good article on Dogfish Head and extreme beer

From the New Yorker; 10 pages, and great reading.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_bilger

I'll second this. Made me go looking for six packs. Anyone know where to get some Dogfish in Eastern Mass.??

The [Great American Beer] festival was sold out for the first time. Over the next few days, some twenty-eight thousand attendees would pay fifty dollars for a wristband and a small plastic glass for tasting samples. The outcome was predictable. When the doors were flung open at five-thirty, six thousand people barrelled in and began drinking immediately, in great quantity. They wandered around in Viking horns, jester bells, and hats shaped like foaming steins, their bellies jutting from beer-themed T-shirts. One shirt showed Jesus hoisting a frothy mug with the caption “King of the Brews.” To make sure that the noise stayed near the shattering point, a bagpipe ensemble roamed the hall, blasting fanfares at unexpected moments. Whenever there was a lull, some oaf would drop his glass on the concrete floor and the entire assembly—as per tradition—would erupt into an epic whoop.

I want to go!!!

Seriously, I have a $100 gift certificate for a place that has several kinds of Dogfish. Any recommendations?

When I lived on the West Coast, Doghead had great distribution in grocery stores. Their 90 min & 60 min IPA's were frequent visitors to my fridge. They had a chicory stout that was just drop dead tasty. Before Halloween they release a Pumpkin beer that is head and shoulders abover the other pumpkin brews released around that time.

A full Doghead listing: (including discontinued brews)

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10099

quote:

Originally posted by Mosca

From the New Yorker; 10 pages, and great reading.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_bilger

Interesting thread on BeerAdvocate about that article, with participation from both Brooklyn's Garrett Oliver and Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione (both subjects in the piece) as well as the author, Burkhard Bilger- http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/1632647

I recently had dinner at Slow's BBQ in Detroit and I noticed a DFH brew I had never heard of before - Palo Santo Marron. I was intrigued by the name, so I ordered one. An incredibly impressive beer - dark, flavorful, and packs a punch (12% ABV, I believe). Anyway, if you enjoy dark/wood aged beers, I would highly recommend this one (if it is still available).

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon


Seriously, I have a $100 gift certificate for a place that has several kinds of Dogfish. Any recommendations?

I haven't tasted anywhere near all of them by half. But I would say that the heart of the DFH lineup has 60 Minute IPA batting third, and 90 Minute IPA batting cleanup. Everything from there is a position player, DFH is willing to swap them in and out at will, but the minute ales are constant. 120 IPA is another brew that divides people; some love that it's really over the top, some hate it for the same reason. I've had the Raison d'Etre, and IMO it is in the same class as the 60- and 90-; very worthy.

I copied some notes from the beer web site, and jotted down the recommendations made here, and trundled off to the fancy liquor store a few miles away.

There was a whole school of Dogfish!




I bought a 6-pack of 60 Minute IPA, a 4-pack of Midas Touch, a 4-pack of Palo Santo Maron, two Raison d'Extras and two 120 Minute IPA's.

When Happy Hour arrived, I popped open a 60 Minute IPA and poured it into a mug. Not much head, but it was fine-grain and clingy (a good sign, to me). At first sip, there was a strong rush of hops; I almost thought it was too bitter. Then after a few more, It balanced out with the malt. I really like it.

I noticed that the head left rings on the mug, so I took a snapshot:



So far, Dogfish Head has been a great find. I look forward to opening a couple of more flavors this evening. (Dare I go straight to the 120?) Thanks for the recommendations.

Nice selection there MD. I had a 4 pack of 90 minute and a rack of ribs 2 nights ago...good stuff.

LOL, go for the 120, but make sure you don't have any physical or mental challenges ahead. According to Beer Advocate, it's 21% alcohol by volume.

I haven't tried the Midas Touch or Palo Santo Maron, but I like the Raison d'Etre. It's a good beef beer.

My favorites of the IPAs are the 60- and 90-.

I read the BA forum discussion of the article, and I sent an email to Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery. He sent me a nice email in return. IMO that is one of the great things about craft brewing and electronic communication; you get to connect with people. My next 6 pack is going to be a Brooklyn Brewery product, probably the Russian Imperial Stout if I can find it.

MD, I picked up some Palo Santo Marron today (along with some 90, Raison, and Indian Brown)...have you tried the Palo yet? Interested in your feedback.

quote:

Originally posted by RibRater

MD, I picked up some Palo Santo Marron today (along with some 90, Raison, and Indian Brown)...have you tried the Palo yet? Interested in your feedback.

I had a bottle of the Palo after the 120 Minute IPA yesterday (and yes, the 120 gave me a buzz). I found the Palo to be too sweet for my taste. Perhaps it was exacerbated by drinking it following the 120, but I was not pleased. I have three more, so maybe I'll try one first this PM, to give it a fair shake.

Ha! Well, I think the only thing I would drink after a 120 is either another 120 or a shot of EverClear.


Thanks for the feedback.

I like the Palo...somewhere between a wine and a bourbon'ish but malty beer. A little sweet but overall very nice. Will make a nice addition to my chocolate and oatmeal stout days.

Although I like Micro beers as much as anybody, I kind of agree with Garrett Oliver's take on the extreme beers...it's like having the most salt in a recipe, what's the point?

Miami Don, what's that opener in your pic? It looks like an antique. I used to collect that sort of stuff so I'm curious.

I also notice you enjoyed your beer out on your deck or patio. Nice. These days I can't even enjoy my beer in my basement unless I turn on the space heater.

I had another Maron yesterday evening, and I drank it first this time. Much better than the first time that was after the 120. Still a bit sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. I followed it with a 120, which then tasted to much of hops. I think I see a pattern here. 120 and Maron should not be drank in close sequence!


Ken8038: The opener is solid brass, and has versions of "Cheers!) in various languages on it. I bought it new, about 20 years ago, but I have no recollection as to where. I hang it on a hook on the column that you can see in the background (there's a bar the right not visible in the photo), and it's aging nicely.

Reading that article only confirms my decision to stop judging at GABF eight years ago.