New England Lagers

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I figured "New England Lagers" might be the spot.

Last night, we paired Notch Altbier and Tributary Altbier in a head-to-head matchup. Two of New England's most iconic brewers pitted against one another. Really, with an Altbier Altercation, no one loses.

Beer One was very light in body and a tad lighter in color than Beer Two. The aroma was much more muted in B1 than it was in B2. There was a more overt toffee sweetness, roasted malt nose whereas the other may have been a bit more subtle. Big difference on the mouthfeel as well. B1 was light, crispier than B2 which was more full and rich. Both finished with a mild hop bite, but nothing overwhelming.

Both beers were really good, but to me, Beer One really shined and was the one I preferred. My wife preferred Beer Two, FWIW. We both did this blindly.

[Drum Roll]

Beer One: Notch
Beer Two: Tributary (the body thing would likely be attributed to that it's more than an entire ABV point higher than Notch's Altbier -- 5.4% to 4.2%)

We're not exactly comparing apples to apples here, but I had fun!

 

Oh snap I did it backwards! I preferred the Tributary, my wife the Notch. Proceed.

 

Me want both Trib & Notch Alt beers...

We should be visiting Trib in mid April when I (finally) pick up my Fall 2020 bottles of MtL. Hopefully the Alt will still be available.

 

I have it on good authority (okay it’s literally the authority in Tod) that they’re bottling Spring 2021 MtL on April 28/29. You should wait!

 

Good point - will consider that. Or...maybe making another run in May. Also wondering what Todd’s IPL aged in gin barrels tastes like. I may need to try that just out out or curiosity.

 

It’s really refreshing to me to just have a taplist that looks like Tributary. Right now it’s altbier, California common, IPA, “winter saison,” ... I mean it’s literally exactly the taplist I want.

 

Yup. His beers are always well balanced and clean. I'm sure his IPL fits into this category too, despite the use of gin barrels. Never had the common, but maybe a pour is in order. And the IPA he's currently pouring is a new version. Looking forward to going up. I usually intend to pick up a four pack or two of his stuff when we visit, but I almost always enjoy myself there so much I end up leaving with a case. It's just such a nice, welcoming environment.

I've had shot #1, and shot #2 is on ten days away. I will certainly feel a lot better about going places.

Like you, I enjoy talking to Todd. You won't find a nicer, more approachable brewer (as everyone knows). Last year, he caught me giggling to myself with my nose over a pour his Czech dark lager. He approached me as if we were old friends.(This was March 14th, 2020, just a day or two before the world changed). Anyway, he started laughing and we had a brief but pleasant discourse on the beer I was enjoying. He described the malts, the process, etc. Very nice afternoon.

 

I have never had notch. Is it Available in southern Massachusetts? Everybody talks about it so well and I love loggers so I would love to get my hands on some but driving to the brewery is a little bit out of my range.

 

You won’t find any of Notch four packs too far south of metro Boston unless things have changed. I live in SE NA about 25 minutes from Providence. I can’t get ANY Notch unless I order it via UPS or drive north.

 

Make an order via UPS. Worth it.

 

I found German Afternoons and Zwickel at Liquor World in Sharon.

 

He's in CT...

 

Fake news

 

They somewhat recently switched distributors for the areas in mass outside of Boston, I run a store in a small town (Uxbridge) that borders northern Rhode Island (north Smithfield)and I have four or five different options from them at the moment. Any decent bottle shop should be able to bring them in with minimal effort. I had to sign on with their new distributor but that was all of a half a page of paperwork and a quick meeting with the sales rep. Unfortunately we are still about 25-30 mins from ct, but it’s a closer than Salem.

 

What we need is for 2021 to be the year of Kulmbacher (see Ron Pattinson's 2018 article in Beer Advocate the Magazine--RIP). There is a small Kulmbacher revival going on, but the American Culmbacher version of the early 20th century was more a low alcohol beer (see A Lager Darkly — In Search of Culmbacher, One of America’s Great, Extinct Beers).

I predict more breweries brewing something closer to that strong, dark and hoppy 1870s Kulmbacher that Ron Pattinson was talking about, like this beer that Schell's brewed for the historic lager fest. I think it would be very popular.

The only one I know of in New England right now is the 5 gallons of homebrew Kulmbacher in my beer fridge in central Mass. So tasty.

 

recently grabbed some Feather by Vermont Beer Makers, enjoyed it quite a bit. i've liked everything i've purchased from these guys but that pils was the best so far...4% abv to boot.

my notes: This is refreshing as fuck. Crisp, dry, nice bready flavor, earthy spice from the tettnang hops.

 

While I agree with almost all of the lager suggestions, the reason that Dom's sausages are so good? They use MSG in them. Wrecks me for a whole day.

 

I can’t message you? Send me a conversation.

 

Just visited Crafted in Holiston for first time they get Notch there. Got Lost in the Dream Rahchbier