E302: Sam Calagione talks 26 years of Dogfish Head beers

Sam Calagione talks 26 years of of Dogfish Head

Many people consider Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione to be one of the pioneers of modern American craft beer.  Sam is quick to clarify he's part of the 2nd wave of craft and others, like Sierra Nevada's Ken Grossman, paved the way for his off-centered ales.

Calagione's method of continuously hopping his beers throughout the boil allowed him to pack in immense hop flavor without making the brews overly bitter.  The contraption he used to add the hops in his early batches of 60 Minute and 90 Minute IPA was fashioned from a vibrating football game and now sits in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum.  The brewery also offers 120 Minute version of their IPA at a whopping 15-20% ABV and revivals of beers from the past in their Ancient Ales series as well as big stouts, pilsners, light sours like Sea Quench and soon, Crush-inspired canned cocktails.  Although his beer may have been 2nd wave, Dogfish Head was one of the first brewery's to add distilling to their portfolio.

If it wasn't enough to found such an iconic brewery, Calagione is also an accomplished author and TV personality.  His latest book, The Dogfish Head Book: 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures, takes a look back at the brewery's history and the life and business lessons he's learned along the way.

The Beer List

• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
  • Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA
  • 60 Minute IPA
  • Bitches Brew (2013)

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