Dogfish heading to the UK

Much to the joy of in-the-know beer boffins, one of America’s most ambitious craft breweries has begun sending its esoteric East Coast ales across the Pond.

The Dogfish Head brewery does things very differently – even by American craft beer standards. Based in Delaware and founded in 1995 by the highly renowned Sam Calagione, it produces "off-centred ales for off-centred people" including “Midas Touch", a beer brewed to an 8th century recipe and based on residue found in barrels unearthed from the tomb of King Midas.

Following expansion and unwavering interest from the UK’s in-the-know ale aficionados, the first shipment of Dogfish washed up on British shores last month.

Five Dogfish ales are being imported and distributed by Vertical Drinks, a company that also looks after the UK interests of Sierra Nevada and Stone Brewing from California.

The “60 Minute IPA” is continuously hopped India Pale Ale with an abv of 6%. More than 60 hop additions are made over a 60 minute boil and brewed in a similar way to the “90 Minute IPA”,  described by Esquire Magazine as "perhaps the best IPA in America".

The Indian Brown Ale, at 7.2%, is a ruby-hued cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale, and an American Brown Ale while Raison D’Etre, at 8%, is made with Belgian yeast, Belgian beet sugar and raisins. Finally, the 12% Palo Santo Marron is a brown oak-aged ale matured in 10,000 gallon brewing vessels made of Paraguayan Palo Santo wood.

Ben McFarland, 09.03.2010