Stalactite is one of two beers brewed in collaboration with the Alstom Brothers of BeerAdvocate for the 2014 Extreme Beer Festival (of which Dogfish is proud to be a sponsor of!).  Both beers were brewed with the same base Schwarzbier recipe, Mesquite Powder, and Calcium Carbonate treated water to infuse minerally-goodness into each beer.  Calcium Carbonate is the primary mineral in the composition of Stalactites and Stalagmites, formed over thousands of years as water filters through the earth and drips into caves below the ground.  Calcium Carbonate also can be used in brewing to harden water, which ultimately brings out hop character and helps make a clean crisp brew.  Stalactite is the more modest of the two, at least in ABV.  While some nuttiness is present from the Mesquite Powder in the mash, the true stars of the show are a trifecta of fresh peppers – Serrano, Cubanelle, and Poblano - house smoked over mesquite and local cherry wood. Added in the mash along with the grain, as well as in the fermenter during lagering, Stalactite presents a huge aroma and flavor of campfire smoke and deep savory pepper, while remaining smooth and drinkable without too much heat.

Stalactite will be tapped at the brewpub in conjunction with the 2014 EBF in Boston, MA on Friday, 3/21/14.