My partner and I decided on a few days notice that we should finally hop down to Delaware and visit the Dogfish Head Brewery and Restaurant. Low and behold, we arrive and it's their annual Analogue-A-GoGo event with craft cask brew and vinyl; commemorated with a swank, 7" beer checklist.
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Under the tent, we sipped on 7 event-only cask brews and while perusing records (I happily picked up Om's 'God Is Good' and Swans lauded 'The Seer' 3xLP).
Namastina ABV: 4.7%
As the name implies, this is a blend of their Belgian-style Witbier Namaste and their Festina Peche neo-Berliner-Weisse. Notes of fresh citrus, mild tartness, and low carbonation makes for a nice summer cask. Soft Belgian spice notes smooth out the sour pucker.
Sophia ABV: 4.8%
This Witbier is brewed with tellychery, Long Indian, pink peppercorns and coriander and kicks off with a light, earthy nose with faint hints of citrus and spice. The flavor is smooth, mildly dry, with a chalky mouthfeel. Pleasant, smooth light pepper and citrus notes work well for cask, though not as stand-out as anticipated.
Loren ABV: 4.8%
Now we're talking. Loren is Sophia, dry-hopped with Zythos and conditioned with fresh organic strawberries. Awesome, sharp hop citrus notes (though not overly bitter) leap out, backed by refreshing semi-sweet strawberry notes and thin thread of pepper spice. Refreshing and delicious.
Premavera ABV: 5.0%
Topping even the tasty Loren, Premavera is another Wit, this time with blood orange, lavender, and NY-grown buckwheat. Fantastic, savory, soft, citrus wheat flavors dance across the palate. Great choice for cask and damn good.
Wild Sage Bravo ABV: 5.0%
As one of the more intriguing concoctions, this American Wheat Beer is brewed with all Bravo hops and White Sage and Wild Mint Tea from Juniper Ridge - which is around the corner from DFH HQ. It's a wonderful beer-tea hybrid that's mild, sweet, and suprisingly not dry for all the tea influence. Delicate juniper notes throughout with a soft, cool mint finish.
Pennsylvania Tuxedo ABV: 4.7%
"I like this the best - not wait this one!" In collaboration with the iconic Woolrich clothing company, this oddly yet appropriately monikered beer is a rye pale ale brewed with fresh spruce tips. It's malty and spicy with a slight herbal characteristics. Beautiful hop presence and balance supported by rustic, spice rye and just the right amount of spruce. Solid.
Coo-Coo for Cocoa Shells ABV: 12%
DFH's Palo Santo Marron with cocoa and coffee? Sign me up. Burnt, dry coffee nose followed by amazingly smooth dark chocolate flavors that finishes up semisweet with nice booze heat. Great way to finish off the cask-only brews under the tent.
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We missed the cut for the 1PM tour (and our last chance to do it and stay on time), but there was plenty more to do. After a short walk, on what turned out to be an incredibly pleasant, sunny day; we take a quick tour of DFH's new expansion center and bottle line and two more cask brews.
75 Minute IPA ABV: 7.5%
It's been a minute since I've had the 75 - a blend of DFH 60 Minute and 90 Minute, dry-hopped with whole-leaf Cascades and cask-conditioned with maple syrup. On cask it's sweeter than the 60/90 + dry-hop may imply with a wonderful hop bouquet on the nose and tongue that dries up nicely in the finish.
Super-Fly ABV: 5.0%
Another easy winner of the day, Super-Fly is DFH's English-style pale Firefly, souped-up with whole-leaf Citra hops making for an incredibly fragrant nose of grassy, herbal, and cintrus hops. A flavor packed brew, touting pungent ripe pineapple and mango with a perfect, silky-smooth cask mouthfeel. Superb American/English pale hybrid and one of the best cask-fit brews of the day.
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Back inside the brewery proper, it was time for some high-gravity goodness.Positive Contact ABV: 9.0%
Into the brewery itself, we're on to the final three of the day. PC is Fuji cider, slow-roasted farro, with cayenne and fresh cilantro. I swear I've had this before, but have never been this struck by it - a mildly funky ripe-apple nose lures you in followed by a refreshing, soft apple tartness and a mild but notable spice heat. Great change of pace.
Bitches Brew ABV: 9.0%
It's been a long time since I've had this hefty imperial stout / honey beer hybrid with gesho root. As expected it kicks off with a big chocolate nose and gigantic chocolate flavors and wraps up super dry. Pungent coffee and sharp spice and spicy booze notes are present throughout. I have to remember to grab this one more often.
Hellhound ABV: 10.0%
As previously blogged, this is a damn good beer. Wonderful hop nose followed up by the perfect dance of pungent hop and dense sweet malt balance. Like blending your favorite DIPA and Old Ales with a touch of lemon. Perfect.
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After about an hour's drive to Rohoboth Beech, we took in some waves and sun. Hoofing it back, I could not be more excited to finally have some of my favorite DFH brews on draft and continue to soak in more draft-only creations until suddenly...
Sadness. We had to leave town in 2-3 hours and after speaking to one of the chefs (and getting a solid consolation brewpub recommendation), there was no way we were getting in. Another time.
Overall, the trip was a success, full of new, unexpected brews. Pennsylvania Tux and Premavera were my top favorites of the session-strength brews and all those over 9.0% were just great. See you again soon, Delaware.
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