Those who know me or happen to be my friend on Foursquare sure know my favorite hang around town is The Bulldog Northeast. A new favorite since opening last autumn is Ginger Hop.

Despite one being gastro-American and the other Asian-fusion, the two places have some things in common: They’re two blocks apart, part of what I’ve dubbed the Beer Triangle (Mac’s Industrial Sports Bar is the third point of the triangle), have the same 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour and they both have wings on the menu. Until today, I’d never tried the wings at the Bulldog or Ginger Hop, but what else is one to do on a President’s Day afternoon but eat wings?

Ginger Hop’s wings are listed on the happy hour menu as Hop Wings for just $5. Along with $3 dollar tap beers (I had a Bell’s Two Hearted), I’ll cut the suspense, Ginger Hop wins this battle by a long shot. The wings are just slightly spice and a little bit sticky-sweet; they came covered with scallions and served with blue cheese and celery, and were some of the best wings I’ve had in weeks.

The Bulldog’s wings aren’t on the happy hour menu and go for $8. I got another Two Hearted for $4. Now there aren’t many things on the Bulldog’s menu that I don’t like, but these buffalo wings were way below acceptable. They came in the Bulldog’s signature checkered paper basket; the chicken tasted less than fresh and wasn’t so much coated in a nice thick sauce as swimming in a pool of buffalo juice.

(An aside: try the Bulldog’s short rib sandwich, which is a special this week, but I’m told has a good chance of making it on to the regular menu; absolutely delicious.)

If you’re hungry for wings in Northeast Minneapolis late in the afternoon, do your wallet and a stomach a favor and head over to Ginger Hop.