Notch Brewing (2020)

Agreed on Sunny Ridge. Although Jack's Abby just got some horizontal tanks which should improve things even further (I do like Sunny Ridge though, just not nearly as much as Notch's stuff).

My eyes were first opened up during my first trip to Munich. You drink Helles over there and you're immediately hit with this "oh shit" moment.

This was around 2011 though, so when I came back here, well, no one was able to replicate that.

While true, their Single Series stuff DOES see distribution. And the imports that arrive here in good shape also hit all the notes the Notch stuff does, and you know the Weihenstephan's, Paulaner's, and Hofbrau's of the world are producing large volumes.

Also, Hill Farmstead sees virtually no distribution, and I don't think anyone would take anything away from them (not that you took anything away from Notch either). Same with the smaller batch stuff from Oxbow and Allagash that is also amazing.

I'd be curious to know if there's beers in Jack's Abby's tap room that are brewed differently/are better than what is distributed. I feel as if we still get some stuff from them in Boston that isn't seen in their wider distribution chain.

 

Ha yeah I almost quoted you too.

I hear ya, and I’m not trying to compare say House Lager to The Standard, that’s definitely unfair (not to mention they’re two different styles).

But I would say comparing the Keller Series to the Single Series is fair. And I think both of those series from both breweries contain their best beers. Overall I like the Single Series better, but I’ve had some stellar shit from JA’s Keller Series too.

We’re definitely lucky here in New England. I wouldn’t put Von Trapp in the same category as Notch or Jack’s Abby though. I’m not a huge Von Trapp guy compared to many others. For what it’s worth some of the most knowledgeable posters in the Germany forums don’t really dig Von Trapp either.

I’ve also been lucky enough to go to Von Trapp’s tap room too, and they weren’t really serving anything other than their core beers. They had their Kölsch (might have been the first year they brewed it) so that was a bit different. I love the area up there and would totally go again, but hopefully they would have some brewery only stuff next time.

I dig their Dunkel though, despite the fact it’s a bit higher ABV than I prefer for the style.

 

Thanks for the kind words! I personally think I still don't know much about beer after all these years, and there's plenty of folks on these boards that have forgotten more than I know. I learn so much from them. And at the end of the day, each individual palate is just that, your individual tastes and preferences.

That aside, I want to say I've had beers from them on tap around Boston, but don't specifically remember anything. But I've heard MANY great things and I'm eager to seek them out.

Silvaticus' beers are on my radar as well. Along with the emergence of Schilling, we're definitely seeing a (mini) lager revolution here in New England!

 

@meefmoff you make some excellent points though. This is how it is in Europe as well. The absolute best stuff is straight from the breweries. Like Augustiner Edelstoff directly from the barrels in Munich and unfiltered unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell served in Plzeň.

 

Anyone know if the Pitch Lined Pils is still on?

 

Damn, I really wish these things weren't mid-week.

 

Anyone know if the Pitch Lined Pils lasted until today?