(SpoCOOL) A Spokane Blog

If we have learned anything this last week, it's that Atticus is the place to go if you're young and hip and with it. This, in turn, makes Atticus a perfect spot for Team SpoCOOL, not because we're particularly young or under any illusion of being hip and not at all with it (unless having a near encyclopedic knowledge of Murder, She Wrote would qualify us for any of those), but because we now have a great spot for eavesdropping. It's a great way to learn the behavior of the late teens/early twenties hiptivist, and who wouldn't want to do that?

Here are some things we picked up:

ArtFest was pretty lame and you'd have to be insane to be seen there. I mean, come on, could it have been more mainstream? What we didn't know, however, was that Elkfest, too, is lame. "You went to Elkfest when [some person] had a party? Elkfest happens every year, this was, like, a once in a lifetime party!" And yes, we felt pretty lame for not only checking out ArtFest and Elkfest, but also for not knowing about what seemingly was the party of the year.

Going to Sasquatch '11 -- how bourgeois. Going to the Anti-Sasquatch party -- you might have perceived that as being cool, but you'd be wrong. So what was the appropriate reaction to Sasquatch? Simple: Go to Sasquatch to boycott the Anti-Sasquatch party that boycotted Sasquatch. Is your head spinning yet? That was actual conversation!

And so it went. It was pretty mindblowing.

As for Atticus, most of the baristas serve up a pretty excellent cup of coffee. We can even forgive the fact that SpoBREW-trash-talker Keaton pulls there. As far as espresso goes, it might be the best one downtown.

Plus, really, who wouldn't want to overhear deep, philosophical debates and musings like we did? Atticus provides the coffee; the customers provide the show.

Eavesdropping can sometimes be gold!

SpoBREW is a hair more than a month away, and the competition is heating up. Earlier this week Team SpoCOOL did an on-site inspection of The Porch, our gracious host for the event, and we were impressed. Very impressed, in fact.

Not only is the space really cool, the guys and gals behind the Porch are also growing hops outside. We're a bit torn over this. It does make the sidewalk area look nicer, but seeing they're using the hops in their SpoBREW... Will this give them a leg up on us?

Anyway! The space is large and the acoustics are awesome (they're planning on using it as a concert venue more, which makes perfect sense) so we're expecting the Porch-hosted event to be pretty awesome. 

As for the teams, they're all firing on all cylinders. All except for Team Border War that is, which still hasn't started brewing. Are they going to be the first team to bow out? The team that doesn't have what it takes? It is well known it consists of Starbucks enthusiasts and therefore we expected their brew to be inspired by Bud at any rate. Time will tell!

I have said it before, and I will unbashfully do so again: I'm not that into IPAs as they too often tend to be hop bombs with little depth. Avery's Maharaja is one that gets it right, imperial style. It was on tap at Latah Bistro last week, so run down there or any other place carrying it right now, to experience the full enjoyment factor.

And enjoy it you will. It pours a nice golden amber color with about a finger's worth of blinding white head. A whiff will push you down to the floor as the beer smacks you around with the hops, teasing you with a pungent smell of fruit. A hint of orange is definitely notable.

Then, when the beast is tamed and you can finally sip it -- and at 10.3% ABV this is definitely a sipping ale -- it all pays off. The flavor is excellent. Very hoppy, yet balanced by the sweet fruits on the finish. The orange lingers, massaging the roof of your mouth. It's like giving your tastebuds a taste at the spa.

Adding to the greatness of the flavor is the mouthfeel. It's creamy yet medium-bodied. I sipped it with some scallops, and the sweet delicate balance complimented the scallops nicely. The hopiness did not feel overpowering at all.

The Maharaja is a great IPA. It is definitely a challenging one, what with the hops and depth, and I mean that in the best way possible. Grab it on tap or pick up a bottle. It's well worth it.

We've been told Rusty Roof serves the best burger in Spokane, something the northside burger joint proudly advertises with banners and signs. It's also a pretty tall claim, what with Sante's foie gras burger and all being out there.

I suppose calling something the best burger is a pretty subjective opinion, but Rusty Roof at least serves a very good burger. Not one worth traveling miles for, but the spot is worth the stop if you're up north and are feeling hungry for a burger.

In fact, the actual patty might be the worst part of the package. It's served slightly overcooked, to the point of being gray all the way through, and doesn't score highly on the juiciness level.

The buns, apparently from Petite Chat, are where it's at. These are the kind you could eat by themselves, nice and soft, without being chewy as often is the case. It's fresh bread and it makes a world of difference.

This "fresh" actually seems to be what makes the burger stand out. There's no limp iceberg with a slab of American cheese here and thank the heavens for that. In that sense the burgers at Rusty Roof seems a bit more upscale than even the better fast-food places in town, like D. Lish's. And the food here isn't fast, which probably is a good sign. Expect a bit of a wait for your burger.

Other than that the fries are good, and the veggie burgers are simply Gardenburgers, not homemade patties. The latter is definitely a negative.

Overall Rusty Roof is an excellent burger shop. I'm not sure it's the best burger in town, and Cougar Country is better if you were to expand your search a bit. Check Rusty Roof out if in the area though.