I bite my tongue (fingers?) these days. My jpegs are getting dusty Below from the Master Brewers Association of The Americas' The Practical Brewer, 1940s and 1970s editions.
I'll readily admit I've thrown in the towel and now use them interchangeably. So many taphouses and even breweries describe pastry stouts (for example) as adjunct laden (when referring to things like chocolate nibs, cacao, marshmallow extract, vanilla bean, various spices, etc.).
If I see 90Min fresh(usually tallboys) , or some throwback , I'll get it. I do,do,do,do wish the ancient ales would make an occasional comeback. & Palo Santo Maron, but that seems unlikely . & that pear-infused pils. (name?)
Agreed except for the stout thing. As much as people say there's overkill with IPAs I think the same can be said for stouts- especially the heavy sweet/dessert stouts. I'm not a fan and I respect them....and yes I'm mainly the IPA and Lager guy....
I still blame Rock n roll and color TV. If the kids were in the fields, working with their friends and neighbors, they'd appreciate a good brown ale and wouldn't confuse powdered peanut butter and baklava for adjuncts
I still grab a six pack of 60 or 90 here and there, but i agree that they’re not as relevant as they used to be. Times are different now than when they were the hot thing, making such unique beer that any other brewery wouldn’t think of. To me, their quality is top notch so thats why i don’t second guess purchasing their products.
Had a new to me Dogfish beer I didn't know existed, an "Italian" pils with the 60 minute twist. Called Un'ora: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/600168/ I didn't add a review because it was past the BBD by a little, given to me by pops. Despite its age it drank pretty nice, clean and crisp but the negative was the hops definitely were showing their age. I would love to try this without age on it as I think it was probably quite good.
Apologies if someone has already commented on this, but DFH used to be closely associated with “Extreme Beer.” Extremeness as a marketing gimmick isn’t as big as it once was; the availability of high ABV beers loaded with wacky add-junks is greater than ever; and there seems to be a renaissance in cleaner-brewed lagers and other styles. I don’t think DFH is irrelevant, but does these trends add to that perception?
I think DFHs beers were unique, and whacky, like you said. However I don't think whacky applies to what is prevalent today and available today, they're all the same adjuncts today: coffee, maple, vanilla, lactose, chocolate, etc. DFH: white pear juice and white pear tea, actual apricots, spruce tips, gesho root, white sage, ancient recipes, those are just some I remember off the top of my head. They had a way of really balancing out those adjuncts where it was an addition, not front and center, if my memory serves me correct. I don't think DFH is unique in its sense of place, most of the places that go me hooked on beer seem to be struggling to either find their place or stay relevant, DFH is just another one of them. How can they when there is plenty of fresher and also well made beer being made so close to home these days?
I hear what you’re saying. At the same time, looking back at the Table of Contents from Sam Calagione’s Extreme Brewing from just 10 or 15 years ago, a lot of these beers sound like something that wouldn’t be that surprising to find on tap these days. Even the fairly unique ones don’t seem as out there as they might have in the 2000s or even 2010s. Chapter Six: Extreme Ales Imperial Pale Ale Dark Star Licorice Stout Blood Orange Hefeweizen Ginger Saison Tripel 'Round the World KiWit Chapter Seven: Extreme Lagers Imperial Pilsner Peppercorn Rye-Bock Molasses Marzen Chapter Eight: Extremely Unique Beers Punkin' Porter Sour Cherry Ale Big Mama's Barley Wine Crandaddy Braggot Port-Barrel-Aged Belgian Brown Ale Dema-Goddess Ale
In my opinion that pretty much sums up the challenges that Dogfish Head (and other larger distributing craft breweries) has. I live in the adjoining state of PA so finding fresh Dogfish Head is not too challenging for me but I do tend to instead purchase beer from breweries more local to me. For example I recently purchased a six-pack of Sterling Pig Shoats Pilsner at my local supermarket and that brewery is about 20 miles from me. On a related note, I rarely purchase Sierra Nevada beers since all too often those beers are non-fresh at my local beer retailers. I do annually purchase Celebration Ale since it is a seasonal and I can find that beer in pretty fresh condition. Cheers!
With those beers sure, definitely, I was just trying to remember the ones I had experience with. I still like to think DFH could put together a throwback pack that would please the masses, much like the one SN did. I know they still bring back some old ones from time to time in at the brewery, some to go; aprihop was one and india brown ale was another both at some point were to go four packs only. Speaking of, looks like Aprihop is available to go in four packs starting March 30th: I agree with their take on it: Man did I love that beer.
I too was a fan of Aprihop. At $17 this will be a pass for me; I will use that money to purchase a fresh six-pack (12 ounce cans) of Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA instead (and still have some money left in my wallet). Cheers!
I guess I am an oddball as I find DFH more relevant to me now than they have been the last couple of years. Since I gave up hazies, I only try to drink more WC (clear IPA) or euro lagers so I tend to buy more of the old favorites as finding local examples are harder to come by. I would say I probably buy 60 minute once a month and alternate it with SN Torpedo, Founders Centennial or Lagunitas.
"Releasing in 16 oz. cans ($17 per 4-pack) and on draft at Brewings & Eats on Saturday, March 30,..." I did not interpret "releasing" above as being only at the brewery thing. Regardless, I will not be driving to Delaware. Cheers! P.S. Having such a high price for direct to consumer is 'extra' egregious!
I'd have no problem with that for a one time purchase of a super fresh beer that I used to love. On the plus side if I lived there, there is no tax on that price
