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Since we were on vacation from work, we figured we needed a day of rest. Wednesday we laid out on the beach and soaked up some rays. Anyway, we went back to Arena’s for lunch (when would we ever get the chance to go again?). After a little more wandering, it was off to DogFish Head’s main brewery a couple minutes away in Milton, DE.
We showed up about 45 minutes early as we misjudged the time to get to the brewery. Fred, one of the originals at DFH and the person who gives the tours, happened to walk by and we started chatting with him. He let us wait inside (again, it was about 100 degrees out) and we started talking about DrinkCraftBeer.com. He seemed genuinely interested and ran inside to his office to check it out for himself. After, he came back out and brought us into the new 100 barrel brew house they’re installing… It’ll double their capacity when complete. Check out the exclusive pictures only from DrinkCraftBeer.com!  Above: 100 Barrel Brew house! 
He also gave us the inside scoop on Belle Proximus, the new collaboration between DogFish Head, Russian River, Allagash, Avery, and Pizza Port… Due out in late 2007, I know I can’t wait to see what goes on with this! It’s got a cool sign and logo as well, as we saw in the Rehoboth Beach Brewhouse. (On further researching this, I found out it’s going to be a sour ale with each brewer bringing their own yeast strain to Pizza Port, where it will be brewed. The inspiration was a trip that the 5 brewers took together to Belgium.)
  The whole group finally amassed, Fred pointed out that DCB was in the house, and the tour began. We got the DFH history, tasted some DFH beer, saw the original tiny brew setup they used to use, saw Sir Hops a Lot (their continuous hopping apparatus), the brew house, the bottling setup, and their Quality Control Lab. It was then back to the tasting room for another drink, buy some merchandise, and the end of the tour… the end, that is, if you’re not staff for DrinkCraftBeer.com.
After networking with about half the crowd and getting the word out about our mission and the site, we bid adieu and Fred took us back into the facility. We saw the office, met some people, and finally ended up in the DFH warehouse… Where there was more beer than I have ever imagined in my life. Stacks of cases of beer 30 feet high! Kegs rising to the heavens!
 
Then, we saw what must have been Heaven… Sam Calagione’s private stash of vintage DFH beer! We’re talking cases and cases of World Wide Stout going back years, all the special releases. As Fred put it, “If ABC [broadcast television network] calls and wants to do a tasting, this is what they get.” After this special go-around in a beer lover’s paradise, it was time for our long-haul drive of the trip… An overnight jump to Atlanta… You don't have to travel overnight, just click here to see our time at Sweetwater Brewing! 
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