DOGFISH HEAD
CRAFT BREWERY

Since 1995, Dogfish Head has been a proud creator of off-centred ales for off-centred people; the brewery’s hunger for weird ingredients is insatiable, and it has always preferred to venture off the beaten path during the brewing process. Across the US, two words have come to capture their bold and innovative character: extreme beer. The brewery tends to produce experimental beers and is one of America’s most lauded and well-known craft beer makers, thanks to its quirky creations and feisty approaches.

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Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

9.0% ABV / 0.0

$14.95
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Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

6.0% ABV / 0.0

$10.95

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Single
355ml

$10.95

6 Pack
6 x 355ml

$52.50
~~$65.70~~

Case
24 x 355ml

$185.00
~~$262.80~~

Double Case
48 x 355ml

$355.00
~~$525.60~~

let's tap into their story!

Dogfish Head’s story began in 1995 when husband and wife Sam & Mariah Calagione opened Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats - the state's first brewpub - in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The plan was to bring original and creative beer, food, and music to the area - as simple as that.

Mariah Calagione (left) and Sam Calagione (right).

When Sam was still a poor college undergraduate, he could only drink the cheapest beer available. However, after graduating, he moved to New York to take writing classes at Columbia University and had to work at a Mexican restaurant to afford it. The Mexican restaurant had a stellar beer list and it was there that Sam tried good beer for the first time, citing Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale and Chimay’s Red as examples.

Instead of becoming a great American novelist, Sam quit Columbia, started brewing beer at home, and moved to Delaware, all ready to start a brewery. The only problem was that breweries weren’t legal in Delaware in 1995. The law hasn’t been updated since Prohibition, and Sam had to go to the Delaware State Senate to get the law changed. Thankfully, it passed without much difficulty; only one person voted against Sam.

With that, Dogfish Head was born! When the brewery first started out, it was the smallest commercial brewery in America, essentially brewing its first batches with three little kegs that had propane burners underneath. Yup, that’s right, Dogfish Head was brewing 12-gallon batches of beer for the whole restaurant using such a tiny system! It had to brew 3 times a day, 5 days a week, but it was worth it. This enabled the brewery to get creative and try a myriad of different recipes.

Dogfish Head’s crazy delicious brews

Sam’s creative writing background was also crucial to the brewery’s innovative flavours, as it helped him draft up never-before-seen recipes that were truly unique to their core. The brewery's first beer, Shelter Pale Ale, was released in 1995 and was quickly followed by other popular beers like Chicory Stout and Raison D'Etre.

In 2002, the brewery released its signature beer, the 90 Minute IPA, which helped define the American IPA style. Dogfish Head was the first to use the continual hopping method - a process in which hops are added continually throughout the brewing process - to create the 90 Minute IPA. Sam got the idea by watching a chef on a cooking show slowly adding pepper to a soup a little at a time, instead of all at once. Curious, Sam decided to test this idea, but with hops instead.

Sam’s curiosity didn’t kill a cat, but it did pave the way for IPAs as brewers can now add a crazy amount of hops without it being crushingly bitter. Needless to say, the ultra-flavourful, (literally) game-changing, 90 Minute IPA quickly became one of Dogfish Head’s most popular creations.

Dogfish Head is also known for its SeaQuench Ale - the brewery’s best-selling beer born out of a collaboration with the National Aquarium. The collaboration ale is a mashup of 3 different beer styles, namly kolsch, Berliner weisse, and gose. SeaQuench Ale is the perfect blend of sour and salty, making it a delicious and thirst-quenching brew. In fact, the ale is reportedly the best sour ale in America!

Over the years, Dogfish Head has continued to innovate and experiment with brewing techniques and ingredients. The brewery has released beers brewed with everything - from coffee to oysters and even chocolate lobster! That’s right, Dogfish Head has a Chocolate Lobster beer. The bittersweet dark ale has a slight herbal nuance and a subdued taste of the ocean in the finish.

Dogfish Head and its love for its community

In addition to its innovative beers, Dogfish Head is also known for its commitment to giving back to its community. The brewery actively collaborates with non-profit organisations to foster community, nourish artistic advancement, and cultivate environmental stewardship. Some examples include supporting exhibits at the Rehoboth Art League, collaborating with The Nature Conservancy, and helping with the creation of the Grove Park Dock & Canal Access.

Today, Dogfish Head Brewery is one of the most respected and innovative craft breweries in the United States. The brewery continues to push the boundaries of brewing by constantly experimenting with new ingredients and techniques, and it definitely ain’t afraid of brewing outside the norm!