Another Reason to Hate the Big Yellow Beer Makers and Love Bourdain

Beware the power of ad dollars: word is that Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione's Discovery Channel show Brew Masters has been canceled, and that "Big Beer" is responsible. And who do we have to thank for this information? Why,Anthony Bourdain, of course.

Before Bourdain started aggravating the entire internet with his thoughts on food journalism earlier this week, he let slip a couple tweets responding to an Atlantic story about beer legislation. The No Reservations host tweeted: "See what happened to Dogfish/Discovery deal. Big beer threatened to pull ads" and "Big story there. Brewmasters goes--or our ads do." What?

 

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Sucks For You, Rhode Island

Yet another reason it’s great to live in Texas.

 

After early efforts to ease the shortages fell short, Calagione made a decision that is unprecedented for the ever-growing Milton brewery and the 16-year-old brand -- the steady march across the country had to stop, about face and pull back. On Friday, markets at the farther reaches of its network -- Tennessee, Indiana, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, which had all been enjoying their Dogfish since 2003-04 -- were told that their pipeline would soon be cut off.

 

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Dogfish reins in distribution | The Daily Times | delmarvanow.com

Thirsty Thursday: Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

Yeah, I know it's not Thursday. But it was a boring, rainy, Cowboyless Sunday. So what better way to end a dreary Sunday and prepare for the coming week than to try a new brew.

When I first heard about this beer I was very excited to try it. So when I saw it at the Whole Foods Wall of Beer I had to grab a 4-pack even though I was not in beer drinking mode.

So let's start off with the flowery prose of the Dogfish Head website:

An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted. Palo Santo means "holy tree" and it's wood has been used in South American wine-making communities.

Wow. How could you not want to try that. Oh, did I mention it's 12% ABV? Interested now?

Palo Santo Marron pours and almost headless dark, dark brown. It's aroma is that of a rich porter. The first taste is that of bitter chocolate. I do taste a bit of caramel. But i'm not feeling the vanilla.

This is the very definition of a dessert beer. In fact it would probably be very tasty over a premium vanilla ice cream.

A good beer, but not one I would drink a lot of. If you're looking for something interesting to drink after a fine meal, I would highly recommend Palo Santo Marron.

B

Thirsty Thursday: Dogfish Head Red & White

For my first venture in beer reviewing, I could think of nothing better than going to my all-time favorite brewery -- Dogfish Head. I recently found a seasonal from them, Red & White. So here goes.

A big, belgian-style Wit brewed with coriander and orange peel and fermented with Pinot Noir juice. After fermentation a fraction of the batch is aged in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels, and another fraction is aged on oak staves. The beer is blended together before packaging.

That's what the bottle says.

I can think of nothing better to drink than a Belgian Wit or an Oregon Pinot Noir. So I'm excited about trying this.

This bottle is a formidable 1 pint 9.6 ounces (750 ml) and a stout 10% abv. I doubt I'll be able to drink all of this. In fact, I probably shouldn't.

On first pour, the color is golden, typical of a strong Belgian ale with a hint of red -- the Pinot Noir, no doubt.

The aroma is also typical of a great Belgian ale. It smells very much like a Maredsous 10.

The taste is slightly milder than a Maredesous 10, but also slightly sweeter.

This is delicious!!! It tastes of so many late nights at Gezellig.

There is a hint of Pinot Noir. But, honestly, if I didn't know it was there I probably could not identify it.

I feel guilty about opening this bottle. I'm not going to be able to finish it. Luckily I have a vacuum sealer. Hopefully it will work. This needs to be preserved for a least another day.

A+

Become an April Fool

From the Dallas Observer


You've dreamed for years of taking off work, jetting to Wilmington and spending a few days downing the great beers of Delaware. Well, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium saves you the trouble.
On April 1--yes, April 1, a day when everyone suspects some sort of double-cross--Flying Saucer's Montfort location hosts Claus Hagelman of the state's Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. He will present a vertical tasting of four labels: 2009 and 2006 Fort, Immort Ale and 120 Minute IPA, along with the 2009 and 2005 Burton Baton--all from Dogfish Head.
The "Off-Centered Beer Tasting Experience" (that's what they call it, thanks to the brand's unusual slogan), takes place April Fool's Day at 8 p.m. and costs $35 for UFO Club members and $40 for non-members. There's limited space, so reservations are required.
Beats a trip east.

I would disagree. A trip to Rehoboth is well worth it and not just for Dogfish Head.