Thanks to a post from Sandy Mitchell, who writes his own blog for the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News, on Tuesday I was able to sip a pint of a dark cherry porter from Ommegang brewery in Cooperstown, N.Y. The brew is known informally as Obamagang. I found it at Alsonso's bar and restaurant in Roland Park.

As I sipped the dark beer and watched the inaugural parade on the bar's TV, I did not, as every TV commentator felt compelled to say, feel "that I was a part of history."

But it was a pleasant experience. This beer, which apparently could not be sold in bottles because of a fight with the feds over putting the new president's image on a beer label, is sold only on tap and is called both 2009 Ale and Obamagang. It is dark , a porter, and a little over 6 percent alcohol by volume. It was a tad too sweet for me. That and the $8 price tag -- some of the proceeds are said to being going to charities -- limited me to one pint. Barack did say we are going to have to sacrifice.

Other area establishments pubs serving this beer, according to the Ommegang web site , are Max's on Broadway, Mahaffey's, Racer's and  Frisco's Burrito's.

Anyone else sample this brew?

What do you think? Is it an historic winner or a pricey disappointment?