Are you still excited to see their beer in the store ? Do you feel flagships like 60min don't drink the same? Do you feel they are still "Off Centered" enough? & Among many other questions but ultimately, Where does does dogfish Head stand with you and what are your current thoughts on the current state of their brewery and their beer ?
Not really. Appreciate them for what they did, but don't really buy anything unless I'm somewhere there isn't a better option available. They actually made "out-there" beers that were drinkable back in the day. Maybe they still do and I just don't see them anymore. Chicory Stout, Palo Santo, India Brown and the stuff they released in bombers were all really great takes on classics. Seems like they've gone the reverse of the industry, and just cling to a few core beers and seasonals. So maybe they're "off-centered" for doing that.
I usually grab a bottle of 90 minute if I see it and it’s fresh. Other than that, we don’t get much from them here in Utah.
all Great Beer. Im am happy that I got to try them while they were around. Im sure they have a good reason for retiring them. Possible the IPA craze has alot to do with it. People dont wana drink Hoppy Brown Ales or Stouts as much anymore. Do you feel their quality has remained the same, at least with regards to their flagships like say 60 min ?
Likewise here in the PNW. A local beer bar had a keg of 10 year old WWS they put on a few weeks ago, but otherwise it's been a year or two since I last saw any of their beers in the PDX area. I assume they're no longer distributed out here Have nothing against Sam C. and his legacy, but it does sort of seem like they really aren't much of a player in the craft beer market any more. At least not out here.
I still buy my fair share of 90 Minute- Just a classic dipa, imo. I'll usually pick up singles of their new stuff when I see it as well. The Wake Up Worldwide that was included in the Extreme Stout box was really solid! With all that being said, I don't think they stand out in the craft beer world nearly as much as they used to. I have a lot of great memories of when they did, though
Oh, second that. Burton Baton was a good beer. In general...I don't pay much attention to Dogfish Head any more. Whenever I see their 90 minute, I think about buying it, but I haven't pulled the trigger in 5+ years, most likely.
I really miss all their weird experimental 750ml bottles. Such a unique and memorable part of 2000's beer. I can't recall the last time I bought anything - it's all just stuff aimed at mass market (which is great if it helps the beer-curious explore styles). Very "centered" ironically. Midas Touch was my wife's favorite but they stopped making that (or at least don't ship to CA anymore when they do). And I haven't seen 120 Minute out here in years (at least anywhere I go). I still wear my classic green t-shirt regularly with pride though.
Like others, I can’t recall the last time I had a DFH beer (I have reviewed 20 of their beers, which is more than I would have guessed). But I have seen some recently (90 Minute etc.) so I know they still distribute here. Would probably pick up Palo Santo Marron if it still existed, Burton Baton, Indian Brown etc. if I saw them, but I wouldn’t go too far out of my way. Back when they started out there were probably only, what, a few hundred breweries across the country? And now several thousand? It must just get harder and harder to stand out from the crowd.
Their Punkin Ale is still one of the best pumpkin beers around. I still like 60 Min. as a everyday, easy drinking IPA.
Thanks to a generous trader I got to try 90 minutes and it was something unique some five years ago. Otherwise unavailable in Europe. Couldn’t tell if it taste the same today. Like Flying Dog they may not be entirely relevant today but they succeeded in brewing some delicious beers. (I like Flying Dog and they had a respectable portfolio but missed the chance to brew something special IMO).
I bought a 6 pack of 90 Minute maybe a month ago and it tasted off/syrupy. I can’t recall if there was a bottle date. I won’t try again.
I think they’re still “relevant”, but maybe you could better define what “relevant” means in this discussion @DEdesings57? 90-minute is still a great flagship. I often get it when I’m on Amtrak. And the Utopias Barrel Aged 120 was among the most anticipated / hyped beers for me in recent years. Seemed pretty off-centered. Obviously, the model of beer purchasing for beer nerds has changed over the last decade. We buy more from breweries directly, and rely less on the retailers Dogfish Head and Sam Adams have traditionally sold through. For hyper fresh styles like NEIPAs and even some lagers, retail-shelf beers cannot compete as well. Doesn’t make them irrelevant.
I really only look out for the high-test radioactive stuff... I STILL have yet to find basic WWS, but have gotten some variants. 120 Minute used to be, like, a "rarity"... now its like they're printing the stuff.
