Brew Masters on Discovery w/ Sam Calagione

[metaltim]

yellowthere, if a person was at least half paying attention, they would hear Sam constantly throw out there 'off centered ales for off centered people', and i can't count how many times he explains that he does things differently and uses unique ingredients. surely anyone with half a brain would realize they are an exception to the craft brew world.

I do find it a bit weird that, sure they try all these strange brews, but are any of them actually in production? their biggest sellers are the 60 and 90.. and those are standard IPA's, save from the 'continually hopped part.


anybody else think sam looks a lot like henry rollins?

 

[MrInternet]

It's been my experience that there are two types of "beer geeks":

1) Those who spend the majority of their time talking about how amazing and awesome beer is, and

2) Those who spend the majority of their time looking down their nose at 99% of beer and talking about how much beer sucks

If you've ever been curious about which one you are, watch this show.

 

[lincoln]

anybody else think sam looks a lot like henry rollins?

sort of, the both have dark hair and a c### but aside form that....

 

[yellowthere]

surely anyone with half a brain would realize they are an exception to the craft brew world.

IMO, I don't think so. Why would you assume this? This may be the first real expose to craft beer for thousands of people. If this is your only exposure to Craft beer (meaning actually being around people that are actually talking what makes craft beer different), then it would not be unreasonable for a non craft drinker to assume other craft breweries are like this, if not all. I'm not debating sales percents of DFH, but what is being shown on the first two episodes doesn't exactly promote real craft beer, it promotes gimmicky beer, whether it be Sam's or not. This show makes Sam the poster boy for craft beer, and I just hope he quickly shies away from this crazy ingredient format for the show and goes to...well...maybe......maybe talking about regular- non shock, craft beer.

Up next week... how DFH makes a mountain-oyster stout!!!! "The secret is to clip them up high" Who else remembers Funny Farm?

 

[SwampassJ]

Up next week... how DFH makes a mountain-oyster stout!!!! "The secret is to clip them up high" Who else remembers Funny Farm?

Lamb Fries record holder | SwampassJ 55 pairs.

 

[bknifefight]

My two thoughts are (1) infomercial for DFH like many others have said, and (2) Craft does not = crazy ingredients. The former is just mildly annoying, but tolerable. The later drives me absolutely crazy. Great, millions of people (eventually) will learn their first little info about craft beer on this show and that will be, it's made with lumpy, dirty looking, African honey or spit from a dozen people. Thanks Sam, way to **** on Craft beer in order to sell your show and your gimmicky beer.

How would a brewery who makes standard beers hold up in a tv show? The reason DFH is the brewery on the show is because there is more than a different variety of malts and hops in the beer. I'm sure the mass public wouldn't be too thrilled if the show consisted of "Okay guys, the excitement in this episode comes from us using roasted barley and kent golding hops! Wow!"

 

[jgln]

I do find it a bit weird that, sure they try all these strange brews, but are any of them actually in production?

That got me thinking, I rarely see many of their beers being sold so I went to their website to see just how many they claim to have and I counted 92. Granted that includes brewpub exclusives and seasonals etc but that is a LOT of beers to claim to produce. Maybe that is just a list of beers he brewed at some point and time??

I think on episode 5 he and his staff squeeze millions fruit flies to get extract their poop to see if they can get a hint of fruit flavoring into a brew.

....just kidding, hey if I owned a brewery I would be experimenting too.

 

[bmbigda]

How would a brewery who makes standard beers hold up in a tv show? The reason DFH is the brewery on the show is because there is more than a different variety of malts and hops in the beer. I'm sure the mass public wouldn't be too thrilled if the show consisted of "Okay guys, the excitement in this episode comes from us using roasted barley and kent golding hops! Wow!"

haha so true but I would watch that

 

[ArcaneXor]

I do find it a bit weird that, sure they try all these strange brews, but are any of them actually in production? their biggest sellers are the 60 and 90.. and those are standard IPA's, save from the 'continually hopped part.

Many of them are pretty widely distributed. In Florida, I have seen the 60/90/120, World Wide Stout, Raison D'Etre, Raison D'Extra, Midas Touch, Punkin, Festina Peche, Pangaea, Theobroma, Chateau Jiahu, Sahtea, Burton Baton, Indian Brown, Palo Santo Marron, ApriHop, Chicory Stout, Fort, Red & White and Black & Blue in bottles.

 

[yellowthere]

How would a brewery who makes standard beers hold up in a tv show? The reason DFH is the brewery on the show is because there is more than a different variety of malts and hops in the beer. I'm sure the mass public wouldn't be too thrilled if the show consisted of "Okay guys, the excitement in this episode comes from us using roasted barley and kent golding hops! Wow!"

Good point. It would be terribly exciting to me, but boring as hell to the mass public.

 

[bmbigda]

I do find it a bit weird that, sure they try all these strange brews, but are any of them actually in production? their biggest sellers are the 60 and 90.. and those are standard IPA's, save from the 'continually hopped part.QUOTE]

Where I shop (boston area) you can choose from at least 20 different DFH beers at any given time.

I don't love his approach to brewing but I accept that if a TV show about craft beer is to make it onto primetime cable television, this is it.

 

[-TH-]

"Okay guys, the excitement in this episode comes from us using roasted barley and kent golding hops! Wow!"

Don't even tease me like that

Someone way back said he sounds like Keanu Reeves. They were right. Sorry if that ruins it for someone else now too.

 

[TooDeadBrew]

I think show has done a remarkably well job of representing the craft brew industry. Sure, Sam wants to sell his beers, but you can tell what he cares about most are people's reactions to the taste of them, which is what drinking craft brews is all about. Some ingredients aren't all that ballsey, but that being said they have shown how on several occasions they enter international contests and put their reputation on the line with hardly even a test batch, which says alot about how confident Sam and his team are in their products. Some beers may be crafted for initial "shock value" but if they taste good who the hell cares? Show is great, cheers to Sam Calagione and the whole DFH crew

 

[billvon]

IMO, I don't think so. Why would you assume this?

Because:

1) They state it's unusual

2) They spend some time covering production of their normal beers

3) Most people understand that reality TV isn't 100% reality.

If this is your only exposure to Craft beer (meaning actually being around people that are actually talking what makes craft beer different), then it would not be unreasonable for a non craft drinker to assume other craft breweries are like this, if not all.

A lot of them are just like this. Lost Abbey makes a lot of mainstream Belgians, and also does some bizarre raisin barrel-aged beers. Stone makes a ton of IPA's, and also does collaborations where they use parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme instead of hops. Ballast Point makes a lot of pales and IPA's, and also does Sour Wench. Maui does mainstream beers, and adds coconuts to their porters. That's craft brewing.

but what is being shown on the first two episodes doesn't exactly promote real craft beer, it promotes gimmicky beer, whether it be Sam's or not.

Both are shown, and both are part of "real" craft brewing.

 

[yellowthere]

A lot of them are just like this. Lost Abbey makes a lot of mainstream Belgians, and also does some bizarre raisin barrel-aged beers. Stone makes a ton of IPA's, and also does collaborations where they use parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme instead of hops. Ballast Point makes a lot of pales and IPA's, and also does Sour Wench. Maui does mainstream beers, and adds coconuts to their porters. That's craft brewing. Both are shown, and both are part of "real" craft brewing.

I see your point on the rest of your response, and I hope that the mass public sees it the same way and not unusual when compared to BMC (as in all craft beer).

Are you really saying coconut porter is just as "out there" as a spit beer? Is spit beer really craft? None of the examples of yours seemed to be in the same ballpark. It seems more like a silly gimmick to me, though I'll admit I've never tried it. I'm not a purist in any sense, and I do like DFH regulars. I just hope this show ends up promoting craft beer.

 

[billvon]

Are you really saying coconut porter is just as "out there" as a spit beer?

Nope. But abandoning hops for parsley is pretty out there; many would not even consider that beer. And imagine how bizarre a "true lambic" would seem to us if we didn't know the history of Belgian brewing.

Is spit beer really craft?

Probably not, although it's an interesting part of brewing history (and has led to commercial chicha beers that use commercial amylase and malting rather than natural amylase.)

I just hope this show ends up promoting craft beer.

I think it already has to some degree. Portamarillo, Punkin and Fusion are all pretty good examples I think. As Tomme Arthur recently proved, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

 

[mojotele]

I've really enjoyed the show. Disclosure: I enjoy some of DFH's beer. Not all. In fact, I really only like a minority of what they produce. Some of what they produce is absolutely fantastic. Other things are completely disgusting. I find the beer they were really pimping last episode - Punkin - to be a fairly bland pumpkin ale. Not my favorite at all. I like my pumpkin ales to be bigger on spice flavor and such. I really like Raison D'Etre, Poppa Skull was amazing, and Old School was very tasty pre-aging (I'm aging the remaining 3 bottles at least a year). I'm not a big fan of IPAs but 60 minute is OK. 90 and 120 minute are too much for me.

Regarding the Chicha episode and chewing versus germinating - that bothered me at first too. Then I thought about it. I recently made a Pilsner Urquell clone and tried to make it as authentic as possible - used the least modified pilsner malt I could find, did a triple decoction, followed the hopping schedule as best I could, fermentation schedule, etc. My point is, I could've done a lot to make it easier. But I didn't. I wanted to see what it was like to make the beer like Pilsner Urquell makes it. I think Sam really just did the same thing. He knew he could take shortcuts, but he wanted the experience of making it like the Incas made it. I wouldn't be surprised if he did it much differently in the future now that he has that experience. I really don't see it as grandstanding at all. Just my opinion.

Sam seems like a genuinely nice guy. He's also interested in trying new things. I don't know why people have such a problem with that. I compare it to scientists and engineers. The scientists are discovering new things, and the engineers take that and figure out how to make it practical and appealing. Sam is trying new combinations, and more traditional breweries can take his findings and come up with something more practical. Each person and brewery has their place. Let them be and chill with the nerd rage.

EDIT: Getting a case of beer every pay day is awesome. I'd be a total fat a**, but it would be awesome.

 

[jgln]

Someone way back said he sounds like Keanu Reeves. They were right. Sorry if that ruins it for someone else now too.

Ruins what?? Some fantasy perhaps??

 

[mojotele]

Also, that Ethiopian supply store is apparently in the town right next to where I work. I'm really tempted to make some Tej.

 

[stageseven]

I'm really enjoying the show personally, the one thing I think would be really nice to see is more promotion of other breweries. It's great that they got Epic on there last night, and I'm hoping they continue that trend, whether it be with Stone and Victory for Saison du Buff, or Sierra Nevada with Life and Limb, etc. I definitely think people are going over the top for Dogfish right now, which is great for them, but it is time to spread the love.

I really don't get all the Sam/Dogfish hate though. Taste is subjective, if you don't like it that's fine, but no need to be so critical just because you don't agree with their perspective on brewing.

 

[NuclearRich]

Don't even tease me like that

Someone way back said he sounds like Keanu Reeves. They were right. Sorry if that ruins it for someone else now too.

hahahahaha he so does sound like Keanu Reeves! that is hilarious!

 

[Jud]

Ok so now we have a brew show on tv, man that is great! It is good to see craft brew getting viewed by most that would not have looked at it if it were sitting beside a BMC. Also anyone notice just how fast DF has sold out of the stores now. Had to laugh at that. Just have to watch to see if prices go up.

Just a thought here and I am sure some of us have already thought it. When is there going to be a west coast brew show? How about a brew off? Yeah Discovery did it with bikes, crabs, sword fish, lobster, trees, gators, then there was that junk yard wars, I am sure I am missing something in there also.

 

[stageseven]

Just a thought here and I am sure some of us have already thought it. When is there going to be a west coast brew show? How about a brew off? Yeah Discovery did it with bikes, crabs, sword fish, lobster, trees, gators, then there was that junk yard wars, I am sure I am missing something in there also.

Stone would be a good brewery to follow on the west coast. Pretty sure Greg Koch would make an awesome host.

 

[yellowthere]

As Tomme Arthur recently proved, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Damn good point.

 

[Eddiebosox]

I always thought Charlie Papazian would be great doing an updated version of Michael Jackson's the Beer hunter. I’m going to see him tomorrow (House Small Brewers Caucus meeting) and will talk to him about it. He already sends a lot of his time traveling the world sampling other countries beers, so it would be a natural(his book microbrewed adventures is just what I was thinking)

 

[HItransplant]

Great, millions of people (eventually) will learn their first little info about craft beer on this show and that will be, it's made with lumpy, dirty looking, African honey or spit from a dozen people. Thanks Sam, way to **** on Craft beer in order to sell your show and your gimmicky beer.

here we go with the angry again... Something interesting to ponder... some people like his "gimmicky beer."

This show makes Sam the poster boy for craft beer, and I just hope he quickly shies away from this crazy ingredient format for the show and goes to...well...maybe......maybe talking about regular- non shock, craft beer.

Craft does not = crazy ingredients.

apparently, sometimes thats exactly what it =

Here is the description of the show, directly from the discovery channel:

"Join Sam Calagione, craft beer maestro and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, as he and his partners in suds travel the world searching for exotic ingredients and discovering ancient techniques to produce beers of astounding originality."

now, can someone please explain to me how there is any confusion regarding what type of beers this show is about. Exotic ingredients.... ancient techniques... ASTOUNDING ORIGINALITY.

Im just wondering, because this isnt the first time someone has asked (insert whiney voice here) "why wont they just talk about normal brewing."

I guess to me the answer is obvious--because thats not what the show is about.

 

[wildwest450]

My two thoughts are (1) infomercial for DFH like many others have said, and (2) Craft does not = crazy ingredients. The former is just mildly annoying, but tolerable. The later drives me absolutely crazy. Great, millions of people (eventually) will learn their first little info about craft beer on this show and that will be, it's made with lumpy, dirty looking, African honey or spit from a dozen people. Thanks Sam, way to **** on Craft beer in order to sell your show and your gimmicky beer.

Is someone forcing you to watch the show?

 

[Revvy]

Boy it would be nice if we could have a thread where those of us who actually like the show could discuss aspects of it without all the negitivity. Maybe share ideas we get from the show, or simply bask in the glory of actually having even a small piece of what all of us are insanely passionate about (Craft/home brewing) given some attention for once. I think it is a cause for celebration. Maybe we should have an "I want to actually talk about this show" thread and an "I want to bash this show" thread.

And we could all just have our own fun without ruining it for the other folks.

I'm not a big fan of his bees, and as I said, his rap annoyed me, but since I love to experiment, and love to research the cutlural aspect of brewing, and love to dig up some weired ethnic ingredienrt and brew with it, I am so happy that there's a show like this in existance. I just wish I personally could talk about the show with other like minded people without a lot of negetivity.

But this is the internet afterall

 

[chilort]

Boy it would be nice if we could have a thread where those of us who actually like the show could discuss aspects of it without all the negitivity. Maybe share ideas we get from the show, or simply bask in the glory of actually having even a small piece of what all of us are insanely passionate about (Craft/home brewing) given some attention for once. I think it is a cause for celebration. Maybe we should have an "I want to actually talk about this show" thread and an "I want to bash this show" thread.

Yes, because minority dissent has never helped make anything better:
http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/c.k.w.dedreu/bestanden/DeDreu West JAP.pdf

 

[wetzie]

The one thing that Disocvery shows do well is getting into the personalities of the participants. The Ultimate Catch shows and the OCC become interesting because of the people. It will be interesting to see how they play this out with DogFish.
I tricked my wife into a tour of DF a couple of weeks ago. She loved the creativity of the company including the crazy treehouse out front. She does not drink beer but thought the recipes were fun and has asked me to experiment with the brews more : ) When the show hit she got interested in watching it, that surprised me.