Sam Calgione of Dogfish Head Brewing Company has always been a rebel in the craft beer industry. His brews are creative, intriguing and often confounding. Beers brewed at the brewery often contain exotic ingredients like rooibos tea from Africa, grape juice infected with noble rot and doum-palm fruit. Not your everyday beer ingredients.
For the summer season, the brewery has introduced a new beer with even more unusual ingredients. Biere De Provence, is a saison brewed with lavender, bay leaf, marjoram and chervil as a nod to the aromatic herbs used in Southern French cuisine.
To learn more abut the brewery’s summer offerings, read the full press release below:
MILTON, DE (April 27, 2016) — Dogfish Head is proudly celebrating 21-years of boycotting the Reinheitsgebot. Highlighting a commitment to creating off-centered ales with creative and unexpected ingredient and flavor combinations, Dogfish Head has curated an ‘Off-centered Summer’ releasing three beers that pair perfectly with the sweaty months.
Brand new for 2016 is an ode to Dogfish Head’s celebrated tradition of creating culinary-focused brews. Inspired by the aromatic and flavorful Herbs de Provence of Southern France, this complex and refreshing Saison was brewed with lavender, bay leaf, marjoram and chervil. Fermented using a Belgian yeast strain, the golden amber beer clocks in at 8.3% ABV and 30 IBUs, and will be available on taps and retail shelves beginning late May.
Back by popular demand and also available beginning late May is Festina Peche, Dogfish Head’s tart summer session sour brewed with peach juice. This neo-Berliner Weisse is unique in that the fruit complexity is woven into the aroma and taste through the natural fermentation of the peach sugars. No need to doctor this beer with fruit wedges – just open and enjoy! The pale straw-colored brew clocks in at 4.5% ABV and 8 IBUs, making for a unique and highly sessionable summer beer.
Continuing Dogfish’s commitment to the art community, Festina Peche’s label features original custom illustrations by Drew Millward. Millward’s art has been featured on iconic labels, posters and apparel for clients such as Nike, Foo Fighters and Phish. He also created the labels of three other Dogfish seasonal beers this year, interpreting the flavors of each beer into eye-catching and intricate works of art.
“We are proud to release these two culinary ingredient-infused beers on the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot,” says Dogfish Head founder and president Sam Calagione. “We have always believed this law is nothing more than a relatively modern form of art censorship.”
Rounding out the Off-centered Summer releases is Namaste, the summer brew bursting with good karma. The Belgian-style Witbier quenches thirst with every sip, filling the palate with notes of dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass and coriander. Clocking in at 4.8% ABV and 20 IBUs, this beer is an ideal session beer for hot days in the sun. Dogfish Head fans have also been known to mix Namaste with orange juice to create a “beermosa,” perfect for summertime brunches. Namaste is available on taps and retail shelves year-round.
