Headstash

The Grateful Dead, Dogfish Head Brewery to Release "American Beauty" Beer

American Beauty

We can share the women, we can share the… beer?

It would seem so as The Grateful Dead have announced plans to collaborate with Dogfish Head, the famed Milton, Delaware based microbrewery, on a new beer dubbed "American Beauty.” The new brew is described as “a strong pale ale with all-American hops and barley."

"We've looked for a long while for the perfect brewery to team up with for a Grateful Dead-inspired brew, and feel we've finally found the right fit,” explained David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead's legacy manager, in an official statement. “Aside from Dogfish's history with music-themed brews, we love their beer, and think it's the best around. Plus, these are really good people and are the type of folks we want to work with."

"American Beauty" isn't Dogfish Head’s first sonically inspired brew. The microbrewery has also produced "Faithfull," a Belgian-style golden ale which commemorated the 20th anniversary of Pearl Jam's formation and its debut album, "Ten,” along with the Miles Davis inspired "Bitches Brew," and "Hellhound," which flirts with ethereal legend of infamous Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson.

Appropriately, Dogfish Head will pay homage to the cherished tradition of collaboration between the Dead and their fans. Dead Heads have been asked to send in suggestions for the final, special ingredient inspired by their experiences with the band.

Dogfish Founder and President Sam Calagione speaks from experience.

"My wife, Mariah, and I went to our first Dead show together in the summer of '91," said Calagione, "and I've been listening to Workingman's Dead and Shakedown Street, two of the earliest albums I ever owned, on my morning kayak trips. It’s amazing how timeless those albums are."

Fans can submit their ingredients online until December, at which point the brewery and band will pick the ingredient – and story – that best fits the new brew.

So when can you expect to tap the first keg of "American Beauty?" The pale ale is expected to be released through the 27-states Dogfish distributes to in October of 2013.