Notch Brewing

Microbrewery in Salem, Massachusetts, United States 🇺🇸
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 2010

Contact
283R Derby St, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
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.

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7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Brighton draught, 10/18/25.
As pictured.
Lightly floral hops with timid malts. Maybe even a bit of citrus. Hard to get at the malt or yeast though.
Sweet corn and floral hops with some light citrus. It's clean and at least noticeably bitter, but the malt/corn is sweet and somewhat soggy. No biscuitiness or much of a crisp, dry finish. Hop flavors are a bit weird, too, bordering some soapiness.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 18 Oct 2025 at 17:43

7.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 7
On tap at the river road tavern one night after work with the guys.
Tried from Draft on 02 Oct 2025 at 01:09

6.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
Pours slightly hazed bronze into a willi. White he’s with little retention recedes to sicken surface Caramel corn aromas. Crisp with sweet honey and golden syrup upfront turning to bitter corn kernels in the dry, medium length finish.
Tried on 18 Sep 2025 at 23:29

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Tap in Brighton. Medium amber with a tall head. Malty, slightly toasty nose with herbal hops. Toasted malt flavor, no caramel. Only barely sweet. Very dry and slightly hoppy. Interesting. Much less sweet than usual.
Tried on 15 Sep 2025 at 01:51

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 9 Overall 7.5
Tap in Brighton. Bright medium golden with a tall head. Bready nose, rich, clean malt and spicy Saaz hops. Rich but not sweet. Hoppy, bready, dry flavor. Crisp and clean. Very nice. No diacetyl.
Tried on 15 Sep 2025 at 01:48

6.9/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Tap in Brighton. Pale pastel yellow with a medium head. Fruity citrus nose with light malts and some tropical fruit. Fruity and juicy flavor with medium malt and solid body for a hazy pa.
Tried on 15 Sep 2025 at 01:42

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Tap in Brighton. Deep gold with a tall white head. Malty nose, rich and biscuity with lemony hops. Rich malt, bready, mo caramel, medium hops, quite dry and highly drinkable.
Tried on 15 Sep 2025 at 01:37

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Pours clear light gold into a willi. Bright white soapy head with good retention recedes leaving spot lacing. Grass and meadow aromas. Crisp with sweet grass, multigrain bread and honey upfront turning to earthy pith in the medium length finish.
Tried on 10 Sep 2025 at 21:43

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 8
Pint can from Jow. Thanks. Pours a crystal clear 14k gold color with a small white head that slowly dissipates. The aroma is light with herbs, sweet corn, and some mild citrus. The taste is light corn, grass, some cracker malts, bit of lemons and spicy noble hops. The palate was thin and crisp, but not watery, and the carbonation was lively. Finishes medium in duration and dry. Overall: Really good helles, goes down easy. Not one of my favorite lager styles but I definitely would drink this again.
Tried from Can on 01 Sep 2025 at 13:57

8.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8.5 Texture 9 Overall 8
Draft pour at Dominion Wine and Beer. Poured a rich looking, clear copper color with a small white head. Super delicious malt, crispy, nice light grassy character. Sweet but not too sweet, a little bit of nuttiness.
Tried from Draft at Dominion Wine and Beer on 25 Aug 2025 at 22:35