dabbling in adventures of dogfish head craft brewery

As a fanatic of sipping smooth sour ales throughout the dog days of summer, it is appropriate that I visit the headquarters of one of the best one of them all, Dogfish Head Brewery, during the current steamy months. 

An adoring lover of the off-centered brewery's Festina Peche, their Berliner Weisse-styled beer fermented with fresh peaches, I always feel the need to stock up on the tart seasonal brew, hoping it will last me well into the inappropriate months. However, title me an addict, but my fruity and tart pints flooded with this light concoction are already bone-dry, and by the likes of local distributors, others have the same idea.

But, as you may have noticed in previous posts, B and I enjoy journeying to the homes of our favorite beers, so it was about due-time to dabble around Dogfish Head. Since we are lucky enough to have relations with a summer home near the Milton-based headquarters, just one visit this summer was obviously not enough, as we already clocked two curious adventurous throughout the well-liked craft brewery. 

Tiptoeing around the fairly large establishment of Sam Calagione does seem like the thing to do for Rehoboth Beach visitors, so keep in mind, if you plan to hop by for a visit, you must reserve a spot on their arranged brewery tours. Yes, they are for free, although they fill up in a timely fashion.

The most exhilarating investigation I encountered behind closed doors were the massive exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood tanks used to age the incredible 12-percent brown ale that's on the tips of many's tongues as of late. (Watch the video below, DFH's John seems to be quite a fan, too.)

Dogfish Head Brewery Visit from amy strauss on Vimeo.

All tours conclude with four free tastings from their quirky taps, and lucky for me, one of the offerings on each of our recent visits was my peachy pleasure. However, one may argue that I should expand my tasting palate, but that's what having a boyfriend is for (i.e. stealing slurps of all the beers I haven't nabbed on my own).

Visiting twice in a span of three weeks allowed us to become chums with the tasting room's mainstay, John, who serves all of the brewing company's visitors their free beer (how could you not love that job). Clever and quick to nickname, he's a source for speedily spewing what makes the samples you will soon be slurping, and kind enough to agree to star in a quick clip from this blogging fish.

During our summery stops, I must reveal that we also became fans of DFH's Theobroma (brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs), Namaste (made with dried organic orange slices, fresh cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander) and Sah'tea (Chai tea-inspired). And, I have to greedily admit, we will probably be back again soon, before this sultry summer concludes.

"meet the brewers" pub crawl, june 5

(above, at Lancaster Brewing Co. with head brewer Bill Moore)

In honor of Philly Beer Week, the City of Brotherly Love will allow beer fanatics to tip their pints to 10 days flooded with sipping celebrations. However, don't think the suburbs have shied away from stretching their sources to additionally host appropriately-timed, beer events.

Phoenixville premieres for their second year a "Meet the Brewers" Pub Crawl, held Sat., June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. Structured around the comradeship of ten bars, restaurants and brewpubs, Mark Edelson, Director of Brewing Operations of Iron Hill Brewery, and Brian O'Reilly, Brewmaster of Sly Fox Brewing Co., with both of their perspective establishments participating, twisted some strings and planted a head brewer per location along of their tour.

"Phoenixville seems to make sense for a pub crawl, it already has two brewpubs," revealed Edelson. Together, Iron Hill and Sly Fox will cap the craft beer tour, with a shuttle traveling amongst the active locations throughout the four-hour allotted afternoon.

"Our crawl is different than just inviting people to come drink at our bars," he continued. "Each restaurant will feature a beer (or more) from the brewing company that is present at the place, and it's available by the actual people who brewed the beer."

The local hop-infused event will maintain residence amongst a majority of locations on the 100 and 200 blocks of Bridge Street, and then, journey to Kimberton Road for the Epicurean Restaurant and Sly Fox Brewhouse and Eatery. "There's a lot of places in town that have great beers. Pickering Creek Inn does a great job and of course, so does the Epicurean," he said. "There are so many great beer bars in town, and it has only become better since last year."

Edelson also confirms that the upcoming beer appreciation event is "more about quality over quantity. It's about meeting people from the brewery, and especially for people who enjoy good beer and the enjoyment of it."

"The event is also especially ideal for the element of people who don't want to go to Philly, it's perfect for this part of the suburbs," he suggested.

The active bars and breweries lineup is as follows: Baxter's at 101 Bridge, will host Stoudt's Brewing Co.; Bistro on Bridge, will host Yard's Brewing Co.; Columbia Bar & Grille, will host Lancaster Brewing Co.; Epicurean Restaurant, will host Manayunk Brewery Boxcar Brewing; Franco Ristorante, will host Weyerbacher Brewing Co.; Molly Maguire's Irish Restaurant, will host Troegs Brewing Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; Pickering Creek Inn, will host Victory Brewing Co.; PJ Ryan's, will host Flying Fish Brewing Co.; Iron Hill will feature their Tour de Hill with 15 to 18 beers from around various Iron Hill locations; and Sly Fox will feature the Philly Beer Week collaborative beer, brewed in Royersford a few weeks back, and the Standard Porter brewed for Standard Tap of Philadelphia.

"Last year was a raging success," Iron Hill's Director of Brewing Operations reveals. "It was a record day for us, and a majority of the crawl's 8 stops had record days, too." Edelson also confesses that he too will hop from one location to the next, just like last year, where he was floored to meet Guinness Brewery's brewmaster, who was stationed at Molly Maguire's.

Before you a grab a frosty pint and guzzle, Edelson, an experienced brewer and drinker, concludes with some advice: "You can come any time, as early as you want. However, around 3 p.m., the bars will start getting packed. Pace yourself and drink responsibility."

Also published this weekend in The Phoenix.

phoenixville's 'meet the brewers' pub crawl

Attention suburb-based beer connessoirs! You don't have to travel to the city to appreciate one of the finest, brew-crafted celebrations, but instead, swing by Phoenixville for an all-afternoon affair that's held in conjunction with Philly Beer Week.
 

The 2^nd Annual “Meet the Brewer” Pub Crawl is approaching, to be held on Saturday, June 5^th, 1-5 p.m. (This day's important — you hear! It's also my 25th birthday!)

The day's thirst-quenching crawl will host a slew of acclaimed brewmasters, with a majority of all participants being proudly from PA-based brewing companies. 

The beer celebration stations will be as follows:

Baxter’s @ 101 Bridge, hosting Stoudt’s Brewing Co., Adamstown, PA

Bistro on Bridge, hosting Yard’s Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA

Columbia Bar & Grille, hosting Lancaster Brewing Co., Lancaster, PA

Epicurean Restaurant & Bar, hosting Manayunk Brewery, Phila, PA and Box Car Brewing, West Chester, PA

Franco Ristorante, hosting Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA

Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant and Pub, hosting Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA

Pickering Creek Inn, hosting Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, PA

PJ Ryan’s, hosting Flying Fish Brewing Company, Cherry Hill, NJ

Iron Hill – Featuring Tour de Hill – beers from around Iron Hill

Sly Fox – Featuring Philly Beer Week collaborative beer and Standard Porter brewed for Standard Tap

Also important for y'all to note is, if you are eager to experience the fine selection from each brewery, it is obvious you may need a hand for transportation. Lucky for locals, a shuttle will be in motion between all sipping stops. 

Additionally, be sure to stay tuned, too, as I will publish a more elaborate feature later this week, which will include tons more information from the masters of our nearby beer frenzy!

philly beer week's collaborative ale and the brotherly suds

Brian O'Reilly, award-winning brewmaster of Sly Fox Brewery, paired up with the loved-and-local brewers Tom Kehoe of Yards' Brewing Co., Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Co., Brett Kintzer of Stoudt's Brewery and John Trogner of Troegs Brewery on Fri. morning, May 7 at SF's Royersford location to jumpstart the production of the Philly Beer Week's Collaboration Ale—a beer styled as an extra special bitter, an ESB.

As a concoction that represents the "heart of what beer week is about," said O'Reilly, there was, without a doubt, no way that I was going to miss rubbing 'bows with this five-some, even if it was only 8 a.m. (And, just so you know, by the time I left around 10 a.m., they had yet to pop up some beer bottles.)

The combined-effort brew will be first unveiled at Philly Beer Week's Opening Tap event, held Fri., June 4, at Independence Visitor's Center with the city's mayor, Michael Nutter, tapping the premier keg. (I joked that I should tap the keg—move over Nutter, it's my birthday weekend!) 

The brewing collaborative team, tentatively titled Brotherly Suds, took a bit of leg work, dividing two parts of the team to provide the malts, two to provide the hops and one stylized brewing setup, as seen at Sly Fox. The concept of Brotherly Suds is hoped to continue per each Philly Beer Week, too, replacing a new brewery with one that was represented the previous year.

The Opening Tap affair, the first celebratory event held during Philly's week-long, beer-infused festival, will host an impressive slew of lagers and ales besides the collaborative concoction. Samples from over thirty regional brewers will also be hand beside pub-styled foods, live music, and appearances from an adored Ben Franklin imposer and the notorious beer writer, Joe Sixpack.

Philly Beer Week, held Fri., June 4 to Sun., June 13 premieres with over a hundred pint-crazy celebrations sculpted around thousands of traditional-to-obscure beers. For more information, visit the 10-day, beer-glory bash here.

satisfying slurps of spring house brewing company

It started with a satisfying slurp of a frosty pint of a specific Imperial Red Ale. The aggressively-hopped gulp, identified as the Atomic Raygun, easily sings boldly on any draft beer lineup, especially at The Epicurean where B had his first few swigs.

After too sharing his love of his newly-favored beer, one that swims in a well-balanced blend of light orange and outrageous hops, with a crisp, candied finish, I instantly delved into what neighbors Imperial Red's brewing company, Spring House, fronted. Lucky for us, we were soon trekking to their brewhouse situated in Conestoga, Pa to see our new adoration in action.

Spring House Brewing Company, plopped on the brim of Lancaster, was established by the excelled chemist, Matt Keasey, who a few years back, transformed his small hobby into a money maker. 

Now, with half of his offerings brewed in his rustic, finished barn, he invites beer fanatics to the home of his brews on Wednesdays and Fridays, 6-9 p.m., and Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. to flood armfuls of growlers from his fresh kegs, or have new visitors marvel in a courtesy tasting of those on tap.

Seven Gates Pale Ale, another variety of Keasey's repertoire, has received a lot of love in a hell of a short time, which is why Appalachian Brewing Company has taken a liken to the full-production of this crowd-pleaser.

During our visit, the rural, inviting space of Spring House happened to be blessed with many brewheads who happened to have the same idea as we had, but although I am impressed with the addicting tastes of the local brewing company, I was bit a disappointed that they had only three varieties on draft last week: Imperial Red Ale, Seven Gates Pale Ale and Beyond the Gates Double IPA.

However, can't say I didn't adore all of the above, I continue to crave for an experience with their Planet Bean Coffee Stout, the Diabolical Doctor Wit and the Goofy Foot Summer Wheat.

craft brew nights at pickering creek inn

As the sippable obsession with American craft beer continues to grow, so does the desire for drinkers to dive deep into the educational process of how it was developed.

Luckily for local enthusiasts, Phoenixville is home to two highly-considered microbreweries, Sly Fox Brewing Company and Iron Hill Brewery, but that does not mean that curious consumers want to conclude their liquid knowledge with what only slips into their zip code.

Phil Maniscalco, General Manager of Pickering Creek Inn on Bridge Street, strives to assist passionate, local hop-infused heads by offering his Craft Brew Nights every other Thursday. As an evening affair that is themed around a featured craft brewery, Maniscalco invites the local community to become captivated by some of the country's best beers without having to travel to their territory.

"If scheduling allows, a representative from the brewery or their distributor sometimes attend," he revealed. "But, I always have pint specials and almost always have giveaway items."

Most recently, on Thurs., March 25, Pickering Creek Inn hosted an evening promoting Cooperstown, New York's Brewery Ommegang. Pumping several of the bars' taps with pleasurable picks from the upstate brewing company, including Rare Vos, an Amber Ale; Hennpin, a Farmhouse Ale; and Ommegang, an Abbey Ale, the inn afforded the authentic Belgian-styled ales with pizazz and grace.

Additionally, Maniscalco led a giftaway of several of the brewery's pristine beer glasses, and like many beer drinkers are quite adamant of revealing, you must drink an Ommegang out of its proper glass.

Ommegang, a brewing company that is absolutely not "overhopped or overhyped," joins the company of Ohio's Great Lakes Brewing Co. and New York's Southampton Brewery as those featured within the local establishment's brew nights. For lucky patrons who attended the Southampton beer bash in January, Pickering Creek paired that festive occasion with an outlandish hot dog eating contest, and looks to do similar entertaining gestures for future nights.

Maniscalco concludes with what's on tap for local beer fiend's futures: "I have Weyerbacher Brewing of Easton scheduled for Thurs., April 8 and Breckenridge Brewery of Denver, Colorado scheduled for Thurs., April 22.


Published this weekend here.