Beerknews / Dogfish Head's toast to Record Store Day

Though they’re most famous for their aggressively hopped IPAs and innovative brews, Delaware’s Dogfish Head Brewery has been pairing beer and beats since before Randalls and wasabi beer were on anyone’s radar.

“Great music, like great beer, makes us feel closer to the gods and closer to our friends and loved ones,” says Founder Sam Calagione. “They are meant to be shared, and sharing them in tandem magnifies the goodness in each of them.”

In addition to brewing “Analog Beer for the Digital Age,” Calagione and his fellow masterminds created Rosabi, a wasabi-infused beer, in collaboration with songstress Julianna Barwick, and the legendary Bitches Brew, produced for the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis’ paradigm-shifting album of the same name. Their recipe for American Beauty IPA was created with help from Grateful Dead fans and meant to be enjoyed as though you bottled a Dead show. And Positive Contact, a “sweet-and-sour Belgian-ish” brew with Fuji cider, slow-roasted farro, cayenne and cilantro, uses hip-hop producer Dan the Automator’s favorite ingredients.

That makes Dogfish Head the perfect face — and beer — of Record Store Day, which was created in 2007 to celebrate the unique culture of record stores and the special role they play in their communities.

Chris Penn, owner of Good Records in Dallas, understands this role quite well. He’s been participating in Record Store Day since its inception and looks forward to this year’s limited releases — including Music to Drink Beer To. “It seems like they go hand in hand,” he says, referring to the marriage of music and beer.

So what’s on tap this year? After the smashing success of last year’s Music to Drink Beer To, Calagione has once again teamed up with Adam Block from Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings to create a beer-pairing vinyl compilation — and the perfect beer to go with it. The playlist, which includes hits from Lou Reed, Outkast, Peter Bjorn & John, Johnny Cash, Bessie Smith and more, will be released nationwide on April 16.

music to drink beer to record store day dogfish head

Photo Credit: Dogfish Head Beer Facebook

The corresponding Beer to Drink Music To is an alcoholic tribute to Record Store Day — the beer for whatever you want to listen to. “If you love great music and you love great beer, we’ve combined them into one easy-to-swallow format,” says Calagione.

Naturally, the recipe was created using ingredients inspired by some of his favorite songs, including the likes of REM, The Beatles, Phish and the Talking Heads. And at 9% ABV, this Belgian-style tripel with sweet orange peel, peppercorns, green cardamom and candi sugar is as off-centered as the folks who made it. Look for it in 12-ounce bottles through May, and be sure to pair it with some solid tunes.

“We found a cause that’s dear to our hearts,” Calagione says. “If you love independent craft breweries, then you need to love Record Store Day, too. Because in the same way that small breweries are up against giant conglomerate breweries, the little record stores are up against giant conglomerate online music sales outlets and big box stores.”