I'll never forget the first time I tried Dogfish Head's wildly popular 90 Minute IPA. It was that life changing beer that somehow made me - a beer novice - understand the passion that goes in to brewing beer, and appreciate and respect it. After that first sip, I promised myself that I was going to start a beer blog - and look, here we are.

Not only was this beer blog inspired by a Dogfish Head beer, but also Sam Calagione himself - Dogfish Head's founder and President. Not sure if he rings a bell? If you've watched any recent documentary about beer, been to a beer conference or festival, or just check out the craft beer movement online - you'll find that Sam's name and vision permeate the industry - and for a reason. 

In 1995 he opened Dogfish Head and was the smallest commercial brewery, brewing about 10 gallons a day. The average beer had four ingredients - but theirs had six. The average beer is about 4% ABV and theirs were 9%. And the craft beer community loves them too, the beer I mentioned earlier is rated at a 95 out of 100 by over 9,000 folks on Beer Advocate. 

He inspired this blog. Inspired me to learn how to rap (just kidding) and may inspire you a little too.

Watch his TEDx talk on "reinventing beer" and find out how he grew Dogfish, changed the industry and brought the craft back to brewing.

Learn more about Sam and Dogfish Head in this RealBeer interview.

Check out some of his Discovery Channel TV series epicsodes, Brew Masters, here.