Over the last three years we’ve had a lot of great guests on the WILK Friday BeerBuzz…from Jim Koch & Garrett Oliver to Dale Katechis & Mitch Steele, we’ve had a chance to talk to some of the rock stars of the brewing industry…but somehow today was different.
Over 15 years ago I wandered into a small brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, DE and my craft beer world was changed forever by one man. That experience for me was like suddenly discovering music for the first time and wondering how I ever did without it. My palate and my taste-buds for beer were changed forever and I attribute much of my love for great beer to that day.
The brewpub was Dogfish Head, the beer was India Brown Ale and the man was Sam Calagione…so you can forgive my gushing on the show today as we welcomed Sam on to the WILK Friday BeerBuzz.
Sam Calagione is an icon in the craft beer industry, and many of the guests we interview and much of the beer we sample can directly be attributed to Sam’s early influence in the craft beer & microbrew world. Sam’s book Brewing Up a Business has been the inspiration and bible for many of today’s rock star brewers and Sam is an absolute evangelist for craft beer.
It was an honor hearing about the beginnings of Dogfish Head as well as the recent expansion and the future of DFH. As a family business it’s interesting to see how Sam handles the pressures of managing growth at Dogfish Head while protecting the size & market for their beer. From recipe creation to label artwork and everything in between, Sam has his hands on the pulse of DFH and that certainly comes out in the product.
Of course we sampled some beer with Sam today. Dogfish Head Sixty-One is a really unique beer with a decidedly vinous influence & flavor. Sixty-One began as an experiment with Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA and red wine and it has resulted in not only a great beer, but the first new core beer for DFH since 2007. Sixty-One uses Syrah grape must and it was cool to hear that Sam designed this label using watercolors and substituting beer and wine for water in the green & red colors (and melted chocolate for the brown).
We also sampled one of my favorite summer beers from Dogfish Head…Festina Peche. This tart and slightly sour summer beer was influenced by the 2003 Festina Lente, and it uses Lactic cultures to bring out a green apple character that I really like. I love Peach-based beers and this one is certainly a favorite.
Our 15-minutes ended all to quickly today, but I suspect if we had allotted 2 hours for the show, I’d still have one more question to ask Sam. Whether it’s the Dogfish head core beers, or one of their series of Ancient Ales, everyone can find a craft beer home in DFH beers. Be sure to get out and try both Festina Peche and Sixty-One and be sure to raise a glass to Sam Calagione when you do.
Thank you to Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another
fun Friday.
The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.
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I always knew your show was great but you just stepped over a line into magnificence! Dogfish Head AND Sam Calagione on our local radio beer show. Amazing work! Jaared
ReplyDeleteI haven;t had Sixty One yet but now I have to try it! Nice show cheers to Sam!
ReplyDeleteEric
To WILK:
ReplyDeleteIncredible to get Sam Calagione, the man when it comes to beer on the show. You guys have graduated to a new high. Ryan W
I seriously LOVE you guys and hate you all at the same time. First you bring me my beer-hero Sam Calagione on the radio and then you torture me by not inviting me in to do the show. I love Dogfish Head. Kristy
ReplyDeleteOutstandamundo show! Rock on Sam!
ReplyDeleteK
I thought I had tasted everything from Dogfish Head. Now I have one more to try. Sam is my hero too and I'll drink anything he brews. Marcus
ReplyDeleteI think it was Christopher Walken as 'The Continental' who said, 'Wow. Wowie wow wow!'
ReplyDeleteOur guest today was Sam Calagione, founder and president of Dogfish Head Brewing. What else is there to say really?
Have had Festina Peche before and like it a lot. Had not ever tried Sixty-One until this morning and coming from IPA-Lovers Land, well, suffice it to say I LOVE IT!
Thank you for being on the show today Sam, thank you to Bill from MyBeerBuzz.com who has been getting all the 'get Sam Calagione on the show' ducks in a row for a long time, and thanks to you for listening!
And Happy 1st Day of Summer!
John
webster@wilknewsradio.com
Awesome. No more to say!
ReplyDeleteJen
When I got my text I couldn't believe your guest. I love Dogfish Head and Sam is the man. Cheers
ReplyDeleteRon
Congratulations guys! Bil, I know how long you've been trying to get Sam on the show and it was one of the best ever!
ReplyDeleteSince their 20th anniversary and the Wyoming Valley Homebrewers 20th are they same year maybe its only fitting to plan a trip down to Delaware and celebrate together.
Bus trip maybe??????
Congrats again and keep up the great work.
I love 60-min IPA so the 61 sounded great. I'll try one for sure. Nice show and incredible guest as usual.
ReplyDeleteJT
I wanted to be on the show in the studio today! Sam is amazing! DFH!
ReplyDeleteJerry
I tuned in late and could not believe my ears. Sam Calagione on NEPA radio. You guys SO have the best beer show ever. Cheers to Sam and I agree with Bill that we need a brewpub in NEPA form Dogfish.
ReplyDeleteChris
A-MAZ-ING!
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting Sam!
Ray
I've seen a ton of interviews with Sam Calagione and you guys were the best. You asked some great questions and he always has amazing answers. Thank you. Ryan
ReplyDeleteI love Festina. Nice job with Sam.
ReplyDeleteAlen
You need an auditorium for shows like these.
ReplyDeleteJace
Thanks everyone. We'd love to have you all in but the studio is small. Stay tuned for details on our upcoming bus trip this fall and you can ALL come along. Sam is an amazing craft beer evangelist and it was an honor to talk to him.
ReplyDeleteKick Ass Show!
ReplyDeleteDFH! Edd
Thank you for asking about Craft vs Crafty. I thins no one puts it more eloquently than Sam and it was also great to hear about cans and their 20th anniversary. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteSean K
Nice show. Sam has a really interesting perspective on craft beer and it's clear that he drives much ofthe industry with his innovation and willingness to take ingredient risks. Thanks Sam.
ReplyDeletePhil
I've watched the video twice. I really like Sam and the Dogfish beers. Now I'm out on a quest to find Sixty-One and Festina Peche.
ReplyDeleteChris Terra
So the new bottles look good?
ReplyDeleteTJ
Yes the new embossed bottles look really good. You'd be surprised how recognizable they are and how they enhance the look of the whole package.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Sam was a lot of fun talking beer with and well worth the effort we put in to get him to join us. Very cool of DFH to send us up some of the new embossed bottles too.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea heading to DFH on a bus trip. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteHi WILK. Wow on Sam Calagione. He's on TV all the time and now on WILK too. Damn I love his beer. KevT
ReplyDeleteYou guys have some amazing beer people on the show. I just heard Jim Koch & Mitch Steele. I love Sam Calagione. Maura
ReplyDeleteSixty One has become a favorite of mine. I hope to see more of it. I also cannot wait for the next music series release. Thom
ReplyDeleteI love the studio guest idea. Jake
ReplyDeleteSams beer speaks for itself but you guys put a pretty great voice on it today. Nice job Bill.
ReplyDeleteEd from Moosic
Nice show.
ReplyDeleteSam is a Craft Beer Ambassador and a great one at that. Nice job on the show today. I will raise a DFH pint to you all tonight. Steve
ReplyDeleteI just watched the video a 2nd time too Nice guest! Jim
ReplyDeleteI just bought Sam's book after your show. I can't wait to read it. T
ReplyDeleteStranded on a desert island with only one beer and only one person Sam and 60-min would win every time. Cara
ReplyDeleteI got into Festina after your last show. Great to hear Sam talk about it. Kris
ReplyDeleteI'll be chasing 61 this weekend. Thanks guys.
ReplyDeleteI never miss a show and today may be my favorite so far. K
ReplyDelete61 even looks a little like wine.
ReplyDeleteI plan to buy 61 this weekend. A really good show and guest. You guys deserve it. Patt
ReplyDeleteI met Sam once at Rehoboth. He's a really nice guy and great for craft beer. Rob
ReplyDeleteWILK rules the beer world in NEPA. Sam Calagione on the air! Nice! LexR
ReplyDeleteBest show ever!
ReplyDeleteI really like 60-min IPA and I think this was a great showcase for NEPA with Sam Calagione. Who knows. He may like us enough to open a pub.
ReplyDeleteJax
I can't thank Sam Calagione for taking the time to join us today for the WILK Friday BeerBuzz. Sam is a wonderful ambassador for the craft beer scene and a ton of fun to sample a Dogfish Head Beer with.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the show and Sam did a little homework on WIlkes-Barre too. Nice to have him talking about WIlkes-Barre, PA. WILK hit a homerun with this show. Cheers Sam!
ReplyDeleteWe visit Rehoboth every summer and we occasionally see Sam. I'll be sure to mention you guys and tell him we're from the home of the Friday Beer Buzz in NEPA. Josh
ReplyDeleteI think you've just interviewed my favorite guest on the Beer Buzz. I can't think of anyone else I'd love to hear more than Sam Calagione. I think that was an amazing show and I think it just proves how great the NEPA market for craft beer really is. Cheers to WILK & Sam Calagione Too!
ReplyDeleteMerk
Sam is a really great guy and I thank you for bringing him on our local radio station.
ReplyDeleteSam Calagione on WILK. I think this is amazing. Cheers to the NEPA craft beer scene. Nice show.
ReplyDeleteJen
I'm so anxious to see the embossed bottles. You guys are SO lucky.
ReplyDeleteJust bought a case of Festina Peche in your honor. What a great beer. Emmy
ReplyDeleteI say with all seriousness...it was an honor talking to Sam Calagione from Dogfish head today. He's a wonderful spokesman for Dogfish Head and craft beer in general and it was so much fun sampling with him.
ReplyDelete