Capitol City’s InaugurAle. Photo by Eric Denman

Regardless of where you’ll be when Inauguration fever sets in, you’ll need an appropriate beverage to toast our new President. Some folks may tout the celebratory bottle of Champagne, and there are no shortage of Obama-themed cocktails around. However, I plan on focusing on the man himself in my Inaugural drinking, and he has stated his preference for a nice beer. With this focus, you can take one of two approaches: Drink beers that are brewed in Obama’s home state(s), or drink beers that were brewed for Inauguration.

The Hawaiian beers include Kona Brewing (Pipeline Porter is a particularly good coffee porter, and their Pale Ale is pretty nice as well) and Primo (a pretty generic lager).

Chicago beers are harder to come by: Goose Island won’t be available in time for the ceremony. Obama originally wanted to have beer from Piece brewpub, but the brewery doesn’t bottle any of their offerings and the Obama offices wouldn’t take kegs. So the only Chicago-ish beers available are not from Chicago: Heileman’s Old Style (stunningly popular in Chicago, but hails from Milwaukee), and Three Floyds (from Indiana). I’d bend the rules a bit for Three Floyds, if their beers are still available at Birreria Paradiso. Old Style and Primo are both available at liquor stores around the city (P St. Whole Foods, Chevy Chase Liquors), and at a few bars (Chef Geoff’s, The Pug, The Brickskeller, CommonWealth).

As far as Inauguration-themed beers go, Birreria Paradiso and the Brickskeller have you covered. Ommegang Brewery out of Cooperstown, NY has brewed a draught-only “Obamagang” beer. Despite a tussle with the labeling folks, this Inauguration Ale will be on tap at Birreria as well as RFD and the Brickskeller. If you drink one and can still say “Ommegang Obamagang” five times fast, you win a prize*. Birreria is also carrying the Avery “Ale to the Chief”, a commemorative Double IPA.

For something brewed in D.C., you can stop by Capitol City Brewing and pick up a pint of InaugurAle, a nice blonde ale with a bready, full-bodied character. For $8, you get to keep the commemorative glass. And really, I don’t want any Obama souvenirs unless they involve booze.

* Prize is an imaginary stuffed bear. Cheers!