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The Grateful Dead is one of the most celebrated bands in music history with a long tradition of engaging with their fans in creative ways. And after celebrating more than 60 years in music, the Grateful Dead’s longtime partnership with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is bearing even more fruit with a new lager collaboration.
Available year-round nationwide, Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager is an American Rice Lager that’s described as a “crisp, clean and super-sessionable with a splash of citrus for a drinking experience reminiscent of sunshine and daydreams,” according to the brewery. It’s made from rice and sustainable African Fonio grain, as it’s hopped with a blend of Lemondrop and Contessa hops, as well as features lemongrass, lime and lemon peel for brightness.
The beer itself is bright, flavorful and ideal on a summer day with a crisp and clean finish, as well as notes of lemon and lemongrass.
“Fans of the Grateful Dead are totally engrained in its culture and can easily identify when something doesn’t fit seamlessly with the band’s ethos,” says David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s archivist & legacy manager, in a press release. “It’s Dogfish and the Dead’s shared values of creativity and nonconformity, and their laser focuses on remaining true to themselves that has made this partnership so successful.”
Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager, which is 5.3% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), isn’t the band’s only collaboration with Dogfish Head. Last year, the band and brewery partnered with the fan-favorite Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale, a light and breezy pale ale that was Dogfish Head’s most successful launch to date.
“Fans felt the genuine connection between our brands with Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale and I’m certain they will with Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager, too,” continues Lemieux.
Dogfish Head Brewery
Dogfish Head x Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager
5.3% ABV
In addition, Dogfish Head launched the Daydream Playbook, a new online hub for creative exploration via storytelling, music, and art. It’s a way for fans to engage with the collaboration through curiosity and creativity.
“Dogfish Head and the Grateful Dead both began as mere ideas, and thinking back to the beginnings of Dogfish, never in my wildest daydreams did I imagine we would one day be collaborating with a group as culturally influential as the Grateful Dead,” says Sam Calagione, Dogfish head brewer & founder. “One heck of a wild ride, our now more than 10-year relationship with the Dead has reinforced my belief in the value of thoughtful, authentic, against-the-grain experimentation… failures be damned. It is only by continuously pushing the boundaries of the beer and music industries that both Dogfish and the Grateful Dead have blossomed into what we are now, and together, I hope we can inspire others to do the same – to chart their own courses as they embark on their own explorations of goodness.”
Meanwhile, Dogfish Head has a few surprises for Record Store Day this year, which lands on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The brewery, which is the official beer of Record Store Day, is set to have the new beers available, Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager and Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale, as well as a vinyl record collaboration with the Grateful Dead titled On A Back Porch, Vol. 3. The release features classics, deep cuts and fan-favorite performances from the iconic band. Learn more about Dogfish Head x Grateful Dead x Record Store Day here.
In the meantime, Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager, which comes in six-packs of 12-ounce cans, is now available at grocery and beverage stores across the country. Learn more about Dogfish Head x Grateful Dead, or find where to buy the new lager near you here.
