Actually, it's an ice cream vs. frozen custard war. Just blocks away from the recently opened (and already beloved) Molly Moon's on Capitol Hill sits Old School Custard, a small shop at 1316 E Pike that opened just this week and promises to serve up a "smoother, creamier and more flavorful" alternative to ice cream. "Think of frozen custard as the greatest ice cream you've ever tasted, only better!" declares their website.

After Stranger tech wizard Brian G. tried it yesterday, he claimed it was better than Molly Moon's (gasp!), so Paul Constant and I went to investigate. Now I've had Molly Moon's no fewer than 10 times since they opened shop in April (I'm not proud... okay, I kind of am). I love Molly Moon's. I love their homemade waffle cones, I love their selection, I love that I can get a scoop for about three bucks, and I love that the (usually very, very long) line moves quickly.

But, after just a sample of Old School's frozen custard, I was converted. They're right—it is smoother and creamier than any ice cream I've ever had! Paul described it as fancier soft serve (it's scoop-able and not whipped full of air, for example). Molly Moon's still wears the crown for selection, as Old School will only offer three flavors a day—chocolate, vanilla, and a favor of the day (today it's Kahlua Chip)—but those three flavors are delectable. So much so that I didn't completely mind that the faulty (but delicious—is that cinnamon?) waffle cone caused the quickly-melting mess to drip down my hands and leg.

To add variety to the three flavors, they also have a huge menu full of sundaes, milkshakes, concretes, smoothies, and floats all with prices comparable to Molly Moon's (it was $5.50 for a sundae and just over $5 for a double scoop waffle cone).

After finishing a Muddy Buddy (peanut butter, fudge, whipped cream, and chocolate custard), Paul Constant said: "We've got ourselves an ice cream war, gentlemen"

It's on.

(Old School Frozen Custard will be giving away free scoops Saturday between 3 and 10 pm.)