There's nothing like a house-made New York-style bagel from our pals at Surf Bagel, so we teamed up with this iconic local eatery to brew up a limited-edition black IPA with their pumpernickel bagels!

Clocking in at 6.3% ABV, DelaWeAre is brewed with an array of locally-grown malt, caraway seeds, black pepper and chopped pumpernickel bagels from Surf Bagel. Medium-bodied with a long, bittersweet finish, DelaWeAre boasts complex flavors of citrus, black pepper, caramel, fennel and anise. This brewpub exclusive will be releasing from Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 3, in 4 packs of 16 oz. cans for $17 and on draft! A portion of proceeds from the sales of DelaWeAre will be donated to the Delaware Brewers Guild.

“When deciding on what to brew for the DelaWeAre project, it was instinctual to include Surf Bagel bagels in our IPA recipe,” said Bryan Selders, Brewing Ambassador at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats. “They’ve fueled so many brew days, we thought it was natural for the bagels to provide fuel for our yeast as well! The flavor profile of pumpernickel bagels is a beautiful pairing with a black IPA and together in one beer, it’s pure Delaware magic.”

Chock full of Delaware pride, the DelaWeAre initiative is a collective effort by the state’s independently owned breweries to raise funds and awareness for the Delaware Brewers Guild and local craft beer community. The Delaware Brewers Guild developed the base recipe for DelaWeAre and challenged the area’s brewers to put their personal twists on this First State-inspired IPA. While not many stipulations were set, the Delaware Brewers Guild asked that participating breweries create a beer reminiscent of Delaware culture; by utilizing locally-grown ingredients, working with a local chef or collaborating with a local business. We first released our version of DelaWeAre on draft in March and after much excitement from our drinkers, we decided to re-release this exclusive brew in 16 oz. cans!

“The pandemic and its subsequent state-wide restrictions immensely impacted entrepreneurial companies that make beautiful and fresh local products, like craft breweries and Surf Bagel,” says Dogfish Head Founder & brewer, Sam Calagione. “While many of the statewide restrictions in Delaware have been lifted, we believe the DelaWeAre initiative should live on. By brewing a second batch of DelaWeAre and releasing it in cans, we are hoping to not only draw more attention to the local breweries that lost business during the pandemic, but to show the world that craft brewers are strong, resilient individuals that are supportive of one another and determined to succeed, regardless of what life throws our way.”

Folks that stop by Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats on Saturday, July 3, can not only pick up a 4 pack of DelaWeAre, but they can enjoy the beer on draft alongside a delicious breakfast-themed special! Created in collaboration with Surf Bagel, the “Pumpernickel Up the Jams” breakfast sandwich will feature a limited-edition “Doughfish” bagel created exclusively for Dogfish Head with many of the same ingredients found in DelaWeAre – brewing grains, caraway seeds, peppercorns and more. Topped with local scrapple, Fifer Farm apple butter, Cabot white cheddar cheese, a poached egg and bitter greens, this special is sure to go fast. Grab one before they are gone!

It's always an honor to work with our local business friends, and we're humbled that Surf Bagel owner Dave Vitella believes our team has set an example for other local businesses in coastal Delaware. “Not just for the success Dogfish Head has,” said Dave, “but for their commitment and love for the people who live and visit here. For them, for us, people come first. It’s gratifying to provide something that folks really enjoy and that showcases local interests and talents. Dogfish Head and Surf Bagel have been doing that for many years now. This new collaboration is a cool way to show our appreciation for the people who have been loyal to us for so long.”