There seems to be a holiday for everything these days: National Fried Clam Day, National Bow Tie Day and even a National Ferret Day.
But Friday is a holiday made for hoisting: National Beer Day.
And for Delaware beer-lovers, there’s a new way to celebrate ― Dogfish Head Craft Brewery has just released a new unique beer using … malted milk ball centers?
What is the new brew?
Dogfish’s newest is called Balls Back Bock, a 7.3% ABV Maibock beer, a style specifically made for the spring and commonly brewed in Germany, where it originated. It costs $15 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans.
It’s perfect if you’re also a fan of Whoppers candy.
Here’s why: brewers used nearly 7,500 malted milk ball centers to make the rich and malty pale lager, paired with locally-grown and malted grains and traditional floral-and-spicy Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops, which originated in Bavaria.
Take our Easter Candy Poll:Love Peeps? Hate jelly beans? Hoard peanut butter eggs? Vote in our holiday poll
Where can I get it?
Balls Back Bock made its debut at Dogfish Head’s Tasting Room & Kitchen (6 Cannery Village Center, Milton) on Thursday and the limited edition beer remains on sale.
There also will be a special release party tied to the launch in the town that Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione calls home.
Dogfish Head has teamed up with the Lewes Historical Society for a happy hour event Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sussex Tavern at Rabbit’s Ferry House (110 Shipcarpenter St.), which dates back to 1720. The Blarney Pilgrims will perform.
What inspired this beer with balls?
So why is there a beer release celebration for Dogfish Head in Lewes instead of their Milton tasting room or Rehoboth Beach brewpub?
It’s because Balls Back Bock was inspired by a theft in Lewes, which made headlines in February across Delaware and even into Philadelphia.
Someone snatched a cannonball that dates back to the War of 1812, which had been welded into the side of Cannonball House since the 1970s. The historic site is a popular Front Street tourist attraction and symbolic landmark for Lewes, built in 1765 as a home for Delaware River & Bay pilots.
“We can’t believe it, but we have received a report that the cannon ball is either missing or stolen from our historic Cannonball House!!,” Lewes Police wrote on Facebook Feb. 17 announcing the theft, asking the public for any leads.
The post attracted 137 comments, 540 shares and more than a few chuckles.
It only took six days for the cannonball to be reunited with its longtime home.
How did officers crack the case? Fingerprints? Video footage? DNA?
Not quite. Someone found it on a sidewalk a three blocks away near the Zwaanendael Museum on Kings Highway.
Zwaanendael employee Devon Filicicchia spotted it on the sidewalk as she went into work and told DelawareOnline/The News Journal at the time that it seemed “intentionally put there for someone to come across.”
There was never an arrest or any suspects in the case.
What is National Beer Day?
National Beer Day is held April 7 every year to commemorate April 7, 1933, the day the Cullen–Harrison Act went into effect, which was the beginning of the end of Prohibition.
The act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, legalized the sale of beer and wine with an alcohol content of 3.2% or lower, thought to be low enough to not be intoxicating.
After signing it, Roosevelt made the famous exclamation, “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”
It had been 13 years since even low alcohol content beer was legal in the United States. Prohibition officially ended eight months later. That’s when the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment, which had mandated nationwide prohibition of alcohol starting in 1920.
Where to drink up on National Beer Day
Our small, but mighty state is home to 30 different craft breweries with a total of 36 locations. Here is a list of them all if you’re interested in throwing back an ol’ oat soda to celebrate the end of Prohibition on National Beer Day.
- Argilla, Milltown
- Autumn Arch Beer Project, Glasgow
- Bellefonte, Brandywine Hundred, Prices Corner
- Bethany, Ocean View
- Big Oyster, Lewes
- Blue Earl, Smyrna
- Brick Works, Smyrna, Long Neck
- Crooked Hammock, Lewes, Middletown
- Dew Point, Yorklyn
- Dewey Beer, Dewey Beach
- Dogfish Head, Milton, Rehoboth Beach
- First State, Middletown
- Fordham & Dominion, Dover
- Hangman, Claymont
- Iron Hill, Newark, Wilmington, Rehoboth Beach
- JAKL Beer Works, Middletown
- Loakal Branch, Delmar
- Midnight Oil, Glasgow
- Mispillion River, Milford
- Musings Fermentation Underground, Glasgow
- Ocean View, Ocean View
- Revelation, Rehoboth Beach
- Stewart’s, Bear
- Stitch House, Wilmington
- Thompson Island, Rehoboth Beach
- Twisted Irons, Ogletown
- Volunteer, Middletown
- Wilmington Brew Works, Wilmington
- 1937, Stanton
- 38°-75°, Dewey Beach
DELAWARE EATSSign up for longtime DelawareOnline/The News Journal food writer Patricia Talorico’s weekly newsletter
SPRING HAS SPRUNGAfter 66 years, Fusco’s Italian Water Ice expands statewide, including at Blue Rocks games
SULLY’S IRISH PUBThe ‘Rodney Dangerfield of bars’- the state’s oldest – is (finally) getting some respect
FOOD HALLSDE.CO and The Chancery Market face off. We size up Wilmington’s twin major food halls.
Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of DelawareOnline/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and Twitter (@ryancormier).
