An Oktoberfest of One

Sometimes there's a pot of gold at the rainbow's end of an internet rumor. Other times, it's a keg of beer.

Thanks to a discussion board thread based on a Facebook entry, we caught wind of a secret small cache of Pennsylvania lager that's not available past New York. Eager for liquid nostalgia, Bostonist headed to Dante inside Cambridge's Royal Sonesta Hotel.

It's easy to feel out-classed if one doesn't usually hang out at fancy hotel restaurants, but the friendly bar staff made even dive-bar denizens like Bostonist feel welcome. They admitted it's a swanky spot but contended that it's not entirely upper-crust. When we asked about the brew that we won't directly mention, the bartender nonchalantly responded, "Who told you that?"

Good reporters don't reveal their sources, so we folded like a napkin. Without confirming or denying anything, the bartender poured us a pint of "something" that we might like. None of the taps have identifying handles, but it was certainly the beer we'd sought.

What began as a case from Philly brought back for private drinking pleasure turned into a couple kegs picked up on a family visit to New Jersey. One of Dante's bartenders estimates the stash might last two weeks or less as word spreads around the city.

Not-so-secret stuff about Dante's: Miller High Life is regularly available there for $2, and the bar menu keeps food offerings under $10. Bostonist had the "Perfect Little Burger" ($6). The description only misleads by calling itself little; we cut it in half to handle the mini-tower of beef, bun, and toppings. It was served with a side of delicious, thin, sea-salted fries that couldn't get into our mouth fast enough. By comparison, any $6 fast-food combo meal is an insult to your wallet and stomach.

For those who want to grab a frothy old friend, try to keep it on the down-low. It will appear on your bill as one of the beers on tap ($5). Dante's: doing its best to supply you with alternatives to Sam Adams.

Photos by Bostonist.