Notch Brewing (2020)

I'd agree with this personally. I'd been a big IPA drinker since the mid 90s and the thing that initially blew me away about Heady Topper was the nose. Maybe it was a freshness thing, maybe I was turning into more of a BA kind of nerd who really sniffed his beers at that time, but whatever it was the nose was my biggest takeaway from that beer.

That has continued for me with NEIPAs since then - I remember feeling similarly about Treehouse the first time I had them. I haven't found quite as a big of a disconnect as you describe in terms of finding a beer where I love the nose but don't like the taste, but the nose is indeed still sometimes the best part.

To bring this back to Notch, I think I've had mixed results with their NE IPAs. They seem to trend a bit thicker feeling than I prefer.

 

Thoughts on the latest releases?

The world knows my thoughts on Zwickel and Standard (throw in Cerne and that's top three for me). The DDH is basically what I figured would happen. I was happy with one. I stopped by a friends house for a driveway beer and gave one to him. I was meh on Heather in the Bull. Not bad. Easy to throw back on a warm weekend. I doubt I'd buy it again though. I liked "U." I would drink/buy it again. That's all I got. Interested in what others thought of last weeks beer.

 

I am loving Ungespundet, it’s heavier than Zwickel with a decidedly honey/wheat bread taste and malty backbone that borders on an amber ale for me. I know Chris had hoped to make this beer for a brewery event, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to have cans to enjoy on my porch. Bull in the Heather I’m ambivalent about. A little too perfumey for my tastes, and I’m more excited for the newly-perennial Who Loves the Sun coming out.

 

I'm a fan of Bull in the Heather. I think the herbal notes are at a nice level and it mixes well with the lightly fruity hop note. I enjoyed the DDH IPA too. The only beer of theirs that I recently thought I wouldn't buy again is the doppelbock. Lacks depth and i thought it drank a bit boring for the style.

 

Placed an order yesterday for pickup today - fresh Notch is always exciting.

Those who have pre-ordered: what time did you receive your "ready for pickup" email?

 

It will be ready at open today.

 

Thank you!

 

I’m spending the afternoon with a New England Franconian Kellerbier tasting.



Jack’s Abby Fire in the Ham Rauchbier in their Kellerbier series

Fox Farm Föhn Franconian-Style Kellerbier

Notch Ungespundet Franconian Kellerbier

Homebrew Franconian Kellerbier which I call Down Cellar

After a trip to Bamberg/Franconia last summer I did a presentation to my homebrew club on beer styles of Franconia and was complaining that not enough beer drinkers know about Franconia and was predicting that Franconian beers would be the next big thing and within a few months these beers were released.

The BJCP guidelines for Amber Kellerbier state:
A young, unfiltered, and unpasteurized beer that is between a Helles and Märzen in color, spicier in the hops with greater attenuation. Interpretations range in color and balance, but remain in the drinkable 4.8% ABV neighborhood. Balance ranges from the dry, spicy and pale-colored interpretations by St. Georgen and Löwenbräu of Buttenheim, to darker and maltier interpretations in the Fränkische Schweiz.

I was aiming for the dry, spicy pale version in my homebrew version (which I whirlpool hopped with Hersbrucker). The Notch (4.5%ABV) is darker and maltier and could stand to be more bitter and the Fox Farm was in between. The Fox Farm reminded me more of the Kellerbiers I had in Franconia but at 5.6% ABV was a little too strong for a long drinking session. But both were very drinkable. In a blind tasting my daughter preferred my homebrew. She has good taste.



I decided to hold off on drinking the Fire in the Ham since I am brewing a Rauchbier later this week and after a day of yard work in the sun three beers was enough.

 

This is old news now and I can't imagine anyone cares, but just for the record I had meant this post to be a response to Stormfield's previous post rather than the one I quoted by Digital Grave.

It doesn't make much sense as a response to the quoted post and it was bugging me so I wanted to fix it even if nobody else even notices

 

Just cracked some Loggerhead and Tenner. Both are incredible. Makes me even more sad to have missed Desitka. Those local to Notch are super lucky to have these beers so close.

 

If it eases your sadness, I enjoyed Tenner more than Desitka.

 

Seconded

 

I believe you will get another chance with Desitka. Pretty sure there is a batch in the tanks now. I think they posted it on IG somewhat recently. Not sure when it would be ready, as it is “lagered forever” as we know. But all this talk of Tenner has me interested. Haven’t tried it. Maybe he’ll make canned batch of Tenner at some point. That would be cool.

 

To me, everything I’ve had from Notch has been better on tap—I know that mood and environment can change perception—but taking that into account, their side faucet pours still improve the experience, particularly the mouthfeel. I’m sure someone who knows more about the process and the carbonation difference could explain it. Shooting this right back to you @AlcahueteJ.