DFH Raison D'Etre what the hell is going on?

[MeridianFC]

I was up to Rehobeth this past weekend (sorry didn't call you Chaz, we were with the In Laws and didn't know exactly when we'd be there). Anyhow, this is the second time in the past couple of months we've had the Raison D'Etre at the brewpub/tap following on this heels of having this in the bottle recently. It struck us both that this beer has changed dramatically since we first started drinking it. It's become markedly less malty, more thin, and even a bit vinous. Now if it had been just the one bottle or just the one trip to the tap I could've passed it off as a bad batch or something, but it seems to me that they've changed the recipe (and for the worse). Has anyone else noticed this. I know that they changed brewers within the past year. I commonted on the change in Aprihop some time ago.

[steveh]

Did you ask for any info at the pub?

S.

[newportstorm]

Email the brewery. I've noticed they usually are receptive to craft beer fans with questions - assuming it's worded nicely. The brewery employees have chimed in with good info on several threads on BA. Any DFH employee sitings here?

Cheers!

[davesarman]

Don't they make two versions of this beer? I thought they made the regular "thin" version, plus a supercharged high gravity version in the vein of their Worldwide Stout. I could be wrong, but thought I had seen that somewhere. Any chance you had both versions of the beer?

[hops99]

Don't they make two versions of this beer? I thought they made the regular "thin" version, plus a supercharged high gravity version in the vein of their Worldwide Stout. I could be wrong, but thought I had seen that somewhere. Any chance you had both versions of the beer?

They also make the Raison D'Extra, but the D'Etre has always been (to me at least) very malty - not thin at all.


but it seems to me that they've changed the recipe

Certainly possible, after they *destroyed* the Au Courant this year...

[hops99]

what the hell is going on?


Reminds me of Vince Lombardi in the old NFL films archives.

[studentofbeer]

last time i had the raison d'etre (about 6 or 8 months ago or so) i felt a similar way. Really vinous, a bit thin, not deep and complex like i remembered. I chalked it up to having just grown in my taste, but the fact is the beer certainly could have changed. i'm not sure i can get DFH anymore, so i won't go try to taste it again to see. but i definitely agree.

[MeridianFC]

I sent this to the brewer:

First off let me say what a big fan I am of your beers. I've been enjoying your league leading taste for years now. My wife and I frequently sojourn to the tap in Rehobeth to get a taste of the good stuff fresh. We're also lucky to have several outlets around town (the 60 Minute is really making inroads).

Now to the damned beer geek question. My wife and I have been huge fans of the Raison D'Etre since the days it was just a special at the brewpub. Oh, those nights of trying to figure out where in the hell we were after a few pints. It seems to me that the past few times we've sampled it (two different occasions on Rehobeth Avenue and some six packs at home), that the recipe has changed. I've noticed this recently in a few other DFH brews, most notably the Aprihop. At first I put it down to some adjustments at the new facility in Milton or some change at the brewpub (I'm not sure where the Raison served there is made) but it's seemed consistently different. I have to admit to being a little disappointed as the brew is seeming thinner, less malty, and a bit vinous. I'm certainly no tasting expert, but it's been pretty striking for a beer we both hold dear. I've asked around and I've had a few others make similar comment. Are we all out of our tree or has there been a change? If the recipe has been altered, can you change it back. ;)

Thanks for taking time out of you day to read this. You'll notice I studiously avoided trying to use pseudo-technical terms that I really don't have any business bandying about, being as I'm really a drinker and not a brewer no matter what I try to tell myself when staring at the empty carboys in my basement.

Make more cask!

Regards,

[janna]

Greetings fellow sudsophiles! I have been reading, with much interests the posts about RAISON D'ETRE. I myself have noticed the change and would be very interested to hear what you find out, Meridian! I also noticed that it's considerable less malty as well as without the typical lacing. I do have one suspicion: I am the buyer at a Liquor Store with a fabulous beer selection and lately, I've learned that Dogfish has had problems keeping up with demand. Is it possible, gulp, that they've skimped on the recipe in order to speed up/increase production?

[I'mRocketMan]

^^^Oh MAN, I hope not!

[ray m]

Dogfish Head is certainly one, among many, many others, that certainly doesn't need to be doing that. It would be an absolute shame if they go the direction that, say, Shipyard apparently went (not too long ago), putting profit and increased production/distribution over brew quality.

[janna]

Originally posted by I'mRocketMan
^^^Oh MAN, I hope not!

Me too, Rocket, me too! I finally spoke today with the Distribution Manager at DFH. He was verrrrry apologetic and acknowledged the fact that they're having trouble keeping up with demand but refuted any possible recipes changes. He did remind me that there is always the customary tweaking here and there but offered that perhaps some Ale deliveries might have been exposed to heat en route!!!!! If that's the case, some truck-drivers need to be shot but I've never heard of such a thing....

Thank Bacchus, there's more beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)