Where Spotted: Metro Wine & Spirits, 1726 Columbia Rd. NW

Price: $9.99 per six-pack

New New Coke: I’ve been purposely avoiding hoppy beers this fall and trying to challenge my palate to enjoy the sweeter things, which I tend to shun. Bell’s Amber? Check. Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale? Check. I used to draw the line at Old Chub, a hearty Scotch ale sticky with molasses and malt. But when you dive into a mug of beer expecting these flavors, they’re more manageable. With an open mind (and maw), I could appreciate Chub’s deep flavors of brown sugar, almost an artisanal version of cola syrup.

No Can Do: That said, I had a hard time finishing all 12 ounces—I would have appreciated the beer more with a partner to share it. We could have poured the ale into a pair of snifters and split this Old Chub, no matter how weird that might seem to you. Sure, like most, I’m guilty of swigging Dale’s Pale Ale straight from the tin, but Old Chub is a fireside-sipping argument for decanting if there ever was one.