Serbia’s Dogma Brewery released their new collaboration, Flying Dogma Galaxy IPA, on Friday the 13th. Lucky? When craft beer drinkers think of great European beer destinations, Serbia does not come to mind. And until Flying Dogma, an American craft brewery had never collaborated with any Serbian brewery.
How did Flying Dog, one of the USA’s most well-known craft breweries, decide to brew with Dogma Brewery?
First, I went to Dogma Brewery to get the story directly from their owner, Vladimir. Over shots of American Bulleit bourbon, which I’d brought from the USA, he shared the story. Typical craft beer collaboration stories do not involve Liberland, a country which technically does not exist, and border hops smuggling. But Serbia has never been a typical country…
How Flying Dogma IPA, The First Serbian-American Beer Collaboration Came To Be
Pivoslavija: How did Flying Dogma and Dogma first connect?
Vladimir: We got connected through our friends, Petar and Aleksandar, who are the organizer of the Liberty Conference, which is this week in Belgrade. We were here in October in front of the taproom, and they wanted a place for an afterparty. They told me, “We’ll have this conference. We’ll have some people you know – Matt and Terry. They will be presenters at the conference. And some guy from Flying Dog Brewery will come, some Jim Caruso.” I was like, what the fuck?
PS: Yes. I remember you were shocked.
Vlad: I said, “Can I please get the phone of that ‘guy’?” They looked at me…uh, OK. So then, I called, “Hey, Jim. It’s Vladimir from Dogma Brewery in Serbia. I know you’re coming here. Maybe. But you’re connected with ‘We The People,’ that movement which will have the Liberty Conference here.” He answers, “Yea. What’s your idea?” I just asked, “Do you want to brew a collaboration with Dogma? You can see Dogma at Untappd, Ratebeer, everywhere. Check our identity and our credibility.”
We had two video calls. He connected me with their COO, and everything after that is history… We just had two emails to create a recipe. And it was like – Flying Dog and Dogma – Flying Dogma!
PS: How did you decide on Galaxy hops?
Vlad: Because we spoke about IPAs. That parallel between Flying Dog and Dogma, and a hop forward identity and philosophy in brewing. We were talking, “Well, Flying Dogma, which hops then?” I said, “Which hops?! Well, Galaxy hops!” That was the thing. So easy.
We just had two emails to create a recipe. And it was like – Flying Dog and Dogma – Flying Dogma!
Brewed In Serbia, Drank Throughout Europe
(continued)
PS: The beer was all brewed in Serbia, right in this brewery, correct?
Vlad: Yes, right here.
PS: This would be the first ever American-Serbian beer collaboration?
Vlad: It is. They came here, and I met Matt Brophy, the guy who I spoke with about the recipe. He came here at the start of March and we brewed the beer here.
PS: Did you have Galaxy hops available at the time?
Vlad: We found Galaxy. We don’t have it in our hop portfolio, in our warehouse. I smuggled 20 Kilos from, uh, from…
PS: Slovenia?
Vlad: Yes, Slovenia. Through hop.si, my friend Miha, because he works with Bart Haas, who is importing Galaxy.
PS: But, of course, it’s not only Galaxy.
Vlad: No, of course. You’ve got Columbus and Simcoe. But Galaxy is in the beer pool and dry-hopped at around 60-70%.
PS: What was the production?
Vlad: 40 Hectaliters, 4000 Liters. 5000 bottled and the rest in kegs. And we will export it too. Flying Dog just said, “Sell it!”
PS: Where for exporting?
Vlad: At this moment, we export to 15 countries, but 7 or 8 countries have a reorder. This batch will go to France too, because we’ve got a good distributor there. He’ll be exclusive.
What’s Next For Dogma Brewery?
(continued)
PS: Could we expect any future production through Flying Dog in the USA?
Vlad: We will see. I got an invite from Matt, the brewer, to come to Maryland. I’ll send the beer through these guys who were filming today [For We The People]. For us, it can be a breakthrough to the US market.
PS: Of course. What are other collaborations you’ve discussed for the future?
Vlad: Birrifico Lambrate from Milan, Italy, is coming next week on the 19th. We will brew a West Coat Lager – a hoppy lager – and we will call it Birrificio Lambrat & Dogma’s “Brate.” [‘Brate’ means ‘Bro’ in Serbian.]
PS: And for the future with Flying Dog?
Vlad: They will try the beer, and I will ask them, but we will be polite. But, of course, everyone from the [Serbian] beer scene – my colleagues, the brewers – we’re asking me, “How? How’d you brew with Flying Dog? Tell me how some guy from Maryland came here!?”
PS: Haha. Yes, the Liber [Land] people were certainly a surprise.
Vlad: Yes. Yes.
PS: For fun, if you could choose another particular American brewery to collaborate with, which one would you like to work with?
Vlad: At this moment, I haven’t drank too much, but I will go to The States in September with my partner for a month. But for now, I’ve tried Trillium: those are the juiciest NEIPAs I’ve tried.
PS: Ok. Finally, since we’re drinking American bourbon now: Have you looked into any barrel-aging so far?
Vlad: Yes, but in October after The States.
PS: I’ve told you I enjoyed your idea behind Mrs. Quince, and wanted to see something specifically Serbian…
Vlad: Yes, with the Serbian touch.
PS: So what’s your ideas on rakija barrel-aging? [Rakijas are Serbian fruit brandies.]
Vlad: You see those barrels? [Several barrels serve as tables in the brewpub.] They are rakija barrels from a distillery in Western Serbia. So I can take it today, empty it, and put something inside.
PS: That goes for vinjak as well?
Vlad: In fact, those are vinjak barrels…
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