In addition to brewing some of the most innovative beers in America, Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione also has the distinction of being one of the realest dudes in the craft-beer industry. He’s never been afraid to speak his mind when taking on the powers of Big Beer, and he’s been a key proponent of using unexpected collaborations—like the Positive Contact, brewed with Dan the Automator—to help craft beer reach a new audience.
When Calagione swung through the office recently—fresh off a 19-foot Boston Whaler making its way from Lewes, DE to Portland, ME (peep that tan!)—we couldn’t resist putting him in the hot seat and bombarding him with some of the provocative topics from our story “15 Things Craft Beer Fans Think (But Nobody Says)”.
With signature candor (and a beer in hand, of course), Calagione responded to the following controversial opinions we’ve found among craft-beer drinkers:
- The Brewers Association’s definition of craft beer is arbitrary and inaccurate.
- Beer rating sites create a dangerous herd mentality.
- Beer style categories—particularly IPA—mean almost nothing in today’s craft-beer market.
- The American craft-brew community is too arrogant about its place in the world beer scene.
Watch the video above to see Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione face the FWF Beer Inquisition.