Dogfish Head rings in the new year with something olde
Dogfish Head is kicking off the new year with a throwback release of one of its most popular seasonal beers.
An instant classic since its 2002 debut, Olde School Barleywine, an ageable ale with unfiltered depth and fruitiness, will be reintroduced Jan. 3, 2017.
The bold, yet smooth Olde School is a beautifully balanced ale, dark red to amber in color, with a sweet and velvety flavor profile and huge complexity and warmth. Clocking in at about 15 percent alcohol by volume, this big barleywine will be made available to stores in 31 states.
The special release is greeted by positive enthusiasm from Dogfish Head fans across Delmarva, including Tom Greenwood, manager at R & L Liquors in Lewes.
"Olde School was loved by so many of our customers, myself included," said Greenwood. "It's a phenomenal brew."
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Greenwood said Olde School's popularity came from its superior taste and ideal candidacy for cellaring.
As it matures, Olde School develops oxidative characteristics, including honey and toffee flavors and aromas, and lessened bitterness. As the beer dries out which allows the pit fruit flavors to come forward and the hops to recede into the background.
"Our approach for Olde School was to do a new world take on traditional English barleywine," said Dogfish Head president and founder, Sam Calagione in a recent statement.
English barleywines, such as Olde School, are malt-forward and develop their fruity attributes from the esters. When properly aged, the pit-fruit and sweet, sherry characteristics mature into something spectacular. American style barleywines, in comparison, tend to be more hop-forward.
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In honor of the release, R & L Liquors will hold a special tasting event the first weekend in January, and will be storing away several bottles in the cellar. Like Greenwood, Dave Hambury, owner of West-O Bottle Shop & Bar, urges interested fans to grab a few bottles sooner than later.
"Dogfish Head always goes quickly," Hambury said. "Especially ones like Olde School that just get better with time."
For more information about Olde School Barleywine and Dogfish Head beers, visit www.dogfish.com.
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