Notch Brewing (2021)

…In cans June 2.

Jedenáctka, Czech Polotmavy lager
11 Degree Plato, 4.3% ABV
Triple decocted, open fermented, naturally carbonated, lagered forever

 

Isn't it interesting that Gates of the West, which is really just a decent English Bitter is sparking so much interest in the USA or at least New England? I wonder if we will see a reawakening of the style this side of the pond. I hope so- because I love the style. Also, Notch, please up the game on the June subscription box- No more Dog and Pony show please. We know you can do better.... Please do!

 

With all due respect, good sir, IMO Gates of the West is better than decent (although I never had it on cask)
Right up there with Fuller's ESB and Coniston Bluebird

 

I just want to say...I miss NERAX.

Can SOMEONE have a cask ale festival this summer? Pretty please?

 

Exactly my point- a typical decent English ale, which is to say a great ale. It is remarkable in the sense that people in 2021 are gushing over Gates while English imports gather dust on the shelves. That's craft beer in 2021 for you though.

 

Amen- I haven't had a proper cask ale in what seems like an eternity.

 

Well I wouldn't say it's necessarily remarkable.

There's very little shelf space for imports. And the stock is all old.

There's really no market for old product...we need more US brewers brewing these styles. Wouldn't hurt to cut a friggin' kettle sour, New England IPA, or pastry stout out of your line up and toss in an English session ale or two.

I imagine they could price them appropriately too. You can't even say, "well they were lagered so it took up more time in the tanks...".

And they're not hopped to the high heavens with pricey hops either.

 

Planning to cask my Blind Pig clone for our Halloween party, will let you know.

 

The trouble with bitter here is that, at least in my opinion, it needs to be on cask (and in good condition) to really shine and cask beer is just not popular enough to be a viable for most breweries. I've never had a bitter in any format here that felt quite like having a pint on cask in the UK, even what we consider the "best" of the style domestically.

If not on cask, bitter should at least be bottle conditioned. Keg bitter ought to be a criminal offense.

 

love the avatar.

 

If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, check out Forest & Main brewpub in Ambler, PA. Prior to COVID, they always had 2 or 3 British-style beers on cask. Usually Mild, Bitter, Dry Stout, etc.

 

Olde Magoun's usually has a couple firkins as well. Typically stuff from Mayflower or CBC.

 

Unfortunately, Olde Magoun's hasn't had cask ale in at least a year. Here's hoping they bring it back soon.

 

I got back from London a day before everything closed up. Getting a proper cask pint in a pub is my last bar memory. Goddamn I miss it.

 

I agree with you here. It seems that for the commercial beer industry (with just a few exceptions) bottle conditioning is not something they want to do. I suppose the logistics of bottle conditioning is too onerous for the majority of breweries?

On a related note I just got done brewing an English Bitter Ale (using the Timothy Taylor yeast strain). And these beers will indeed be bottle conditioned.

Cheers!

 

Agreed. Same reason I don't buy German imports. If it's more than 90 days old, or requires a decoder ring to divine the packaging date, it's not coming home with me.

 

Oh I agree- I hope we see a return of American Brewers making traditional English ales. I hope Notch is at the beginning of a traditional style renaissance.

 

^^^^^^^THAT is how you run a business!

 

Notch is my favorite brewery. But with that prefaced, the can selection has been rough the past few weeks. I found myself in the area for work unexpectedly and swung by real quick hoping to grab some goodies and they only have one lager in cans. And I know a lot of people love the kolsch here but it just doesn't do it for me. Happy with the zwickle I walked out with but I walked out with zwickle a few weeks ago too... And could prob find it closer to me, too.