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Dogfish Head Owner and Founder, Sam Calagione, describes Black & Blue as a Belgian-style golden ale fermented with blackberries and blueberries.

The ale is is made with real berries, instead of artificial flavoring, making sure the fruit comes through in the flavor, not just the aroma.

Sam and Mariah Calagione at the Wine Enthusiast Awards, Monday night. Courtesy: Dogfish Head Brewery

If you visit Dogfish Head’s website, you’ll see the berries are pureed berries and added to the ale, just before it leaves the brewhouse. During fermentation, the yeast feeds on sugars from the barley and the berries, giving Black & Blue a unique complexity.

Although, DFH PR Coordinator, Janelle Miley, regrets to inform us Black & Blue will not be made again in 2016, the award is an honor to the Milton brewery.

Courtesy: Dogfish Head Brewery

Wine Enthusiast was founded in 1979 and primarily showcased education on wine. As craft beer and spirits became more popular, the publication expanded. Nassau Valley Vineyards, located in Lewes, Del., started up in 1993 and just two years later, Dogfish Head Brewery made its name in Milton. Peggy Raley-Ward helped start up Nassau Valley Vineyards and through the years, the vineyard has formed a great relationship with DFH.

“We are always happy to see their success, it’s always great when a local company makes it,” Raley-Ward said.

In terms of craft beer and spirits being showcased on a publication that began primarily for wine lovers, Raley-Ward said the company has adjusted as the other industries grew.

“Overall people who are wine enthusiasts are people who are beverage enthusiasts, meaning they like beer, they like spirits,” Raley-Ward said. “It’s beneficial for those wine readers to read about beer and spirits as well.”

Learn more about Dogfish Head’s Black & Blue via DFH’s ‘Quick Sip Clips’: