The Dilly Deli, with pictures!

We went to the Dilly Deli this week on our trip to Mariemont for haircuts at Tycoon Harry's. Our appointments were a little later, so we sat at the bar and ordered a few beers and some appetizers.

We've never sat at the bar before—David does not like sitting on barstools—so for that reason had probably missed seeing the Peanut, the genius behind the beer selection at the Dilly Deli. Peanut's name is mentioned often in our conversations with the beer enthusiasts who work at Hyde Park Wine and Spirits, so I was excited to meet him for the first time.



Nifty poster on the wall—I totally agree with Hobgoblins' assessment of lagers. pfft.
The beers on tap at the Dilly Deli currently (as of 2/2/09) are:

Morland Old Speckled Hen (5.35 ABV) 4.95/3.75

Tripel Karmeliet (8.4 ABV) 5.75 for 10 oz

Stone Levitation Ale (4.4 ABV) 4.95/3.75

Founders Double Trouble IPA (9.5 ABV) 5.95/4.25

On Cask: Clipper City Heavy Seas loose cannon Hop 3 Ale

(7.2 ABV) 5.95/4.25

Mount Carmel Winter Ale (8.0 ABV) 4.95/3.75

Troegs Hopback Amber Ale (5.6 ABV) 4.95/3.75

North Coast Old Stock Ale (12.5 ABV) 6.75 for 10 oz

Duchesse de Bourgogne (6.2 ABV) 5.75 for 10 oz

Brooklyn Blast (8.0 ABV) 4.95/3.50

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager (5.8 ABV) 4.95/3.70

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock (5.6 ABV) 5.95/4.25

I went with a Double Trouble IPA, which I'd had before, but not on tap. It was delicious. We ordered the beer cheese and 12 Dilly Wings with barbecue sauce on the side.
The beer cheese is as delicious as we remembered—a little spicy, a little tangy, served with baguette.
The wings are still the best in the city. Peanut noticed me taking a lot of pictures of the wings and asked why. I explained to him that I had proclaimed the wings the best, and that I needed photo evidence to convince nonbelievers.
For my second beer, I tried a Tripel Karmeliet, which was an excellent Belgian tripel. I talked to Peanut a little more, and found out that Belgian beers are his favorites, though he tries to have a balance on tap—thus the double IPA's and barleywine old ale.

David tried the North Coast Old Stock Ale, which had a lovely red color and was very rich. It's definitely a sipping beer. He also tried the Mount Carmel Winter, which we both liked. I think Mount Carmel brewery is an up and coming brewery in Cincinnati and a force to be reckoned with.

old stock

David's favorite, though, was the Duchesse de Bourgogne, a flemish sour ale. We've seen it before in the bottle and it never caught our eye. It was our loss. It has the sweet/tart combination of Lindeman's framboise, but it comes from the malt and hops somehow. It is an excellent beer with food. I'd be hesitant to have it alone. Peanut recommended it with a nice, well marbled rib eye. I think that may be the next meal we cook.

Thanks Peanut!