Notch Brewing
Microbrewery
in
Salem,
Massachusetts,
United States 🇺🇸
Associated with 2 Venues
Established in 2010
Contact
Description
Launched in 2010, Notch Brewing – named for the nick made to keep a record when you're having more than one – was the first brewing company in the U.S. to focus exclusively on session beer. At the time, we simply wanted to brew the beers we loved to drink because finding them was a challenge. Session beer has been enjoyed in every great beer brewing nation for centuries, yet in the U.S. it was overlooked. So we set out to brew the world’s classic session styles from the Czech Republic, Germany, England, and Belgium, as well as explore how session beer could fit with the U.S.’s hoppy beer infatuation. Over a decade later, we have a brewery built on the back of session beer and it’s proven two things: beer consumers like options, and session beer is a great one.
6.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Canned 9/16, drunk 11/2/18.
Clear, straw-blonde-golden, large, well-retained, white head atop.
Nose is, for the millionth time, not very interesting on account of the hops. I don't know so much about grungeist (suspect it's not particularly great), but I do know that Hallertauer Blanc is absolute garbage. It and Mandarina Bavaria are like taking the worst qualities of noble hops and PNW hops and combining them. It's low on noble hop character and has a much lower aromatic strength and flavor, with tons of grassiness. And then also has very dry lemon, wood and vegetal notes with light scallion. I don't understand how these hops have become popular. Aside from that, malts are straightforward honey-rich with light biscuit. Some plastic and dough from the yeast with normal fruit esters and no alcohol noted.
In the mouth it's quite substantial with a very malty, moderately sweet character of plentiful honey and white bread. Lemon, scallion and vegetal-heavy hops continue to disappoint and confound. Strong, somewhat engaging carbonation, no alcohol. Some plastic. Jesus Christ, use a real fucking noble hop.
Clear, straw-blonde-golden, large, well-retained, white head atop.
Nose is, for the millionth time, not very interesting on account of the hops. I don't know so much about grungeist (suspect it's not particularly great), but I do know that Hallertauer Blanc is absolute garbage. It and Mandarina Bavaria are like taking the worst qualities of noble hops and PNW hops and combining them. It's low on noble hop character and has a much lower aromatic strength and flavor, with tons of grassiness. And then also has very dry lemon, wood and vegetal notes with light scallion. I don't understand how these hops have become popular. Aside from that, malts are straightforward honey-rich with light biscuit. Some plastic and dough from the yeast with normal fruit esters and no alcohol noted.
In the mouth it's quite substantial with a very malty, moderately sweet character of plentiful honey and white bread. Lemon, scallion and vegetal-heavy hops continue to disappoint and confound. Strong, somewhat engaging carbonation, no alcohol. Some plastic. Jesus Christ, use a real fucking noble hop.
Tried
from Can
on 02 Nov 2018
at 21:00
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Draught at Deep Ellum upon debut.
Pours a clear blonde-straw with deeper brass hues. Small, but firm white head atop showing good retention.
Malty and with tons of white bread, dough and honey yet quickly adding herbal and lightly citrusy hops to the mix. The hops die down a bit more than expected, with a return to more malt-forward notes on the finish. Sometimes there was a bit of diacetyl, but who knows if that was the line or not. No alcohol or flaw, otherwise.
In the mouth, it's soft, malty, pretty well-attenuated with honey, cereal and white bread malt notes balancing mildly citrusy hops (grapefruit, lemon, orange rind). Low bitterness, but ample, with mostly engaging carbonation. Quite full and substantial for its size; definitely no thinning or wateriness here. Solid beer all-around and a good start to what was to come from these guys.
Pours a clear blonde-straw with deeper brass hues. Small, but firm white head atop showing good retention.
Malty and with tons of white bread, dough and honey yet quickly adding herbal and lightly citrusy hops to the mix. The hops die down a bit more than expected, with a return to more malt-forward notes on the finish. Sometimes there was a bit of diacetyl, but who knows if that was the line or not. No alcohol or flaw, otherwise.
In the mouth, it's soft, malty, pretty well-attenuated with honey, cereal and white bread malt notes balancing mildly citrusy hops (grapefruit, lemon, orange rind). Low bitterness, but ample, with mostly engaging carbonation. Quite full and substantial for its size; definitely no thinning or wateriness here. Solid beer all-around and a good start to what was to come from these guys.
Tried
on 01 Nov 2018
at 17:02
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Huge thanks to Chalumeaux for getting this to me I’ve tried to acquire last couple fall’s to no avail. Lovely bright chestnut and frothy head. Nose is toasted caramel some dough. Tastes of dried leaf, light caramel, doughy, toast. Dry palate. Quite good not sure what other noteworthy American made polotmavys are left for me to seek out.
Tried
from Can
on 28 Oct 2018
at 02:51
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Draught and cans since debut.
Clear, light, straw-golden with some deeper brass tones and a medium-sized, white head showing moderate retention.
A bit sweet and cereal-heavy, with hay, honey, biscuit, dough and tons of fruity esters. Tons of apple, pear, lemon and peach. No alcohol or flaw.
Soft and malty in the mouth with medium attenuation, but could be stronger. Lots of honey, dough, whitebread and cereal with white pepper, yellow fruit and apple esters and a medium, somewhat loose carbonation. I don't think it's THAT sweet, but it could stand to be a lot more dry, especially for its size. Not all that saison-like, is my biggest complaint. Just kind of lightly hoppy, fruity, belgian pale ale.
Clear, light, straw-golden with some deeper brass tones and a medium-sized, white head showing moderate retention.
A bit sweet and cereal-heavy, with hay, honey, biscuit, dough and tons of fruity esters. Tons of apple, pear, lemon and peach. No alcohol or flaw.
Soft and malty in the mouth with medium attenuation, but could be stronger. Lots of honey, dough, whitebread and cereal with white pepper, yellow fruit and apple esters and a medium, somewhat loose carbonation. I don't think it's THAT sweet, but it could stand to be a lot more dry, especially for its size. Not all that saison-like, is my biggest complaint. Just kind of lightly hoppy, fruity, belgian pale ale.
Tried
from Can
on 24 Oct 2018
at 20:34
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Keg at IMBC 2018, session 5. Pours clear copper with a small, foamy crown. Nice stuff, basic, toasted cereal, orange peel. Light bodied with average carbonation. Dry finish, lightly bitter, more toasted cereal. Nice one.
Tried
on 06 Oct 2018
at 19:07
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Keg at IMBC. It pours rich copper with a thick foamy white head. The aroma is malt driven, brown bread, sticky, toffee, toasted nut and light spice. The taste is dry, bitter, leather, brown bread, toasted nut, wood, bit of alcohol, spice and leather with a dry finish. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Decent. Nice malty lagerbier.
Tried
on 06 Oct 2018
at 18:57
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Keg at the indy man beer con, session 5. A reddy amber coloured pour with a a frothy beige head. Aroma is nice raisin, amber malts, nutty,. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, crisp, raisin, little cakey, light toffee and chalky. Palate is semi sweet airy carbonation, crisp finish.
Tried
on 06 Oct 2018
at 18:55
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
On tap at the Village Tavern Salem Ma Hazy murky medium yellow color with a thin white head. Earthy lightly spicy bready malt with some citrus and pine to counter. Light gritty mouthfeel. Decent easy to drink light ale.
Tried
from Draft
on 24 Sep 2018
at 02:30
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Pours a dark gold from a can. Bready aroma, bready flavor, lightly sweet and a little yeasty. Okay beer.
Tried
from Can
on 03 Sep 2018
at 04:21
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On tap at Tip Tap Room, pours a hazy blonde with a small white head. Aroma brings out light smoke, with soft wheat. Flavour is along the same lines, with smoke upfront, soft whispy wheat and a touch of peat. Soft and easy-drinking, with just another smoke. Decent.
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Aug 2018
at 04:50