A 21st birthday only comes once in a lifetime and this week is Pelican Brewing Company’s turn to celebrate! In honor of this momentous occasion, Pelican reflects on over 400 prestigious awards and celebrates with the first Pelican brew—and first Gold medal winner—ever imagined by founding brewmaster Darron Welch.

Welcome back from the Pelican vault Doryman’s Dark Ale—available on draft starting May 4 at all Pelican venues.

Doryman’s Dark Ale was adapted from Welch’s prize-winning homebrew recipe and showcases his love of history with one of the earliest beer styles directly attributed to American craft brewers. Doryman’s, which was Pelican’s first Gold medal winner, took the prize at the 1999 Great American Beer Festival in the American Brown Ale category. This rich toasty brew forever holds a special place in Pelican’s heart, no matter the birthday they celebrate.

Notes of caramel and toasty malt combine with citrusy hop flavors, floral hop aromas for a dark chocolate character with a clean, crisp finish. A review in Draft Magazine writes: “Beneath its rocky, tan head, Doryman’s Dark Ale is deep mahogany with ruby edges that glisten in the light. Its nutty aroma meshes with a slightly floral hop character creating an interesting marriage that’s alluring and mouthwatering. As the smooth beer hits the tongue offering only a light carbonic kick, a complex collection of malt flavors unfold: toast, light chocolate, and caramel sink into the taste buds. Take another sip, and a nutty character emerges. While this beer definitely showcases its malts, hop bitterness rises in the back to keep the darker flavors in check. Finishing dry, but not so much as to whitewash the flavors, a lingering dark chocolate character sticks to the palate, tempting another sip.” (6.2% ALC. BY VOL. / 42 IBU)

Read more at source: Brew Bound