family. Mom would put together a tailgate party for us. It usually featured a deli-bought giant Italian hoagie made out of a full loaf of homemade Italian bread and sliced into smaller portions.

There are certain experiences that I will always associate with baseball. The taste of that hoagie is one. The smell of hot dogs, popcorn, and beer is another. Everyone around us in the stands were downing hot dogs and drinking beer, it was mainly Iron City beer in my younger days.

Baseball stadiums always carried the local beer back then, many of them still do. These were usually American bitter lagers. I have choked down an Old Style Lager at Wrigley Field in Chicago during a Cubs game, mostly out of tradition. When I became old enough to drink beer at Pirate’s games, we chose Iron City Light. It was a bit sweeter and a little more palatable than its older bitter brother.

Today, that local beer tradition lives on, in the craft beer trend. Baseball stadiums have become havens for craft beer. The local beers of the old days were never called craft beers, but in essence that’s what they were. They were locally brewed and locally enjoyed. Dad wasn’t a big beer drinker. But when he did drink it, he drank Rolling Rock. It was brewed in Latrobe, PA, not far outside of Pittsburgh. It was a Pittsburgh local beer.

When you head to Nationals Park this year, you can enjoy a variety of craft beers from local breweries like Atlas, DC Brau, Denizens, Port City, and more, available at multiple District Drafts locations, as well as the Devil’s Backbone Left Field Lodge.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the craft beer options at Nationals Park:

DC Brau Brewing

DC Brau will have a rotating selection of draft beers at District Drafts carts throughout the summer. These carts are located in sections 110, 223, and 129. DC Brau will be rotating The Corruption, Dueling Grounds, Joint Resolution, and their German Pils for your enjoyment. You can’t go wrong with DC Brau. This is a great selection of beers

Denizens Brewing Company

One of my favorites, Denizen’s Born Bohemian Pilsner, will be on tap in sections 119, 129, and 141. It will also be available in 16-ounce cans in the marketplaces in sections 110, 129, and 306.

Atlas Brewing Company

Atlas always partners with the Nationals to offer their popular and great tasting Bullpen Pilsner. It’ll be offered throughout the ballpark. You’ll also be able to find their Dance of the Days Pale Ale.

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company

They have the Left Field Lounge, a rustic bar and picnic area in Section 301 that features the popular Virginia brewery’s staple beers and sometimes offers exclusive specials in partnership with the Nationals.

Other Craft Beer Options

Port City’s Integral IPA, Port City’s Optimal Wit, Three Stars Brewing’s Above the Clouds Farmhouse Ale, Flying Dog’s Snake Dog IPA are also available at select stands and from roving beer vendors. 

Budweiser Zero will be available if you just want to smell like you’re drunk. With all the great new non-alcoholic craft beers out there, why did they go with this one. Oh well, to each his own.

So, get into a great American tradition. Go enjoy a Nat’s baseball game. Eat a hot dog and some popcorn. Drink a good craft beer. It’s not like you don’t have a great selection to explore. And make sure you sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the Seventh Inning Stretch at the top of your lungs. It’s a huge part of the experience.  And after drinking beer all afternoon, you’ll have wonderful singing voice. Or at least you’ll think so. Cheers!!

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Blue Run Reflection II Bourbon

Blue Run has some fantastic bourbons. This one is perfect for Springtime. It’s noticeably light in color and has a gentle flavor profile. It’s gentle on the nose too with honey, allspice, and honeydew melon coming through. On the palate, the allspice continues. You also get cinnamon and floral notes. It finishes with honeycomb, honeydew, and some lingering spice flavors. You don’t really get any of the traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. But it’s still a very good bourbon. At 100 Proof and around $95 a bottle, it’s well worth it.

Oliva Connecticut Toro

This is a light cigar to go with a light bourbon. It’s a great Springtime cigar. It opens with cream and wood notes. As you get into the smoke, cinnamon comes along with more cream flavor. The cigar finishes smoothly and cleanly with cedar, cinnamon, and cream. It’s a wonderful tailgate before the baseball game smoke and will pair perfectly with the Blue Run Reflection II Bourbon.

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