Dogfish Head, Grateful Dead Release Vinyl on RSD Black Friday
The limited-edition collaborative album of six live Grateful Dead recordings will be sold at participating independent record stores while supplies last.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Beer
Dogfish Head and the Grateful Dead will release "On A Back Porch, Vol. 4" on Friday, November 27, 2026, as part of Record Store Day's RSD Black Friday. The limited-edition vinyl album features six live Grateful Dead recordings from the band's archive.
Why it matters
The release continues Dogfish Head's role as the Official Beer of Record Store Day, a partnership it has held for more than a decade. The album is also tied to Record Store Day's 20th edition, scheduled for April 17, 2027.
The album contains six live Grateful Dead recordings, with the Grateful Dead's 2,318 total concerts and 66 Billboard Top 40 albums providing context for the band's catalog. Dogfish Head's Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale and Citrus Daydream Lager each carry 5.3% ABV, but supply volumes and release timing beyond the album were not detailed.
The players
Dogfish Head
Dogfish Head is a Milton, Delaware brewer that opened as the first brewpub in Delaware more than 31 years ago and has served as the Official Beer of Record Store Day for over a decade.
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead is a rock band inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 that holds the Guinness World Records title for the most Top 40 albums charted on the US Billboard 200.
Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual event managed by the Department of Record Stores and organized with AIMS and CIMS that celebrates independently owned record shops.
The details
Curated by David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead's Archivist and Legacy Manager, and Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head's Brewer and Founder, the album will be sold in limited quantities at participating independently owned record stores while supplies last. Shoppers can locate participating stores through Record Store Day's store finder.
Timeline
Friday, November 27, 2026: "On A Back Porch, Vol. 4" is released on RSD Black Friday.
April 17, 2027: The 20th Record Store Day takes place.
Beer Partnerships
Dogfish Head's role as Official Beer of Record Store Day, held for more than a decade, positions the brewer within the record-retail calendar rather than in standard beer distribution. The collaboration pairs its brewing identity with the Grateful Dead, whose Billboard Top 40 record and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction anchor the band's commercial history.
Shoppers who want the album should check Record Store Day's store finder to locate participating independent record stores that will carry it. Because quantities are limited, arriving early on RSD Black Friday improves the chance of finding a copy.
The takeaway
Record Store Day releases like this one are limited, so readers who want the album should plan a visit to a participating independent store on November 27, 2026. Checking the store finder ahead of time can save a wasted trip.
What happens next
Record Store Day's 20th edition takes place on April 17, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Beer coverage for context on brewery collaborations like this one.
More information
Visit the Dogfish Head official brand website for more on the collaboration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
