Hey there, Sam Calagione. I’ve got a bone to pick with you. I know business is booming for Dogfish Head right now, so much so that you’ve had to pull your beer back from a few states. I think that’s great, I’ve always enjoyed your beer and been a loyal fan. I was so glad to hear that Georgia was not one of the states that Dogfish would be pulling out of; indeed, the first beer over 6% alcohol by volume I legally bought in Georgia was a 90 Minute Pale Ale. That when the law was changed here several years ago to allow the sale of such brews.

Lately, though, I’ve been noticing a trend, and as a fan I’d like to give you a friendly reminder. I think you’re getting a little too big for your britches. See, your beers are great, but you’re certainly not the only kid on the block. I’ve been drinking craft beer for 30 years now, and one thing I’ve noticed is how many truly great breweries there are these days.

Let me explain to you how I got into this frame of mind. I’ve noticed your beers getting more and more pricey, both in the bottle and on draft. To be honest, I don’t buy them as much as I used to because of this. Still, just the other night at Taco Mac, I noticed that Dogfish Head Pearl Jam Twenty Faithfull Ale had just been tapped. I had heard about this beer, a tribute to the 20^th Anniversary of Pearl Jam, but hadn’t seen it yet even though it was launched last fall. So, I ordered a glass.

What arrived before me was a bright golden colored beverage with a thin head of foam and a spicy, vinous-fruit nose. I took a sip, and got a light malty palate with more of the winey character (from the black currants I assume) and more of spice dryness in the finish than a hoppy one. Other than that, not a lot going on in this 7% alcohol by volume sipping brew.

And yet, an 11 ounce pour of this beer commanded a whopping $9. Mind you, I don’t mind paying for quality beer. I didn’t really get anywhere near the quality I paid for with this one, though. Consider that the same night I enjoyed a fruity, hoppy Imperial Red IPA from local Red Hare Brewing as well for just $5 (11 ounces also), and that at 9.4% ABV. Founders Double Trouble, by far a superior beer in my estimation than Faithfull, was also 9.4% almost $2 less to boot. Or how about a full pint (20 ounces for me in my Brewniversity mug) of Lagunitas WTF for $5.50?

I don’t begrudge a brewer an honest living, but I’d like to get value for money, too. So Sam, I hope you’ll take this in the spirit in which it is intended, and realize that beer drinkers have lots of options these days. And sad to say but for me, my choices are not made in favor of Dogfish Head lately.



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