beer snobs

This has been the summer of love. The winter of our discontent has been made glorious summer by the house of brews. We have been traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of beer. It has been a journey into a wondrous land of imagination and hops. That's the signpost up ahead.... the next stop, the Beer Zone!

And indeed fair and lovely readers of this most devout blog to all that is cheap, drinking free beer is in a different dimension, a higher love. It is ambrosia. It is liquid manna from heaven. -

Those of you who follow this blog may recall the recent trip to Cooperstown, NY a couple of weeks ago where we sampled many many free beers at the Cooperstown Brewing Company and the Belgian styles ales of Brewery Ommegang. They were brewery tours, followed by a sampling of some or all of the beers offered by the brewery. Also in the past we have ventured into the psychedelic world of Magic Hat in Burlington, Vermont where one can linger for a long long time sipping little flutes of their concoctions.

Yes, craft brews are the rage. They are the new "wine". And today, we finally got to the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware. Janet and I often try to compare and contrast beers and most noteably the brewpubs attached to them. Triumph in New Hope is a favorite. But, Iron Hill in Phoenixville, Victory in Downingtown, and the Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehobeth Beach all seem to take the lead in beers and food and ambiance. Depending on our taste buds and dismal memories, or geographical perch, one outshines the other and is replaced by the third. But, as we are here for the week we have been drinking a lot of Dogfish Head and we are enamoured with the brew. We were in Rehobeth Beach yesterday after a day at Herring Point in Cape Henelopen State Park for a quick one and today we signed up for a brewery tour and the inevitable tastings at their brewery in Milton.

We had been looking forward to this event for years. One needs to sign up for the tour and it is often filled up. You cannot just show up. So, the anticipation is heightened with the wait and the lingering taste of their brews. Well when you arrive they greet you at the door with your name on a list which they mark off dutifully and hand you a pair of safety glasses. Dogfish Head says they are "off-centered for off-centered people." (http://www.dogfish.com/) They tried to evoke a whimsy and jovial way that can be engaging. Sadly we have been on brewery tours and there is always a sense of pride in the craft that shines forth, but at the Dogfish Head Brewery it all seems calculated and more in control. The bartenders at the end were not pleasant and more interested seemingly in getting us moved through the system. We had to hand in little cut out cardboard sharks used as chits for the four beers that they poured and we were not allowed to take the beer unless we handed them in. Of course, Janet and I are beer snobs and perhaps we're being snide here. Others may have had a wonderful time, but for us the whole experience was not as much fun as other brew tours. But hey, they did pour us four small cups of some different beers and we were not complaining. Evidently the pours change daily and we had the good fortune to drink in order: Saison du Buff, My Antonia, Sah'tea and the very strong 12% Palo Santo Marron which is a rarity in the bars. We were very happy with the tastes given, we just didn't like the tour.

Indeed, we are planning on returning to the brewpub in Rehobeth on Thursday when the open that week's 75 minute Johnny Cask IPA on hand pump. It is creamy and smooth and strong and they only have one barrel of it each week and when it kicks there's nothing left until the next week. Looking forward to it.