Dogfish Head releases Grateful Dead 2015 collab brew, American Beauty!

Brewed with granola, this Imperial Pale Ale is just in time for the G.D. Fare The Well tour!

Happy Monday Y’all!

Last weekend was nuts if you saw my last post of things popping off in Atlanta. Well as I recuperate from especialle the Georgia Craft Beer Fest and Bottlepalooza bottle share at Lincoln Station, I still want to keep you updated on the latest happenings in the beer world.

I was just informed that the Delaware-based brewing giant Dogfish Head has launched the 2015 version of their revered collaboration with the legendary band Grateful Dead—American Beauty—in super timely fashion. It is dropping in conjunction with the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well reunion shows (Starting July 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th) complete with a new skirt on the bottle. I honestly loved the past design with the pimpin’ bear on the right, but Dogfish has done a great job with the enhancement by using elements form the tour poster below. Coming straight form the DH headquarters, here’s what they say about this slammin’ Imperial Pale Ale brewed with almond-free, organic granola at 9% ABV (Yes, it’s as good as it sounds!):

“American Beauty, our collaboration with the legendary Grateful Dead, is back – with a new look! – just in time for the Fare Thee Well reunion shows.

A huge hit with both beer lovers and Dead lovers, American Beauty is an imperial pale ale (the band’s choice) brewed with organic granola.

The brewery and the band, who both built followings by connecting directly with their fans, asked their supporters to help decide on one righteous, off-centered ingredient to add to the recipe that would complement the pale ale base.

More than 1,500 loyal fans suggested an ingredient idea and the Dead-inspired story behind it. There was no shortage of great suggestions – the red grenadine from “Brown-Eyed Women,” rose hips reminiscent of the motif painted on the Rosemont water tower – but there was one that stood out.

Thomas Butler, a chemist by day and homebrewer by night, suggested granola. It was the main course in millions of parking lot meals, and both Dogfish and the Dead agreed it would be a sweet and toasty complement to the pale ale’s hops and barley.

“The components of granola – honey, toasted grains, oats – offer a lot from a beer perspective,” says Thomas, who visited Dogfish Head in coastal Delaware to brew a test batch. “It was fun brewing with these guys. The Dead built their own institution, their own identity. It’s a family. And Dogfish culture is big, too. They’re the pioneers of playing with beer.”

The brewery and the band, who both built followings by connecting directly with their fans, asked their supporters to help decide on one righteous, off-centered ingredient to add to the recipe that would complement the pale ale base.

More than 1,500 loyal fans suggested an ingredient idea and the Dead-inspired story behind it. There was no shortage of great suggestions – the red grenadine from “Brown-Eyed Women,” rose hips reminiscent of the motif painted on the Rosemont water tower – but there was one that stood out.

Thomas Butler, a chemist by day and homebrewer by night, suggested granola.* It was the main course in millions of parking lot meals, and both Dogfish and the Dead agreed it would be a sweet and toasty complement to the pale ale’s hops and barley.

“The components of granola – honey, toasted grains, oats – offer a lot from a beer perspective,” says Thomas, who visited Dogfish Head in coastal Delaware to brew a test batch. “It was fun brewing with these guys. The Dead built their own institution, their own identity. It’s a family. And Dogfish culture is big, too. They’re the pioneers of playing with beer.”

The new batch of American Beauty will be available on draft and in 750-ml bottles throughout Dogfish Head’s distribution network. To find retailers who have received shipments in the past 60 days, try Dogfish Head’s “Fish Finder” app at www.dogfish.com.

And don't miss the story of American Beauty and footage from the original test batch!”

Get you some!

Cheers Homies!

Ale