31 Mar Donum Dei Brewing Bringing Their “Gift” To The Masses
“It’s poured at thirty seven degrees,” Richard Otkey explained, setting a pint of Pale Ale before me. “Let it open up and breathe for a few minutes, to about forty-two degrees.”
Normally, one might wonder why they should listen as someone else instructs them when to drink their beer, but for me, listening to Richard Otey was a no brainer. He is a certified Doemens Sommelier after all.
A what?
Don‘t worry, I didn’t know either. Here is the skinny:
A Doemens Sommelier imparts knowledge regarding beer on a level that enables them to advise customers of breweries, distributors, retailers and restaurants & bars on the production of beer, dominant characteristics of beer styles, how to select the right beer for pairing with the dish of their choice and the positive health benefits of moderate beer consumption. Beer sommeliers will also learn responsibilities in maintaining quality of the beer served to the guest and its perfect presentation.
That may come in handy one day during an intense trivia session. However, now you know why I let the beer sit for a few minutes and listened to the owner of New Albany’s newest brewery, Donum Dei, which opened its doors March 17th.
As my beer hit thirty-eight degrees, Otey gave me a bit of history about the name Donum Dei.
“It’s Latin for ‘Gift of God’ and it has a twofold meaning for us. In the days before Louis Pasteur and his work with what makes beer, well, beer (yeast), it was thought that if what the brewers made became beer, they were in God’s good graces and it was a gift of God. If beer was not the result, well someone was a bad boy. The second meaning for us is that this business is the result of God’s oversight,” Otey pontificated.
At forty degrees I looked at my glass in eager anticipation, knowing it was only a matter of seconds before I could finally take a sip, as Otey continued his teachings.
“Our approach to brewing is a combination of German and Belgian philosophy. I enjoy the attention to detail that the Germans take, I was taught how to design, taste and pair beer by German brew-masters. However I love the more artful consideration the Belgian brewers take without the constraints of Reinheitsgebot. The beers we offer will be what our customers like to drink,” he said with a smile.
During my visit, Donum Dei had four beers available: Pale Ale, Belgian Ale, Brown Ale, and Red Ale. They also have paninis, soups, and house made sodas.
The brew kettle was purchased from a brewery in Portland, OR under the condition that Otey keep its name – Heisenberg. (Any Breaking Bad fans out there?)
In addition to beer, what else can the Indiana craft beer world expect from Donum Dei?
“I would like to leverage my knowledge of beer pairing to work with local restaurants and chefs, to allow them an opportunity to take advantage of the craft beer movement.”
Craft beer is a movement. A pretty awesome one that continues its rise. In my case, similar to the temperature rising from 37 degrees to forty-two. Finally!
The Pale Ale was worth the wait. Of course it was.
Richard Otey knows a thing or two about beer.
Where: 3211 Grant Line Road, New Albany, IN 47150
When: 3-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
How much: $4.95 for flight or 16-ounce pour, $9.95 for growler fill
What’s on tap:
Pale ale — 6.2 ABV, 46 IBU
Belgian ale — 6.2 ABV, 26 IBU
Red ale — 4.2 ABV, 28 IBU
Brown ale — 4.8 ABV, 22 IBU
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