Dogfish Head Brewery Tours 2014

I think that's a pretty unrealistic request. The point of a production brewery is to produce packaged beer in large batches. Not to maximize a "tour experience".

 

Then what would be the incentive to visit the pub?

 

novelty and atmosphere alone do not bring the beer nerds out (especially when there is usually a 1hr+ wait at the pub in the summer)

besides, the brewpub system is 2.5bbl. brewpub beers would kick in days if they were on at the brewery as well.

 

guys, craft beer is a business. don't act like it isn't. you can be dissapointed in the way they choose to conduct themselves but breweries are going to do what is in their best interests as a business, especially when they are as big as DFH is now.

 

yeah bro....

 

This thread has really bummed me out, I was planning on going this later this week before the Shore Leave convention but now I'm really not sure.

 

I walked in on Saturday at noon and got in right away. We got a bit lucky, but the wait was no longer then one hour which was easy to do with the Bocci and Corn Hole games.

 

Come up to PA and tour Victory. Good tour, great beer, great food, great people. All around a great experience. My wife (who doesn't drink beer, unless we're on a tour) thought Victory is awesome and always asks about going back. Quality operations start to finish, oh and I can pick up a case of their Double IPA for <$45.

Full disclosure I'm a local who loves Victory, but I still buy my fair share of DFH.

 

I agree Victory is great but you should mention that they are also 1st come 1st serve and don't take reservations. There is a lot more to do there than DFH though if you are caught waiting between tours.

 

Just out of curiosity, if you've done the tour before, why would you want to again? I feel like you've seen done one brewery tour, you've done them all other than individual stories. Is there something special and unique that makes it worth repeating?

 

I have negative feelings to their new tasting room expansion and brewery tours. The staff there is full of good people I will say that, however the enthusiasm of a few beer servers at the brewery is lacking. Half the time, they pour one or two people a beer and go do personal business or chit chat. With all understanding that people need breaks, when you have a group of people that line the bar two or three deep, you need to be on your toes. Just like any other bar now, if you go to the tasting room, lets say with your significant other, and there is a group of good looking women there you can forget about it. Not that I can blame them but if you are waiting for a beer 5, 10, or 15 minutes it makes no difference to a certain few that work there. You might as well go in the retail shop and buy warm beer to drink, it will be a lot faster.

As far as the tour system, it used to be scheduled as previously mentioned. This was nice as it usually regulated the amount of people at the brewery and tasting room. Now its just a free for all, creating more foot traffic and less enjoyment.

Dogfish head for me is nice to visit every once in a while...

However there are plenty more breweries in Delaware that actually care about your business.

Just my opinion

 

Has anyone complaining about their new process since their expansion actually emailed or talk to the brewery about it. I've fond them pretty responsive in the past. They probably would welcome feedback as they grow. I've only been a couple of times since the expansion for the Vintage & Vinyl Nights, and while crowded have received good service. I have no problem with them turning their space into a cash cow, and love that on the V&V nights you can actually buy the vintage bottles to go at a fair price. Scored some 2008 120 Min. last summer for $11 per bottle, only $2 more than new 120.