Mad Fox The Elixir Maibock
Where in Town: Mad Fox Brewing Company, 444 West Broad St., Falls Church
Price: $6/16 oz.
Mad About Brew
Since it opened four years ago, Mad Fox Brewing Company has been recognized as one of the area’s best spots for locally made craft beer. Founded by veteran brewer Bill Madden, who cut his teeth at Alexandria’s Capitol City Brewing Company and Leesburg’s Vintage 50, the Falls Church brewpub boasts 10 house beers on draft and up to six properly conditioned real ales on cask. There isn’t a single bad choice for washing down dishes like fried pickles, or my personal favorite, the bacon jam bleu cheese burger. Falls Church too far from your foxhole? Madden is opening a tap room in Glover Park later this year. In the meantime, try Chevy Chase’s Broad Branch Market for Mad Fox growler fills or Meridian Pint and ChurchKey for drafts.
Rock the Bock
Mad Fox’s spring bock festival a couple weeks ago showcased malty, German-style lagers from more than 20 breweries. One of the better ones, especially for a sunny Saturday afternoon, was Mad Fox’s own The Elixir—a clean, crisp, light-bodied brew that is a quaffable 6.5 percent alcohol by volume. The award-winning beer’s toasted bread, caramel, and nut flavors are followed by a dry, satisfying finish. The Elixir belongs to a class of beers known as Maibocks, typically brewed in spring (“Mai” is German for May), and like Mad Fox’s Kellerbier Kölsch and Orange Whip IPA, makes a perfect companion for the season.
Photo by Tammy Tuck