John Harvard's killing it

If the next beer isn't called "Crackle with Light" I'm going to be ripshit.

 

Can't tell if typo on can is intentional...

 

It's all true. Once again, I'm departing Framingham to land as co-founder/head brewer of Stellwagen Beer Co in Marshfield. I've enjoyed my time immensely at JH having no restraints on what I could or could not do but it was time to move on to something I'll have ownership in. My last day at JH is Friday April 20th and still have a few beers that I plan on tapping before my departure.

3/23 - Brando
3/30 - Public Service Announcement (NE Pale with Motueka & Mosaic)
4/6 - HOPpopotamus 2018 version Double IPA (this year with Nelson/Mosaic/Simcoe)
4/11 - Brando
4/18 - Famous Last Words NEIPA

A new brewer has yet to be hired so I'm not sure what the future holds at JH but I wish them the best and am still there 110% until I take my leave.

Thanks for the love y'all and hopefully I'll see you in a Stellwagen thread

 

Good luck man. And you should not rule out maintaining a side gig as "consultant" for revitalizing beer programs at out of date bars/restaurants. Based on your track record people should be knocking down your door to throw money at you

 

That 3/23 batch of Brando is tasting super fine

 

Going to miss this IPA! Brando

 

@xerotime when is stellwagen opening it's doors?looking forward to it

 

we are hoping sometime in June. Equipment arrives in a couple weeks from ABE and I'll get to brewing as soon as we can get it online. Ideally I'll get a couple turns on each fermenter so we'll have (hopefully) plenty of beer on opening day.

 

Awesome, just in time for the summer season in Humarock...

 

Is Brando going to be discontinued or already has been? Heading in Saturday while in town but without knowing what's on tap that might be a pass now. Any help?

 

4/11 - then I suppose it's up to the new brewer

 

The last batch brewed by me happened yesterday and will be on tap 4/11. Beyond that I can't say as it will be up to whoever they hire as the new brewer and what they want to brew.

 

thanks, JH said the current keg is still on tap and should last through the weekend. Stoked to try it as we're stopping by with my fam Saturday while in town for the holiday. Any chance I can also get some to go in growler?

 

Yes, they do growlers, including unbranded ones.But drink'em quick as there's no CO2 purge.

 

It won't last 24 hours being Easter weekend

 

I second this. Drink w/in 24 hours. It goes flat rather quickly.

Just got a fill of Brando last night and very delicious, FYI.

 

If it's filled and capped correctly (on foam), it should last more than 24 hours. Do they fill them pourly (see what I did there?) or somethiing?

 

I didn't observe the bartender doing the fill when I had it go flat on me after two days. It was capped tight (I always recheck/re-tighten when I get it) and filled near the brim. I dunno what happened. It may not have been capped on foam, or I suppose I had a bad growler seal. I've kept a 64oz growler from TH for two weeks and the carb was perfect upon opening. Just had a Brick and Feather growler that was a week old as well and it was great. I've just had bad luck w/ JH's growlers tho and have resorted to drinking the same day I purchase.

 

In ma cam I fill another brewery growler or just a JH or Non branded?

 

I believe just the latter two and some breweries just their own

 

public service announcement is fantastic. pale ale with mosaic and motueka. i hope some of these recipes are brought to stellwagen.

 

holy cow. hoppopotamus is an incredible dipa. bring that recipe to stellwagen too.

 

Seconded! I stopped in today but was in a rush so I was only able to have a quick sample. I thought it was very solid. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to see Brando still on draft. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab two growlers of it. Without knowing the direction JH will be going, I didn’t want to make the investment in any more glass, otherwise I would have gotten the Hoppo to go too. Also, could be the fact that I have a 3 month old and I just stare at ridiculous books/toys all day, but I found the Hoppo logo to be pretty hilarious.

 

I really hope they can keep the quality up over the upcoming change of brewers.
I've been going to JH pretty much since they've opened, and the beer does tend to go up and down depending on the brewer. Maria was great, this guy is hitting things completely out of the park, but there have been some that haven't been as good.
I'll still go - the food is still very good, but hopefully they can keep this wave running.

 

I did make it for Easter weekend and man Brando is so god damn good. The food was very good and they treated us quite well. Still enjoy stopping by every time.

Now the traffic and driving insanity that is RT 9 and that area.....ouch

 

Final IPA from @xerotime's stint at John Harvard's is now on draft. Also noticed that a Chardonnay barrel-aged saison snuck on to the taplist as well...

 

Stopped in at lunch to try it (Famous Last Words) - and whaddya know, it was excellent. PSA was also tasting great. Was close to ordering that chardonnay saison, but going back to work after 3 beers is a bitch.

 

Man, those pitcher prices certainly make going to Boston area beer bars even more painful than it already is.

 

Camon JH, score another great brewer!

 

And $15 for a growler of That Brando people are talking about? If they accepted outside growlers in MA, I'd stop in this weekend on my way through there.

 

What a beer to go out on. Fantastic.

 

Just had a Brando and Famous Last Words and Hoppopotamus. Yes, all three before 2.30 on a Sunday!

Nice. Not stellar. For NEIPA they are a little thin. Nowhere near trillium or TH. Like a decent Night Shift Morph.

Was thinking of grabbing a few growlers for take home, but I'll not bother.

 

So, someone going to try this and report back?

 

Scroll up a bit and you'll see this post:

 

Tried it tonight. It's decent but had carb issues and wasn't as good as the previous brewer's IPAs. Still better than what JH was doing before the previous guy. I wouldn't object to having more, but I wont't be rushing to do so.

There was an also an DIPA version - Alexander The Great. Didn't get to try it though.

Maybe it's because the newer guy hasn't been there long enough but there weren't as many beers available as before. They now have guest taps; a few from Jacks/Springdale, and a DIPA from CBC.

 

Glad to see the update above. Anyone been in July?

 

I went this past weekend and had batch 2 (I think?) of Alexander. Wasn't crazy about it. Since I'm not very local, will probably wait to hear some good reviews of new beers before I make the trip back.