Notch Brewing (2020)

...8°P added to this weekend’s madness along with a stichfass of the Fest, Kölsch, Alt, and Rauchbier

 

The 8°P is fantastic and the Replacements ref is right up my alley. The smoked helles is great, and I cracked an At The Swans to kick the evening. Got the cream ale to try today and really excited to have the Altbier in the fridge. Got one of the ceramic coasters too, it’s a beaut.

 

*just in case* I put in my order tonight for a Thursday pickup- a mixed case of all the Notch offerings except Lost in the Dream, but only so I could squeeze in a 4 pack of the Fest Bier. My birthday is this weekend and I'm ready to crush a bunch by the fire- sounds like about the best thing that's happened in 6 months, if I'm keeping track.

 

Not exactly a high bar, but we'll take what we can get. Happy birthday!

 

Anyone had the Smoked Helles?

 

Yes. I thought it was delicious. Maybe a tad richer (slight abv diff 4.5 v. 4.2) than my favorite beer (Schlenkerla Helles). Had it on draft at the biergarten on Saturday and took home a 4-pack.

 

I put together a hypothetical Notch case today. I'm just trying to figure out when I could make it out there. Man, quarantine was great. I could just head out any day of the week. Now, I have to, like, plan. Kidding, everyone.

 

I went with a 4-pack each of the new releases: Here Comes a Regular, the aforementioned Lost In A Dream, and Festbier.

I'd make those half of that case. Then I'd add the kolsh and Reel to Reel, both are so good and too easy going down. I would have rounded it out with At The Swans, but that's no longer available. I haven't had zwickel in a bit, but a buddy who drinks a lot of it says it's been really drinking great for awhile now.

 

If I'm going, it'll be two of the festbier and one each of altbier, hefe, zwickel, and the smoked helles. I've sung my praises for Zwickel many many times and I'll continue to do it. It may be my favorite Notch beer.

 

The Zwickel has long been my favorite of their standard offerings. I always loved that it came in a six-pack of pounders, too bad they dropped it to a 4-pack at the same price.

Do not sleep on their Kolsch. Usually I find Kolsch a bit unremarkable, good when you just want refreshment. Notch Kolsch is my favorite I’ve tried so far, really flavorable while still being very easy to drink. One of my current favorites from them.

Who Loves the Sun is still good too, though it didn’t wow as much as when it was in 4-packs. Probably all mental, as it’s hard for any beer to live up to the memory of it being amazing.

I would love to get up there and pick up a case, hit Karl’s Sausage Kitchen on the way back for some Oktoberfest food supplies.

 

Don't sleep on the Dunkelweizen either if you're staying for a pour. It's fermented with Andechs yeast for that monastic feel

 

Can anyone speak to how Notch's rauch compares to JA's Fire in the Ham?

 

Frustratingly, no, I never see Zwickel. It's nowhere in the MV.

Good spot on the Hefeweizen. I suppose the 8 Plato will be the move if I go (I do like a good hefe though).

 

It took long enough, but finally, a brewery has made a good music reference.

Not going to be up to get this, so a couple friends are hooking me up. Can't wait to try it.

 

Damn this was a good tip. I'm drinking one now and it's absolutely delicious.

 

Both the dunkel and the Berliner with grapefruit syrup were delicious, as was the pretzel, but negative marks for having purchased a four pack of the fest bier days ago and getting there and them telling me they're sold out today. I sat down, had a couple beers and some food, then went to grab my beer and only then found out it was out of stock. I'd have definitely had one on draft if I had known ahead of time (especially when the host then told me he thinks it's the single best beer that they make). Probably should have sent an email or something when they realized that that mistake was made. Oh well, got my refund and I'll be happy with the five four packs of new beer to try.