Notch Brewing (2024)

any idea when they are going to announce the lineup? Looks like it will be pretty fun.

 

Having lived in Boston as long as I have, I'm embarrassed to admit I've never been to Notch. But I'm hoping to rectify that situation with a visit to Brighton on Friday. Two questions for this group:

1) What are the 2-3 beers on tap that are the "must-haves" as part of the full Notch experience?
2) Any recommendations/thoughts on food at the Speedway and surrounding area?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions. Cheers!

 

Start with a Standard (classic Czech pils), hit the dark beer (I think it’s Cerne Pivo right now), and then try a German beer. The Rotbier and German Afternoons are my favorites on that side of the menu.
For food, grab a pretzel from Notch when you order your beer. I like the empanadas from Super Bien (grab them to go and bring back to Notch, you can’t bring beer into their spot). The pizza slices at Pizza Project are tasty (pepperoni with honey hot) but kinda pricy for what you get IMO.

 

Being a friend, make another friend, and play spin the kranz

 

Important to note: you can get a snyt (half pour) of anything, which is maybe your best bet. The polotmavy (amber lager) is awesome and gets overlooked. I hate smoke beers, but many people that like them, love Notch’s versions. So, full pour of Standard and then 3-4 snyts of other styles gets you a nice little afternoon and you can still drive home.

 

Can always back polotmavy. Had one there Saturday

 

Thank you @EnronCFO and @AlcahueteJ for the recommendations! Arrived at The Speedway just after noon yesterday. Grabbed a roni & hot honey slice from Pizza Project to get started - it was okay. Will try the empanadas at Bien Bien next time.

Set up my "remote" office and then as suggested, started with a full pour of The Standard and then went with synts of Polotmavy, Cerne Pivo, Rotbier, and the Baltic Porter. All were quite enjoyable, the Cerne Pivo might have been my favorite. Added a pretzel in there with mustard and cheese which was quite good. Three hours later had to leave and pick up the kids from school but easily could have stuck around a while longer - most people enjoyed sitting outside in the courtyard yesterday afternoon as it was a nice day in the sun. Will definitely be back in the future!

 

Big thumbs up to Notch for the Starkbierfest at the Brighton location yesterday. One of my favorite beer events. Lots of people inside and outside despite the grey weather. The oompah band added a great atmosphere. And Notch does a fantastic job handling the big crowds with two bars and lots of food options.

The Loggerhead was my favorite once again. Malty and strong. This year they served it outdoors via gravity from their lovely new wooden casks. It had lovely burnt marshmallow flavor after getting poked. I think the bready herbal Helles Bock was my runner up. We brought some of our own snacks and got one of the amazing Pizza Project pizzas from their outdoor wood fired oven.

 

Great vibes at the Salem one yesterday. 21+ was probably the right move with it being moved to the same day as the holiday. Everyone was pretty well behaved when I was there.

Loggerhead served via pitch lined Stichfaß was indeed fantastic.

 

I was curious how this would jive with the holiday. We thought about going but quickly remembered it was the same day as St Patrick’s Day and realized we don’t want to be anywhere near an automobile in that area after having beer. It was a shitshow here in Portsmouth as it is.

 

Munich Dunkel canned yesterday, scooped a four pack at Salem.

 

It’s my favorite.

Nice, I’d enjoy Cerne while it lasts