Video: Dogfish Head founder clinches James Beard award

After being nominated for a James Beard Award seven times in a row, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery founder and CEO Sam Calagione has finally earned the title as the nation’s No. 1 beer professional.

“Mostly this is for my 250 co-workers back in coastal Delaware,” he said as he accepted the award. “When we started a brewery that was all about brewing outside of traditional beer guidelines, [we took] the whole global culinary world into consideration for beer recipes; people thought we were insane in the '90s. But we've made a go of it. And this award is mostly for my best friend, my co-worker, my business partner, my high school sweetheart, my wife, Mariah. Cheers.”

Calagione took home the award for outstanding wine, beer or spirits professional during the James Beard Foundation’s annual award ceremony held May 1 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Calagione was one of 20 candidates nominated in that category, and Dogfish Head's Chesapeake & Maine was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar Program, an award that ultimately went to Arnaud's French 75 Bar in New Orleans.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of the James Beard Foundation Awards, which cover all aspects of the restaurant industry from chefs and restaurateurs to food journalists and architects and are often called “the Oscars of the culinary world.” Rehoboth Beach philanthropist and restaurateur Matt Haley, who died in August 2014 after a motorcycle accident in India, was recognized as the 2014 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.

For more about the James Beard Foundation and awards, go to www.jamesbeard.org.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.