The 30th anniversary will be highlighted by the return of Dogfish’s Cherry Pale Ale. (Photo from Dogfish Head Brewery)
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is turning back the clock to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a nostalgic release: Cherry Pale Ale, a re-creation of the first homebrew ever made by founder Sam Calagione in the early 1990s.
The limited-edition beer, described as a “liquid time capsule,” is crafted with a blend of Delaware wheat, Maine barley, Cascade hops, and generous amounts of cherries. The result is a balanced, easy-drinking pale ale with sweet and tart notes of stone fruit—just in time for summer.
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Starting Friday, July 18 at noon EST, fans can purchase the Cherry Pale Ale as part of a special anniversary bundle exclusively through GiveThemBeer.com.
The $30 birthday box includes a six-pack of 12oz cans, along with a selection of ‘90s-inspired merchandise: a magnet, sticker pack, mini pennant flag, and a digital “Post Tape” cassette. Quantities are limited and include shipping.
“I first brewed Cherry Pale Ale back in 1993, while I was writing the business plan for Dogfish Head,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head brewer and founder. “After serving it to my roommates and friends at a party in our small New York City apartment, I knew – and proclaimed to everyone – that brewing beer was what I wanted to do with my life. Now, in honor of Dogfish Head’s 30th birthday, I couldn’t be more excited to share my virgin brew with drinkers near and far”
To maintain authenticity, Dogfish Head pulled inspiration directly from its roots.
The ingredients pay tribute to both Delaware, where the brewery was founded, and Maine, the namesake of Dogfish Head Point. Even the label art—a hand-painted cherry—was recreated by Calagione himself using the same potato-stamp method he used three decades ago.
One quirky detail making a comeback: “carpet coasters.”
According to Calagione, his original batch in 1993 melted into the apartment carpet after he sanitized the bottles in the oven. Each can in this release now features a custom-made “carpet coaster” as a nod to that accidental innovation.
For local fans, the beer will also be available in limited quantities at Dogfish Head’s Milton brewery, priced at $16 per six-pack. Purchases are limited to one six-pack per person.
Founded in June 1995, Dogfish Head started as a tiny brewpub in coastal Delaware. Over the past 30 years, it has grown into one of the country’s most recognized craft breweries, operating a production facility and tasting room in Milton, a beer-themed hotel in Lewes, and two restaurants in Rehoboth Beach.
Despite its growth, Dogfish Head remains true to its mission of delivering “off-centered goodness for off-centered people.”
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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