On Friday, February 8, and Saturday, February 9, Milton, Delaware’s renowned Dogfish Head Brewery will host a special Grateful Dead-themed weekend featuring famed Grateful Dead archivist and legacy manager David Lemieux. The weekend will also serve as a celebration of the brewery’s recently announced revival of their granola- and succulent wildflower honey-infused hoppy pale ale, American Beauty, which was released in 2013 in collaboration with the Grateful Dead.
As David Lemieux explained in a brief interview with Dogfish Head, “Dogfish’s philosophy and attitude closely matches the Dead’s, which a band member once described as ‘misfit power.’ You guys are left of center in the beer world, just as the Dead are in the musical and cultural world.”
The weekend will kick off on February 8 with a meet-and-greet and signing with Lemieux from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the brewery’s Tasting Room & Kitchen in Milton, Delaware. Across the weekend, Dogfish Head will also be hosting special music-themed “Grain To Glass” tours of their facilities. Each tour spans two hours and offers guests beer and cocktail tastings in addition to a behind-the-scenes look into the production of their beers and spirits, including access to normally off-limits areas of their brewery and distillery. Given that the weekend is celebrating the return of their fan-favorite brew, American Beauty, these tours feature a special music theme, which will focus on Dogfish Head’s past music collaborations with artists. Tickets for the weekend’s limited “Grain To Glass” tours cost $30 and are available here, with admission price including the tour, samples, pint and shot glasses, and more.
On the evening of Friday, February 8, following the meet-and-greet, fans are invited to the brewery’s Rehoboth, Delaware brewpub location for a “Grateful Dead-inspired Beer Experience.” Hosted by Dogfish Head founder and CEO Sam Calagione and Lemieux, both Lemieux and Calagione will be on hand to answer questions from fans. The experience will feature a four-course meal of dishes inspired by the prolific rock band, complimentary “off-centered libations” meal pairings, and a performance by Pennsylvania-based Grateful Dead cover band, High Tied Sideshow.
The Grateful Dead-inspired beer experience on February 8 costs $85, which includes admission to the dinner, four beers, a growler of Dogfish Head’s exclusive Faithful Companion brew and an exclusive event poster signed by David Lemieux. Tickets and a full menu with beverage pairings can be found here.
[Hat Tip – Live For Live Music]
