A Toast to the President-Elect

We're a month away from the inauguration, and Barack Obama-related merchandise is slowly taking over the city. My favorite souvenir so far isn't sold by vendors outside Farragut North or along the Mall -- it's only available at the Capitol City Brewing Company.

The front of the InaugurAle glass ... (Fritz Hahn/washingtonpost.com)

... and the back. (Fritz Hahn/washingtonpost.com)

Back during primary season, we told you about Election Ale, a dry, crisp American pale ale brewed with American hops. After November 5, it's been reformulated as InaugurAle, adding some honey from Illinois to the mix in honor of Barack Obama. The result is a pleasant, easy-drinking beer with a citrusy nose. The touch of honey in the finish adds some lingering sweetness and knocks the edge off the hop bite.

InaugurAle will be on the taps until January 20; after that, brewer Mike McCarthy says, "we're not making any more."

But the real reason to give it a try soon is a commemorative InaugurAle pint glass. One side of the glass has a large Capitol City Brewing Company logo, modeled on the Statue of Freedom atop the U.S. Capitol. The glasses sell for $5 each, or $8 if you want it filled with InaugurAle.

McCarthy says only 4,000 of the glasses have been produced so far, though more may be printed depending on demand. He's expecting to sell quite a few to out-of-town visitors in coming weeks.

-- Fritz