There's the nearly $2 million low interest loan from the state of Delaware making possible major expansion of his Milton brewery and a new licensing agreement creating the possibility of a chain of Dogfish Head brewhouses in the Washington. DC area, not mention the 4,000 square foot restaurant scheduled to open adjacent to the brewery in the spring of 2006.

With all that, though, Dogfish's nationally recognized founder has found time to get another of his passions front and center ahead of schedule.

Bocce.

"We are already under construction to build the East's largest indoor tournament Bocce court area as part of our Milton complex," Calagione told the Beer Yard exclusively today. "I suppose its a combination of my Italian American roots and my love of good beer, but I believe that Bocce is the ultimate sport because you can play it very competitively while still holding a pint glass in your hand. So we are making our Bocce facility a featured element in the unique facilities we'll have when the restaurant is completed."

Bocce is a game of Italian origin similar to lawn bowling that is played with wooden balls on a long narrow court covered with fine gravel. The first two courts will be in by mid-March, Calagione said. "Even though the restaurant is not open, we will be doing Monday and Friday tours starting this summer and we want people to stop by and have some fun. You'll be able to leave your license at the bar and get a set of Bocce balls and go try out the courts."

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