The Randall at Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing Co. gives the brewery’s beers an infused kick on Thursdays.
KALAMAZOO, MI — Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing Co. is finding some creative magic in the power of Randall the Enamel Animal.
The “Randall” was created in 2002 by Dogfish Head, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and has been updated and revised several times since. Dogfish Head Sam Calagione described it as, “an organoleptic hop transducer module.”
“Basically, it’s a sophisticated filter system that allows the user to run draft beer through a chamber of whole-leaf hops, spices, herbs, fruit, etc. so that the alcohol in the beer strips the flavor from whatever you add and puts it in the beer,” he said on the company’s website.
Keith Love, the general manager at Gonzo’s in Kalamazoo, said he purchased the latest version of the Randall in early February for use at the brewery’s beach party later that month. He said he first heard about it while visiting World of Beer in Florida. He’s tried a number of ingredients and beer combinations.
“The options are endless. We’ve put cereal and candy … you name it we’ve probably put it in there before,” Love said.
Love said he wasn’t aware of another brewery in Southwest Michigan using the Randall. The addition has been popular enough that Gonzo’s has made it a weekly feature on Thursdays at the brewery located at 140 S. Westnedge Ave.
You can read the full story on the Michigan beer blog I’m A Beer Hound: http://www.imabeerhound.com/index.php/michigan-brewery-news/gonzos-biggdogg-brewing-co-is-finding-some-creative-magic-in-the-power-of-randall-the-enamel-animal.html.
