Hey Bartender

A tap takeover, for the tap takeover impaired, is when all of the beers that are normally offered on tap are replaced by other beers. In this case, eight Dogfish Head beers replaced the regularly scheduled beers at Crossroads. For me, this was good news and not because I don't like Crossroads regular selection of tap beers. Their normal tap beer lineup is far superior to most restaurants and is unequaled in the coffee shop realm. I was just excited to have an opportunity to sample and enjoy a wide variety of Dogfish Head beers in one sitting.

I arrived at Crossroads early to ensure that I'd have a parking space. To pass the time before the event began, I enjoyed a cheese plate. Yes, this coffee shop has everything. Promptly at 4:30 PM, I began my Dogfish Head Tap Takeover experience. As I expected, I was not alone. There were a couple of people already enjoying their first round when I stepped up to the counter. The selection was quite impressive and gave participants the opportunity to experience a portion the Dogfish Head lineup in a unique setting.

As I mentioned, the takeover was comprised of eight beers from the soon-to-be-famous brewery located in Milton, DE. In no particular order, they were Palo Santo Marron, 90 Minute IPA, Namaste, My Antonia, Theobroma, Midas Touch, Lawn Mower Beer, and Festina Peche. For those unfamiliar with the many ales brewed by Dogfish Head, this lineup spanned the breadth and depth of their catalog. Three of them are limited release or brewpub only, two are ancient recipes, two are available year-round and one is a seasonal. The price of each pint was determined by the ABV of the beer. I thought that was a neat idea. Like any team player, I at least sampled them all and I enjoyed each of them. As I chatted with others in attendance, most everyone else seemed to be enjoying them as well.

Although each of the beers was a delight to the nose and palate, I'll only highlight the ones that I hadn't previously tried. Not surprisingly, they all fall under the limited release category. My Antonia is one of several beers from Dogfish Head that is labeled as a Collaboration beer. This particular beer was originally brewed with Leonardo DiVencenzo at Birra del Borgo just outside Rome, Italy. It is a continually-hopped imperial pilsner that reveals itself as a golden cloudy orange liquid when poured into a glass. It has citrus and a hint of pine on the nose and is very aromatic for a pilsner. The flavor is crisp with lots of hops. It has a lot of carbonation, but I thought it was very drinkable.

Namaste is a Belgian-style white ale that was also brewed in collaboration with Leonardo DiVencenzo. It's made with dried organic orange slices, fresh cut lemongrass and a pinch of coriander. This hazy-golden liquid has sweet citrus and floral notes on the nose with hints of wheat and coriander. Lemon and coriander dominate the palate. The carbonation is light and the beer is very refreshing. It's a great addition to any summertime beer list.

Last, but not least, is Lawnmower. I couldn't wait to try this one. It's listed as an introductory beer for those who need a little help jumping feet first into the crazy world that is Dogfish Head beer. It's also hardly ever available outside of their brewpub in Delaware. This was a rare opportunity indeed. First, this isn't what most would consider a training wheels beer. It's a classic American Pale Ale that's well balanced and tastes great. The nose is crisp, the palate is tangy, and it's very light and dry. I liked it a lot and for those not familiar with the Dogfish Head world of beer, it's a good way to get your toes wet.

The Tap Takeover was definitely a great way to spend a Thursday afternoon. As I sipped a pint of Palo Santo Marron and jotted down a few notes, I surveyed the room and noticed a room full of people enjoying good beer, good conversation, and a pleasant atmosphere. I also couldn't help but smile as the band for the evening, Unanimous Rex, played a tune by one of my favorite jazz pianists -- Thelonious Monk. It doesn't get much better than that.

So, there you have it, the Dogfish Head Tap Takeover -- untapped! If you missed this event, you missed a great time. The good news is that Crossroads generally has a couple of beers from the Dogfish Head catalog available in bottles and on tap. As always, whether you're being blown away by the significant Dogfish Head offerings at a tap takeover alone or with a community of friends, please do so responsibly. Until next time...prosit!!!