30 Minute IPA. Has a bit of a sit-com ring to it but it is the newest sibling in the Dogfish “Minute” family. For their 28th anniversary, a summery session IPA was the choice and maybe it will herald a re-look at the session style.
Half Hour
Asteroids
If I had to pick a brewery to pair with film director Wes Anderson, Dogfish Head would certainly make the short list.
The latest Anderson movie is Asteroid City and Calagione and crew have “brewed with regeneratively grown pilsner malt, Tuxpeno corn malt and Zuper Saazer hops for subtle notes of savory corn and a whiff of wild blossoms and herbs, Asteroid City Lager was then finished with a mid-20th century Pennsylvania lager yeast as a nod to the 1950s era during which “Asteroid City” takes place.”
You can find the beer at Alamo Draft Houses showing the flick. Maybe movies should get signature beers.
An Angel & A Shark
It’s been a bit since Dogfish Head has come to Los Angeles, but the iconic brewery is collaborating with Angel City Brewery on a new beer.
“A delicious Saison brewed with honey, vinegar & calamansi, a delicious & juicy Filipino lime which inspired the name of this delicious concoction… Juicy Deets.”
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 16 to not only get in on these Juicy Deets, but to “meet Sam Calagione, founder & president of Dogfish Head, who will be here to meet every single one of you SoCal craft beer lovers.”
Maybe Not So Strange Bedfellows – Part 2
Of course Sam Adams and Dogfish Head have a sharing pipeline, that is not so strange and of course the Minute IPAs and Utopias are obvious as where to go first but I am still kinda on the fence about…..
….this seems to be more battle royale than melding of flavors.
Spinning into Cans
Coming this year, well it started last year, is a historical beer but canned from Dogfish Head, Midas Touch.
Taking big creative ingredient risks is a Dogfish trait that many breweries have now in their DNA from the start.
Cuban Utopia
Breweries seem to be leaning back into flagships as inspiration for brand extending. Think Two Hearted or Ja Alai and their siblings.
It should come as no surprise then that Dogfish Head and Sam Adams are leveraging Utopias now as well….
To be honest, this sounds like an interesting treatment and if given a bottle would profusely thank the giver but will that be the same with the next beer in this possible series?
Bonus Christmas Beer Review – Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout
I always try to leave space for a beer that I received at Christmas, this year that beer is …a combo of partners Dogfish Head and Sam Adams.
This is a big one. First hit is maple and lots of it. Not sugary though, more dry. It is an odd duck. I get some notes of Utopias peering through but that maple is the keynote. The cheeks warm after just a couple sips but the alcohol is not a large presence. I do get some tobacco / coffee ground combo. Chicory maybe. Due to the cost per bottle and the ABV, this is a special occasion beer.
Beer Book Review – Dogfish Head – 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures
It is hard to imagine craft beer without Dogfish Head. They are the Ur and Urkontinent of many craft beer givens that breweries basically start with these days.
And this 26 year history (did you think they would be so prosaic as to do 25?) ticks all the trailblazing boxes. First thing you will notice is that the book is heavy in weight of both cover and pages, as well as photos. They put money into quality which they have done with all their beers.
Second, they spent many pages on employee profiles. What book does that but in craft beer? You are not going to read about Coors employees, but to DFH that is important, so it is in the book.
You also can’t turn more than a few pages without reading about local focus on ingredients as well as charity and collaboration. Remind you of your local brewery? It should.
Now, I have to say that my introvert self would probably never work there but they have created a workplace that many live for which is really cool. And they have grown it thoughtfully as Sam’s mid-life mobile will attest. Restaurants, distilling and an Inn are evidence if that. Time will tell on the Florida expansion.
For those jaded by the current beer scene. Those put off by seltzers. Those who aren’t into craft beer anymore might just be rejuvenated by the words of Emerson and Calagione.
You can order your copy HERE. You might want to pick up some 90 Minute as well.
A Dogfish in Miami
It appears that Dogfish Head Brewing is taking their talents to Miami.
Dogfish Head Miami is billed by owner Sam Calagione as a “multi-sensory experience” that will include a “SeaQuenching Engine,” to control a sour wort’s pH and acidity levels. They are also partnering with the University of Florida Agricultural program as well as a record label.
Dogfish Head Miami opened on May 21st.
Even the Oat Milk
If lactose can be a featured IPAs then why not oat milk? Dogfish Head thinks that way at least with their new Hazy-O – a “hazy IPA brewed with four types of oats – malted oats, rolled oat, naked oats and oat milk.” Personally, I would like to sample a no oat milk version to see what that adds.