It did not gain much attention in Delaware, but in 2011 Dogfish Head made a decision to cut back on distribution as it struggled to meet demand.
That left Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin and Rhode Island without Dogfish Head and led to a few nasty notes that the company noted in a video announcing plans to return to those states.
“It wasn’t our goal to upset Dogfish Head fans and distributors, but with demand so far in front of supply, we just couldn’t brew enough beer. We were left with a choice: leave shelves empty and frustrate beer enthusiasts everywhere, or stay true to our off-centered roots, pull back, and focus on strong, smart growth,” Dogfish wrote in a blog post.
“Although it caused some short-term disappointment, we’re glad we did. Dogfish Head is still family owned, we still brew 100 percent of our off-centered ales ourselves here in coastal Delaware, and we’re continuing to change the way people think about beer,” the post stated.
The states will have Dogfish brews back by the end of the year, the Milton company announced.
Dogfish Head is on the final stretch of an expansion beyond its current 200,000 barrel capacity and it still managed to post double-digit growth rates.
