Archive for Beer a Day
DFH 90 Minute IPA
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With all the talk of “stimulus” in the halls of Congress these days, I’d like to propose a recovery package of my own: Let’s make IPA Monday a national holiday.
If every American worker of legal drinking age could look forward to starting the workweek with an IPA, the resulting vigor and renewed enthusiasm would increase productivity and energize the economy.
“But Andy,” I hear you argue, “isn’t alcohol a depressant? How could a downer perk us up?”
Beer is a lot less depressing than the recent news coming out of Washington, DC. And since IPA Monday consists of one — and only one — bottle of IPA, the required moderation might just result in far less drinking than encouraged by the current stimulus package.
Finally, with such great brews as the 90 Minute Imperial IPA from Dogfish Head, instituting IPA Monday may be the only response capable of wide, bi-partisan support. And that, like the 90 Minute IPA, would truly be refreshing.
DFH Red & White
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I’ve really enjoyed this “Dogfish Head Theme” week. All week long I’ve had the chance to delve into some of the envelope-pushing brews from one of my favorite craft breweries. There are so many more DFH experiences to be had, but I have to start moving on. Tomorrow will be the last Dogfish Head beer in my rotation for some time — I’ll be celebrating IPA Monday with the 90 Minute IPA.
Today, I made a special trip (two hours, round trip) to pick up a bottle of Dogfish Head Red & White. (I also used the trip to stock up on beer, so you will see many more brews appear in The Fridge soon.)
The objectivity of my palate should be questioned after a full week of extreme beer from Dogfish Head. But even with that disclaimer still fresh at hand, I can’t help but heap praise upon Red & White.
DFH Olde School Barleywine
Posted by: | CommentsPerhaps my third grade teacher had me pegged.
There it was, right on my report card — “Fails to follow instructions.”
And here I am, looking down at the bottle of Olde School Barleywine by Dogfish Head, living up to my third grade teacher’s expectations.
DIRECTIONS? On a bottle of beer?
DIRECTIONS: Open bottle, pour contents into two snifters. Enjoy. OR: Walk hand-in-neck into the middle of the woods. Use a shovel to dig a 2 x 2 hole three feet deep. Seal the bottle in a plastic bag. Place in hole & pack with dirt. Memorize location & leave. Return exactly one year later. Dig up bottle, open & enjoy.
Guess it’s a good thing I don’t work for the space program. We’d still be at the paper-rock-scissors stage of the moon mission.
Instructions or not, I did offer to share a sip with my wife, but she refused to consider it. She doesn’t like beer — it’s a mixed marriage.
DFH Palo Santo Marron
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I decided to have a week of Dogfish Head ales, I knew I was in for a treat. And of course I was also in for a kick in the pants, thanks to the ageability (read: high alcohol content) of Dogfish Head brews.
But the story behind Palo Santo Marron had me looking forward to experiencing this beer all week long.
Attempting to get at the aromatic heartwood. Source: Dogfish.com video
The New Yorker had a great article on extreme beer recently, throughout which Dogfish Head and founder Sam Calagione are featured. The article starts off with the story behind Palo Santo Marron.
But if you aren’t into reading, or if you only want to learn the story behind Palo Santo Marron, there’s a documentary video on the Dogfish Head website — complete with photos of a man who, after getting nowhere with a machete, gives up and shoots a Palo Santo tree with a .38 revolver!
DFH Midas Touch Golden Elixer
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Dogfish Head, with its motto “Off-Centered Ales for Off-Centered People”, doesn’t allow convention to stand in its way of progress. Neither does it bow to the passage of time, evidenced by its attempt at recreating an elixir nearly 3,000 years old.
I doubt the imitation succeeded with much fidelity, but they’ve certainly succeeded in creating an entirely enjoyable and quickly quaffable brew.
My bottle is young (dated in October 2008), but the label describes it as a “Handcrafted Ancient Ale with barley, honey, white muscat grapes & saffron”.
The website provides more detail:
This recipe is the actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world! Our recipe showcases the known ingredients of barley, white Muscat grapes, honey & saffron found in the drinking vessels in King Midas’ tomb! Somewhere between a beer, wine and mead, this smooth, dry ale will please with Chardonnay or I.P.A. drinker alike.
