Notch Brewing (2021)

Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer...

Unfortunately no. I looked yesterday but didn’t see it yet.

Radeberger is what’s known in Germany as Fernsehbier. Which translates to “tv beer”.

Basically just a mediocre beer produced by a large conglomerate. I do like Radeberger though (been awhile but I recall enjoying it).

Bitburger is another that everyone knows. Although I really like Bitburger and have had it close to the source. Damn good.

That being said, their “tv beer” is not like Budweiser. They’re all malt (have to follow the Reinheitsgebot) and in my opinion some are way better than many craft examples in the US.

I heard if you don’t get the vaccine you get 10 pastry stouts.

 

Ball Square has the pastry stout, the Alt, the French Pils, Lost in the Dream, and I saw at least a single of Biersel in the cooler.

 

So what did everyone think of Gates of the West?

I thoroughly enjoyed multiple pints of it this weekend. Perfect session beer. Aroma is a little earthy, reminds me of an apple orchard. A hint of bitterness at the front of the taste before finishing with a marmalade character to its malt sweetness. Every sip leaves me wanting another. Super quaffable, I could drink this all day.

Are much as I love their lagers, I'd be very excited to see Notch do more English ales.

 

Gates of the West is the most enjoyable beer I’ve had in a very long time. I love this beer and want it on cask. I want it on tap at my house.

 

Loved Gates of the West, and the best part is I found the cans to be as enjoyable as on tap.

Spot on English Bitter, and at 3.8% an all day drinker for sure. One that I could see becoming more interesting with each pint, and as it warms. Which is the whole point of a "session" beer.

Would love to see this as a regular offering, or as @cskollmann said, see them dive more into English ales.

 

As others have said, Gates is fantastic. Has me considering a drive there on Saturday just to have it on tap.

Lotta home runs coming out of Salem lately.

 

I stopped into Backbeat in Beverly on Saturday. They also have a bunch of British beers on tap. Even had a nitro pub ale and there was a bitter on draft and cask as well that I didn't get to try. But the nitro was real solid. They unfortunately serve everything in 12 oz. glasses rather than proper pints, but it was a nice change of pace.

That said, definitely looking forward to another Notch pickup.

 

I've seen this term used but I've never really understood where the line was drawn. So are things like Paulener or Jever considered Fernsehbier as well?

 

Please do a collab with Fox Farm. After having Tiddly and Gates, I am convinced, that you all are my best chances of getting fresh English/Irish Ales in MA/CT.

 

It's basically if a company has money to advertise on TV. I don't believe those two are considered Fernsehbier, but it's a really loose term so it depends on who you ask.

Jever is owned by the Radeberger group, so maybe? Paulaner is a large company, but I'm not sure what bucket they'd fall under.

If you go to the Radeberger Zwickel thread there's a lot of discussion about this right now.

 

I really want to try Gates of the West. Right up my alley.

 

There's a strong to very strong chance that I attempt to find 3-4 more four packs.

 

Was so excited seeing these raves for Gates, so I did a mail order yesterday for some cans.
Just got the bummer of an email telling me that due to a lack of shipping containers, my order won't ship until Monday now.
So weekend plans ruined, but something to look forward to for next week instead.

 

Gates of the West....just a fantastic bitter! Session Tremont Pale Ale??
Was drinking a lot of Coniston Bluebird towards the end of Deep Ellum but this is fresher and even crispier.

Tenner...I thought I saw someone mention it's a variation on The Standard...better, if possible!

 

I believe Tenner is a Světlé Výčepní Pivo (same style as their Session Pils. It's a pale lager with a 10% original gravity.

The Standard is a Světlý Ležák (same style as Pilsner Urquell). It's a pale lager that's a 12% original gravity.

They're technically different styles in the Czech Republic if I recall correctly, but they could be very similar depending on the specific hop/malt profile and the number of decoctions utilized in the brewing process.

If you were to order the Tenner in the Czech Republic though you'd ask for a "Desítka" (10 in Czech).

If you were to order The Standard you'd ask for a "Dvanáctka" (12 in Czech).

 

Perhaps an inappropriate comparison given the different styles, but Alsace > Standard > Desitka > Tenner for me. Sadly missed pitch lined

 

The Standard is still the gold standard (thank you) for me, but Biere d'Alsace is a real close #2. And Pitch Lined didn't really do it for me. Still a great beer, but I like the others better.

 

Canned is close, but it would probably be Desitka, Tenner, Standard, Alsace (not my favorite).

Draft is Standard, Tenner, then Desitka (I think I remember not caring for it on draft, but my palate may have been screwed up that day due to the pickled veggies I got with it...I think that was Desitka).

But seriously, The Standard on tap at the brewery from Lukr taps is just about the perfect beer there is.

The bottles? Because while I do like the bottles, the kegged version in October was phenomenal.

 

Does anyone have a good method for caramelizing Loggerhead without a Loggerhead?

 

I’ve seen people use the handle of a cast iron pan. Heat the whole pan in the oven and then dip the handle in the beer.