Over 20-years ago I stood in line at a local beer festival to sample a beer from today’s brewery. The line was organized and people were polite. At 4PM, none other than Sam Calagione himself stepped up to the table and started pouring World Wide Stout….and all hell broke loose. The line quickly turned into a mosh pit of people fighting to get a beer and a photo with Sam, but luckily I was able to get both.
Jump forward to 2023, and even this many years later, I can’t wait to sample this years World Wide Stout. Of course we’re talking about Dogfish Head, and I’m excited today to get my hands on one returning beer and an exciting collaboration beer I can’t wait to try called The Perfect Pairing.
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout is a classic DFH beer that is brewed with a “ridiculous” amount of barley and it has to be one of my favorite Danger Caps. I chase it every year and I enjoy pairing it with chocolate desserts too.
The Perfect Pairing is a new pale ale that was brewed in collaboration with Cabot Creamery…and ironically enough, I was just visiting Cabot Creamery in Aug. The beer is brewed with upcycled whey from Cabot and it was created to be the perfect pairing with cheddar cheese…and of course Cabot makes my favorite cheddar….so off we go.
Brewery Description:
Created in collaboration with Cabot Creamery in Vermont, The Perfect Pairing is a hazy pale ale brewed with upcycled whey – a bi-product of the cheese-making process – to make “the perfect pairing” for sharp cheddar cheese.
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Pale Ale
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Bright golden orange
Aroma: Tropical fruit, pineapple & citrus
Mouthfeel: Medium-light
Taste: Bright citrus, tropical fruits, grapefruit & pineapple
Overall: The Perfect Pairing is a really enjoyable and drinkable pale ale even if you decide not to pair it with cheese….but of course I did. With a block of Extra Sharp Cabot Cheese in the ‘fridge, I couldn’t resist. After a few slices of Cabot and a few sips of The Perfect Pairing, I’d have to agree that it is a great beer/cheese pairing. The saltiness of the cheese and the sharp citrus make for what has to be one of my top 2 or 3 perfect beer pairings. As a side note, I’ll also be sampling The Perfect Pairing with Cheddy Topper sharp cheddar cheese from The Alchemist in VT…I suspect it will also be tasty!
Dogfish Head 2023 World Wide Stout
Brewery Description:
Originally released in 1999, World Wide Stout is an ageable ale brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley to create a dark, rich and roasty imperial stout. Bursting with warming notes of roasted malt and coffee, its flavor profile is more reminiscent of a fine port wine than a typical beer.
ABV: 15.5%
Style: Stout
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep brown black
Aroma: Dark cocoa & coffee
Mouthfeel: Robust
Taste: Dark chocolate, bitter coffee, sweet vanilla and boozy
Overall: World Wide Stout checks a lot of stout-boxes for me. The intense flavors of chocolate and coffee hit first, but with each sip, the complexity deepens revealing roasty notes of espresso and alcohol. This classic and historic stout remains one of my favorites and each sip takes me back to that pour from Sam 20+ years ago.
Dogfish Head The Perfect Pairing and 2023 World Wide Stout are available now in 12oz cans and 12oz bottles….and take my word for it when I say you need to try these beers as well as all of the 2023 winter beer releases from Dogfish Head. When you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think. zzubreebym
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