Free as in beer?
Not too long ago I wrote a blog entry about brewing beer, more precisely, about making extreme beer. The book I discussed in this entry was written by Sam Calagione, owner of the very popular Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and goes into great detail about how to take the centuries old boring beer recipes out there and give them a twist to make something much more unique and interesting.
Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (right)
One of the cool things about the book is that he gives away the recipes for several of their most popular beers to let home brewers could try their hand at making them…so for once we’re talking about “free as in speech” as it relates to beer 
Last night I was out with some friends grabbing dinner before going to a concert and we stopped at a craft beer bar in DC. You’d never guess who happened to be there…. (ok actually you probably know already). Sure enough Sam was there promoting a new beer from Dogfish Head called “Black Thai”. Talk about an extreme beer…this is an Imperial Stout flavored with Thai basil, edamame and blackberries that clocks in at a 9% ABV. I think I caught him right as he was delivering a round to his friends and family but he was kind enough to stop for a quick picture anyways.
Centuries old recipes…yes, but I hope that Sam (as a brewer) didn’t really say they were boring. Inspiring or classic, perhaps?
You’re right Nick. That was my choice of words there, not his, and in re-reading it I realize it was a poor one. Without the originals there would be no derivatives