Night Shift Brewing (September 2016)

Nice, I look forward to it. I'll be by there for the Oktoberfest party to check it out, and hopefully I can get into Bone Up this time as well.

I'm kind of surprised they're your favorite (I love Nightshift, I'm there at least once or twice a month) but you strike me as more of a lager guy. They brew lagers too obviously, but I think their bread and butter is in other styles.

Did you try Whirlpool? It's the best in its class in my opinion (session IPA/pale ale).

 

This was my first year in the barrel society after hearing many positive experiences from others. While there are still a few releases left for 2016, I've been underwhelmed thus far. The bottles have been good, not great, as someone mentioned above. I do not plan to renew my membership for 2017 and know a handful of other members that will not be enrolling next year either.

 

Most of the 2015 bottle didn't even hit the good mark. I'd call this a win for what the BS has actually delivered over the years.

 

Pretty sure it's kettle soured

 

From June:

 

I joined for the first time this year though I had probably half of the 2015 bottles with a friend. I think most this year have been very good but probably not great. There's a learning curve to barrel aging it seems and NSB's barrel aged beers have been on a steady upward trajectory.

It's pricy, but I'll be back in for 2017. Christmas will be here before you know it, so if you're exchanging $175 gifts with someone, it's not a bad thing to give or ask for. A good beer experience to share with the giver as they pop up throughout the year.

 

You are correct - I do enjoy lagers more. In fact Pfaffenheck is my favorite beer they make. I'd prefer it with more malt character (maybe a different pils malt) but it's far and away better than anything else in Boston in my mind. Also Nightshift is closer to me than Jacks Abby which would be my preferred lager brewery outside of the additional travel time.

I think both Jacks Abby and Nightshift are top notch for me, for different reasons. But between the two I don't feel compelled to be a regular and many other Boston-area breweries. I'm sure Trillium army disagrees, but that's fine with me.

Am I missing any other great breweries in the area you can think of? I LOVED CBC's kellerbier earlier this summer, but I'm a real sucker for the style. Nightshift's keller was OK to my palate.

 

If you like lagers and pils malts you should definitely be checking out Notch.

 

Idle hands.

 

Did you try Jack's Abby's Sunny Ridge this year? It was their best version yet, I'd put it above Pfaffenheck, but that's not a slight on Nightshift's Pils. I enjoyed that one thoroughly as well, it was much improved from the first time I had it (at last year's Oktoberfest I believe?).

I'm assuming here though that you don't consider Jack's Abby as being in Boston, unless I'm reading your post wrong.

Yes, Notch would be the first one that comes to mind. I love their Pils and dark lager (Cerne Pivo). Also, I had their Zwickel (I think) on tap at Redbones and it was stellar. They do great work overall at Notch, especially with lagers.

CBC is another one, when their Czech Pils is on, it's phenomenal. I think two years ago I had it on cask at Redbones, and it was awful. This year I had it on cask and it was just ok, also at Redbones. I don't believe this is a Redbones problem though (certainly could be, depending on who's watching the cask), as I've had good cask there before. I had it in the bottle last year and it was incredible. I feel like they do great work with lagers as well, although their Oktoberfest is a bit strong/sweet. Not poorly done, just too strong/sweet.

I feel like I've had some good lagers from these guys, but I tried their Brocktoberfest last year and it was just ok. I had it this year at the brewery and it felt more brown ale than Oktoberfest to me. Perhaps an off flavor or two in there as well (maybe some astringency?), it tasted very similar to Nightshift's attempt last year. This can be a hard style to nail in my opinion, and takes some time to tweak.

I'd like to give their Adelais a whirl though, I think that's another one I've had in the past, but I can't recall exactly. Either way, I've heard good things and I'm eager to try it. It wasn't on tap when I visited their brewery a couple weeks ago. Get the pretzel by the way, it's HUGE, and I believe it comes with garlic mashed potatoes to dip in. The bread was very very tasty.

 

The bottle says "mixed fermentation" under the NS logo.

 

The label on the bottle? I don't have a bottle...

 

See here.

 

If you ever hit up Jack's Abby I would visit Medusa as well. They have a pretty wide range of quality brews, including a handful of lagers, and the staff are great about sampling before growler buys. I really liked their Freudian Sip Vienna lager and am scheming for excuses to make another trip.

 

Von Trap, which is not in Boston but sold in Boston, makes 4 of the best lagers I have ever had.

FYI I have only had four of their beers...

 

I've been to Notch a couple weeks ago. I really enjoy what they are doing and their taproom is really something special. A seidla of their pils really works for me.

 

After visiting the brewery, my girlfriend will now go out of her way to buy their Helles which is saying something for a person not normally seeking out beers. I can't wait for their Troesten, really enjoy that beer.

 

I haven't been since they were back in the old building next to Night Shift, thanks for the reminder. I would like to check them out again

 

If you are looking for lagers we currently have 3 of them on at the brewery;

Brocktoberfest - Octoberfest/Marzen (we haven't brewed this in two years due to our relocation)
Emelyn - Zwickel
Wood (5th Anniv) - Smoked Helles

And we'll be having our Oktoberfest/5th Anniv. Party on Saturday, 10/1 where we will feature 5 lagers!