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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6.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Murky bright yellow colour, not much head. Lots of straw, some grapefruit and stonefruit in the nose. Light-bodied. Straw, grapefruit, even touch of hopburn. Simple and light. This kind of style needs more umpppf.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company on 03 Aug 2025 at 10:30

7.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7
Amber colour and steady beige head and lace. Caramalt, some grass in the nose. Light-bodied. Malty, caramelly, earthy hops. Rich.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company on 03 Aug 2025 at 10:10

7.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 8
Draught at Bad Brother: pours pale gold with white head. Aroma is grassy, lemonish, plenty of hop character. Dry, lightly bitter. Very chuggable. Nice.
Tried from Draft on 28 Jul 2025 at 15:47

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Clear, dark. Garnet-cola. Big, well-retained, tan head.
Fruity and malty with delectable brown sugar and a hint of leather and mild tobacco. Not unlike the Over It I just had but bigger and bolder, due to the higher gravity.
Soft, malty, with brown sugar and chocolate, fruit and nuts. Dries out nicely but not too much. Briwn bread and not too much toast. Vanilla, chocolate and fruit lingering.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 22 Jul 2025 at 21:47

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Brighton draught, 7/22/25.
Clear, deep cola-hazelnut. Solid, light-tan head.
Anise-laced dark malts with dark fruit, light caramel and toasted brown bread. Fruity and with light mineral and tobacco.
Soft and malty, good depth for its size. Very fruity with tobacco and crusty brown bread. Low hop but ample bitterness and acidity from hop and dark malt. Light but flavorful.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 22 Jul 2025 at 21:14

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 8
Pours slightly hazed gold into a willi. Bright white head with good retention recedes to coat surface. Earthy bread and resin aromas. Crisp with sweet multigrain, resin pitch and fruity caramel upfront turning to dry oak and pith in the medium length finish.
Tried from Bottle at Notch Brewing Company on 09 Jun 2025 at 21:39

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8.5 Texture 8 Overall 8
Brighton draught, 6/6/25.
Very pale gold. Clear. Small, white head.
Spicy, floral, lots of white bread and light cracker. Clean and zesty with good minerality and snappy yeast on the end.
Soft and malty with a touch of white grape, fair bit of honey and white bread and lingering herbal and floral hops. Clean and flavorful with very well-done hops.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 06 Jun 2025 at 19:37

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Brighton draught, 6/6/25.
As pictured.
Crusty sourdough with tempered, herbal hop. Yeasty and mineral rich, though somewhat muted as a result. Clean with no discernible pitch. Good malt backbone, with light honey and more sourdough emerging as it warms.
Soft, malty with a strong herbal hop spiciness. Good bitterness and tons of malt depth for its size. Yeast character is lively, with cellar must and mineral. Lingering sourdough and bitter, herbal hops. Very balanced and drinkable stuff. Very no frills.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 06 Jun 2025 at 18:59

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Pours clear gold into a willi. White head with good excellent retention recedes to coat surface. Biscuit and caramel aromas. Medium bodied with hot caramel and honey front to back and into the lasting, earthy honey multigrain finish. One-dimensionally good.
Tried from Crowler at Notch Brewing Company on 23 May 2025 at 21:42

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Brighton draught, 5/15/25.
Clear, bright golden-brass. Small-to-medium, white head.
Rich nose full of honey-like malt, little/no toast and lots of spicy hop (but not too much). Clean and with good minerality.
Zesty, and malty with a soft, supple texture and good attenuation on the finish. Honey, zesty herbs and spices with ample but not overdone bitterness.
Tried from Draft at Notch Brewing Company - Brighton on 16 May 2025 at 14:41