Have you made plans for Spring Break yet? If you haven’t found something to do and can’t stand to go home, travel to Delaware to Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales’ Milton brewery and Rehoboth Beach Brewpub and Distillery to try small-batch spirits.

The Dogfish Head motto is ‘Off-centered stuff for off-centered people.’ The company definitely sticks to its word by brewing unique recipes using exotic ingredients. It’s a leader in extreme brewing, the main trend in U.S. craft brewing involving high alcohol and bold flavors.

On an August trip to the brewpub, I sampled two special brews and some delicious spirits worth the long drive. Going to the brewpub means access to vintage bottles and on-site exclusives. Dogfish has increased collaborations recently, which can usually be found on tap there as well.

One collaborative beer I tried was Saison du BUFF,(6.8 percent alcohol) brewed with Stone (Calif.) and Victory (Penn.) Brewing Cos. Each brewed a different version at their own breweries. Saisons (farmhouse ales) are traditionally full of spices and taste like something you can sip at a barnyard. This one was brewed with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, making it a virtual spice rack and paired excellently with a juicy burger.

Another was the 75-Minute IPA(7.5 percent alcohol), a blend of the 60- and 90-minute IPAs. It’s unique because it’s brewed with maple syrup and usually distributed to vendors in firkins, 10-gallon kegs that the beer is usually hand-pumped from. It smells of citrusy hops and tastes like it, too, but it is not too sweet and surprisingly smooth despite the high alcohol content. It’s currently being bottled in 750mL-size glassware and will be distributed in March to select states. 

The spirits, like the beer, exemplify high-quality inventiveness at its best. The Brown Honey Rum (80 proof) is phenomenal and complex. It is amber rum aged in oak-barrels with wildflower honey, giving it a mildly sweet and nutty vanilla flavor. At $25 a bottle, it shames Captain Morgan.

Last is Peanut Butter Vodka. Their Blue Hen Vodkas (80 proof) feature many flavor infusions, including chocolate and various fruits. It’s slightly cloudy and smells of fresh peanut butter. Each drop is filtered through charcoal to ensure quality.

Dogfish Head continues to amaze regardless of product. A trip to the brewpub for food or small-batch spirits, or a brewery tour 30 minutes away to get a fresh case of something interesting, is a sure way to liven up what could have been a week at home. Cheers! 

—Compiled by Lucas Sacks, staff writer, ldsacks@syr.edu

Published on February 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm