Cham’Pain Domain is a special brew made to ring in the New Year, fermented to a hefty 14% ABV to send off 2014 properly. A hybrid of several styles, Cham’Pain Domain combines the bright citrusy hop profile of an IPA with a Wit Biere grain base of raw wheat and 2-row barley malt, and then becomes a Braggot (mead/beer hybrid) with the addition of 360 pounds of local wildflower honey from Bee Natural in Smyrna, DE.  Bitter orange peel was added in the boil along with the hops to further enhance and contribute to the citrusy quality of the beer. The resulting mixture was then fermented with a blend of Belgian Wit yeast and Champagne yeast to ensure a hearty fermentation and to add that perfect Champagne-like fruitiness to make this the quintessential Dogfish Head Brew Year’s toast.  Champ’Pain Domain pours cloudy from the Wit yeast, which traditionally stays in suspension to enhance the flavor of the beer style, as well as the large addition of New Zealand and Australian dry hops which add a natural haze.  Notes of light tropical fruit, cider, and white grape dominate the profile, along with background hints of rosewater, mint, and a gentle acidic finish. Cham’Pain Domaine will be tapping at 11:45 or so on New Year’s Eve as the toast for our epic party here at the pub, and will remain on tap until it’s all gone. “For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” Happy New Year from all of us at Dogfish!