Nationals Stadium - Anything new?

[Mister Big]

Well, the team is pretty much the SOS, but I've heard there are some new dining alternatives. Can anyone fill me in on recent discoveries?

[skipper]

According to the Jewish Week in last Thursday's edition, Shalom Kosher Market (Wheaton) is reopening the kosher food stand. It will be open for all Sunday to Thursday games and closed Friday and Saturday for obvious reasons.

[juice]

I'm heading in for a few days and will be at tonight's game. I was at the stadium last week and had a few Gordon Bierch beers which were ok, but nothing to write home about. Where else is there to grab a drink nearby that doesn't involve the Red Porch? The only thing that existed in this neighborhood when I lived in DC years ago was Nation. Any new eateries or bars within walking distance? There's got to be something with all the new growth of the Navy Yard.

[Mississippi Snopes]

I have had very good experiences with the beers in the Red Lounge recently, even on relatively crowded games (Mets on Sunday). I walked right up to the bar a few minutes before the game with no line at all. One piece of bad news -- the bartender told me that management won't let them sell the Dogfish 90 Minute any more because its alcohol content is too high. But the 60 Minute was still pretty good and WAY beyond any beer I've ever had in any other baseball park. The food in the Red Lounge isn't anything to write home about, but it's passable bar food.

[Henry Spencer]

Before the game, the crowd in the porch isn't bad, but it fills up later. I had a feeling the 90 Minute wouldn't last; a full pour of that stuff is intense for a ball game. I was told that they rotate the selection every home stand; last I had there was 60 Minute. I also discovered a stand by sec 110 that had Starr Hill Jomo Lager and Dominion Ale. This location has the added advantage of being across from the main Ben's stand.

[Insidious Rex]

Not sure about dining news but their beer line up this year HAS to be the best in the majors. On tap they have Peroni, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, Southampton Triple Abby Style Ale, Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, Williamsburg Tavern Brown Ale, Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager. And Oberon in bottles. Bear in mind this is available at the Red Loft bar but you can take it wherever you are sitting. The very concept of getting a 90 Minute or an Arrogant Bastard ON TAP at a baseball stadium is just slightly mind blowing to me still... Although Im not sure how much of either of those beers I want to be drinking when its 95 degrees in August in the outfield bleachers. But kudos to the beer manager there!

[DanielK]

Unfortunately, take back most of those kudos for Red Porch management. The selection has gone way down in recent weeks, they take too long to replace a keg or clear a blocked tap line, and it can take 30 minutes to buy a beer because the bar is short-staffed.

[Insidious Rex]

Ug I knew it was too good to be true at a baseball stadium. Whats the best beer you can get at the regular vendors stands? I know you can get some Hook & Ladder stuff.

[Mister Big]

Not that getting drunk at a Nats game isn't a good idea, but I'm looking for new and interesting ballpark food.