Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is coming to Miami.
The Delaware-based brewery, which teamed up with Boston Beer Company in 2019 to form the nation’s second-largest craft brewing company by volume, is known for its “off-centered” ales. This includes 60 Minute IPA, as well as SeaQuench, the best-selling fruited sour in America.
“We’ve always been an Eastern Seaboard-centric brand,” says Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head. “While the main physical brick-and-mortar brewery is in Coastal Delaware, the brewery is named after Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, where I’m from. So it already has more than Mid-Atlantic vibes.”
When it opens, Dogfish Head Miami will offer the same unique experiences and beers as the brand’s other taprooms, but with a definitively tropical flair.
What Is Dogfish Head Craft Brewery?
Sam Calagione founded Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in 1995. Over the last two-and-a-half decades, the craft brewery has become known for using interesting ingredients, from green raisins (Raison D’Être Ale,) to spirulina (Verdi Verdi Good,). The brewery’s “Ancient Ales” series, which started in the late 1990s, sees them brewing recipes uncovered from molecular analysis of ancient pottery and drinking vessels by University of Pennsylvania molecular archaeologist Dr. Pat McGovern. The brewery is also the annual sponsor of BeerAdvocate’s popular Extreme Beer Fest.
In 2019, Dogfish Head merged with Boston Beer Company, the makers of Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, and Angry Orchard Cider in a deal worth $300 million. The merger created the second-largest craft brewery in the United States.
What is Dogfish Head Miami?
With the recent explosion in the popularity of fruited sours, Calagione started looking for opportunities to brew in more tropical regions.
“This has been in development over a year ago,” says Calagione. “Of course, when COVID hit, we had to put on the brakes.”
Calagione settled on Miami for its proximity to fruit farms and the Wynwood neighborhood because of its historical connection to the arts.
“We look at ourselves as an art project first and a brewery second,” says Calagione. “There are so many awesome fruits in Florida. So we partnered with the University of Florida agricultural program to get a first look at experimental fruits, vegetables, and herbs.”
When it opens, Dogfish Head Miami will serve as a “hub for one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory experiences.” Recently, Sam announced a massive “SeaQuenching Engine,” a machine that perfectly controls sour wort’s pH and acidity. He also highlighted a partnership with Sweat Records that will see a regular vinyl pop-up in the brewery’s merchandise store.
When Is Dogfish Head Miami Opening?
Dogfish Head Miami will open on May 21st, 2021. Drinkers can expect to find core beers as well as Miami-exclusive drinks made from local ingredients. For instance, Starpucker IPA, a 6.2% ABV hazy IPA made with Florida-grown starfruit — Dogfish Head will donate twenty-five cents from every purchase back to the University of Florida’s Agricultural Program. Or Madam Roselle, a 5.2% ABV sour wheat ale made with Florida-grown passionfruit.
On the food side, Dogfish Head Miami will feature dishes like Seared Tuna Tacos, Florida Shrimp Gazpacho, Grilled Street Corn, and Fish & Sweet Crab Fritters.
