Great Notion (2021)

I cut and paste the entire newsletter because that's the easiest thing to do (as opposed to just cutting and pasting what I happen to think are interesting parts of the newsletter). At one time I used to cut out the schwag for sale portions (as I didn't think that was appropriate info to be posting in BA), but was advised by the moderation team that I shouldn't bother to do that.

So I just post everything.

 

A bit late... this is the update from 5/14/21.


Happy Friday, everyone!
Sick app updates are coming down the pike!
Here are your 3 Notions for this week...





Upcoming Drops

Banana Breakfast of Leisure
(11.25% abv) $25/4pack
No need to rush - take some time to indulge in a decadent start to the day with Banana Breakfast of Leisure. We are serving up stacks of this French-toast-inspired imperial stout loaded with maple, cinnamon, coffee, and for an extra special twist - banana!

Double Papaya Shake
(8.5% abv) $22/4pack
We packed these pants full of delectable papaya in the newest iteration of our shake series. The tropical fruit in this tart ale is enhanced with the addition of vanilla and complemented by a handful of Mosaic hops.

Dirty Dancing
(8.5% abv) $20/4pack
We’ve had the time of our lives with this Other Half collabo. Shake a leg and cop some this hazy DIPA brewed with Motuek, Waiti, and Galaxy.

DDHHDD
(6.5% abv) $20/4pack
We’ve traversed the high seas of hops, mapping the coastline from back to front. DDHHDD is a daringly dry-hopped hazy IPA with Citra, Galaxy, Nelson, and Amarillo hops. Land-ho!

Self Portrait
(8% abv) $20/4pack
Paint the town with a little help from Self Portrait. This happy little hazy DIPA has a large-scale helping of pineapple for a mixed-media masterpiece of a brew.





Beer on the Move

We have super limited drops coming up all over the globe! GN fam in Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Wisconsin - y'all have some bangers headed your way this week. AND we are sending some dank beers to Japan, S Korea, and Thailand. Keep an eye out for cans in your neck of the woods, and tag us on IG @greatnotion if you cop any of these far-flung releases!



New App Release

We have been teasing the next big app update for quite a while, but release day is just around the corner! Look for the update in the next couple of weeks (exact date to be announced next week). In the meantime, here are some sneak peeks of what's coming:

- Expanded delivery service: No more waiting for local delivery, and no more order minimums! We are expanding local delivery to serve customers within a ten-mile radius of any Great Notion taproom. Best of all, you can schedule delivery according to your availability anytime during business hours the day-of or the day after you place your order. The delivery fee will be based on mileage, and there will be no minimum or maximum order amounts.

- The Climb: The first GN video game! You will be able to find Victoria Lane’s GN game debut in the character section of the app. Tap your screen to maneuver up the tree and from side to side - but watch out for branches and falling debris! Earn a point for each foot of tree you climb, and knock the competition right off of the leaderboard. More games and character AR will be coming soon!

-Default taproom selection: Choose your preferred taproom as your default when placing orders for quicker and easier ordering.

- Proxies: We are changing our policy to allow for proxy pickups! The new app release will allow you to enter the name of your authorized proxy without making changes to your app account or profile. Shipping and delivery orders will also be able to add recipient names and address to send gifts to friends.

The new release will also improve the speed and stability of the app, and a couple of pesky bugs have also been fixed. We can't wait for you to see what we have been working on for all these months!















Bites at Ballard

Hey, hungry Seattleites - we are rolling out our new sandwich menu at Great Notion Ballard this Friday! We will be starting with a limited menu, only available Friday-Sunday. We will start by offering a trio of mouthwatering sandwiches, including:

-Pulled pork shoulder and shaved pork loin, piled high with Harvarti cheese and GN Carolina Gold BBQ sauce
-Thinly sliced tri-tip, white cheddar, grilled rapini, and Mama Lil peppers with GN Maple Ancho hot sauce
-Grilled zucchini, eggplant, and red peppers with olive spread, arugula, and Ledge Bier tomato jam

All sandwiches are served on a Yukon Gold Potato Roll from Seattle's Essential Baking Company and are accompanied by a house pickles and a side of chips. There will also be non-alcoholic drinks, cider, and wine, and we will have food options for kiddos.

Sandwiches will be available only from Friday-Sunday until we sell out. Outside food will still be allowed on premises from Monday-Thursday.





Keep On Masking

The latest news from the CDC is pretty exciting! Even with our enthusiasm, we will continue to enforce our mask and social distance policies at the taproom while we wait for more guidance from the state government. You already know the drill - wear a mask over your nose and mouth while in our establishment except while eating or drinking at your table. It’s looking more and more like we might see a return to normalcy soon, so let’s stay safe in the meantime so we can party later!





Come by for a nibble, and we'll see you next Friday with more Notions!

#keepbeerfun

 

Once again a bit late, but here's the weekly update from 5/21/21.


Happy Friday, everyone!
So what is a smoothie beer anyway?
Here are your 3 Notions for this week...





Upcoming Drops

Key Lime Pie
(6% abv) $20/4pack
Surprise! Key Lime Pie made a stealthy return today! Like a slice of Florida sunshine, our Key Lime Pie gose is sure to brighten your day. This beer has it all: zesty key lime, bright coriander, vanilla and milk sugar that bring to mind that classic cloud-like meringue, with just a hint of sea salt for balance.

Shepherd of the Forest
(8.3% abv, $20/4pack)
Just as the early morning mist rises amid the slumbering trees, a golden haze abounds in Shepherd of the Forest. Brewed with Vic Secret, Strat, Galaxy, and Citra hops, this DIPA is delightful as the cool, over-canopied woods.

Samson’s Tropical Vacation
(7.5% abv) $20/4pack
Hang ten! We were so stoked on this @bottlecraft collabo last year (and so were you!) that we decided to break out the longboard a second time. Samson’s Tropical Vacation is a far-out gose with waves of sea salt, coriander, pineapple, lime, coconut, and vanilla. You’ll be feeling the sea breeze as you sip this refreshing tipple.



Mellifluous #3

Mellifluous #3
(5% abv) $23/4pack
Sloooow down and let the good vibes flow. The third time’s the charm, and Mellifluous #3 is a perfectly luscious swirl of apricot, peach, banana, passion fruit, and tangerine. With a rich golden color and enough acidity to balance the sweetness of the fruit, number 3 might be our favorite smoothie style so far.

But wait, what exactly is “smoothie-style”? Is is a beer? A snack? Dessert? A little bit of everything?

The latest trend taking the craft beer world by storm, the smoothie-sour is a style we are pretty excited about. Starting with a neutral sour beer with a strong abv, the thick but sippable smoothie effect is achieved with a monster post-fermentation addition of fruit puree. The end result is a decadent brew that is rich without losing the effervescence you want in a beer.

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to adjuncts, too. In the handful of smoothie-beers we have crafted in the past weeks, our brewers have played around with oats, marshmallow, nuts, graham cracker, and of course a whole mess of fruit. You know we can’t resist an opportunity to #keepbeerfun, and smoothie beers are the perfect canvas.

Whether you are already a fan of this new style or you have yet to try one, Mellifluous #3 is a great example of the style, so give it a try on Monday. You can also get a sneak peek at that gorgeous Mellifluous pour on our IGTV tomorrow!



A Message

Over the past week or so, you may have read or heard about the brave stories coming to light on Brienne aka @ratmagnet’s Instagram Stories from countless women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ staff at breweries around the country. This is the bleak reality of the restaurant industry in general, and craft beer world is just as culpable.

The owners of Great Notion want to do everything in their power to make GN a safe space for all staff and customers regardless of gender, race or identity. With diverse, multi-racial family perspectives and especially as fathers of daughters, they know well the fears that come with navigating racism, sexism, and discrimination in the world today.

GN is committed to maintaining brewing and taproom environments that encourage and foster appropriate conduct among staff (and guests) with respect for individual values. One of our core values is Family. Showing Brotherly and Sisterly Love is non-negotiable Whether the offense fits the legal description of harassment or discrimination or is a misunderstanding or opportunity to learn about biases, we are committed to supporting our colleagues and friends always.

There is always room to do better, and that is no different at Great Notion. The stories circulating this week have weighed on all of our minds, and we will strive to further hold ourselves to our own values. Thanks to Brienne for creating a platform for these stories, and to all of those who came forward to share their experiences.





Be good to each other, and we'll see you next Friday with more Notions!

#keepbeerfun

 

More than likely that's the explanation. @Drunken_Master has been on a bit of a hiatus from BA I think. Prior to today, his most recent posts were from back in September.

 

The information about your recent activity is on your profile page (anyone can look it up; you can check my activity any time you want if you like). When you expressed surprise about seeing the Great Notion thread in the Pacific forum, I just assumed you hadn't been on BA for a while (as the changeover has been a much discussed topic on BA). So I checked your recent activity, which showed that before yesterday, you hadn't been on BA since 9/20.

Didn't really take a whole lot of Sherlock Holmes-like acumen to put 2 and 2 together.

 

This week's update (from 5/28/21)


Happy Friday, everyone!
Two killer collabos and Memorial Day updates.
Here are your 3 Notions for this week...





Upcoming Drops

Cosmic Banditos
(6% abv) $22/4pack
Pew! Pew! We teamed up with the crew at Tripping Animals out of Florida for an intergalactic collaboration. We fired away and crammed aaalllll the tangerine, marionberry, key lime, vanilla, and marshmallow into an out-of-this-world tart ale.

Unbeatable
(12.1% abv) $25/4pack
A barleywine from Great Notion is practically unheard of, but we brewed up a heavy-hitter with our friends at Casa Agria. We gave this one the full GN pastry treatment with double-mashed oats, rye, coconut, and vanilla, all subjected to an eight hour boil. The result is a silky smooth caramel elixir that truly can’t be beat. Tune in to our IGTV next week for another installment of Common Sensory and get a closer look at this brash brew!

Peach Apricot Ripe
(7% abv) $20/4pack
Ripe’s classic haze gets a stone fruit spin. Peach and apricot are the perfect complement to our award-winning hazy IPA, bringing a rich, floral vibe to the Citra hops in OG Ripe.

Jammy Pants (Cherry, Raspberry, Lime)
(7% abv) $20/4pack
We are jamming out with another rendition of Jammy Pants. Just in time to quench your thirst in the hot summer days to come, this tart ale is packed with sweet cherry, zesty lime, and ripe raspberry.

A Beer Has No Name
(7.4% abv) $18/4pack
Ascend the Iron - or rather aluminum - Throne and vanquish the enemies of haze. A Beer Has No Name returns, imbued with a formidable alliance of Citra, Motueka, Galaxy, and Southern Passion hops. Valar Morgulis!



GN x Carhartt Cooler Bags

Summer is just around the corner, and nothing puts a damper on warm weather fun like tepid beer. Keep your favorite GN brews at optimal temperatures no matter where your adventures take you with this rugged canvas cooler backpack. Made by Carhartt so you know it’s tough, the bag features two insulated compartments to store up to four Great Notion 4packs (or sixteen 16oz cans) and a front zipper pocket for any snacks you might want to bring along as well. The sleek black canvas is leak-proof, weather resistant, and emblazoned with an embroidered Great Notion crossaxe logo in bright white. We only did a limited run of these premium bags, and they won’t last long! Snag one on the app before they’re gone for good. ($75)


Dimensions: 15’h x 11.5’w x 6.5’l


Materials: 600D polyester Rain Defender ® durable water repellent (DWR)







Memorial Day

We are packing up our own cooler bags and getting our grill on this Monday! All Great Notion locations will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on May 31. Be sure to stock up for your weekend festivities, and we’ll be back in action on Tuesday!

-If you place an app order on 5/30 or 5/31, you will have an extra day to pick up your order to account for the day we are closed.

-Local delivery will be suspended until later in the week.

-Shipping orders placed on 5/30 or 5/31 will be processed on 6/1. Please note UPS will not be operating on either Sunday or Monday, so shipping times will be affected as well.

-Online customer service will be out of office as well, but any email inquiries will be answered on Tuesday. Visit our FAQ and our Shipping FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions!





Join the NW Team!

After over a year, we are getting ready to open Great Notion NW for service once more! Our NW taproom is looking for experienced Front of House staff to fulfill multi-faceted roles on the floor. Service style has changed and we are looking for individuals who are able to work in multiple roles (i.e. bartending, bussing, hosting, etc). Find more information and apply here or here.





Have a great holiday weekend, and we'll see you next Friday with more Notions!

#keepbeerfun