Notch Brewing: re-imagining American lager

Notch Brewing: re-imagining American lager | The Craft Beer Channel

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Күн бұрын

Notch Brewing: re-imagining American lager | The Craft Beer Channel
Over the next few week's, we'll be running features on the five amazing breweries who made up our New England documentary, with all the gold that didn't make the original cut. This week we visit Notch Brewing, the brewery making what we think are the best Czech lagers outside of Czech itself. Don't believe us? Watch on.
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Пікірлер: 123

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

So - who do you think make the best pilsners in the world? We think it's Notch, Uneticky, Pilsner Urquell & Tegernseer. But we bet there are loads of world class breweries we don't know about. HIT US UP!

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

OH GOD AND MAHRS BRAU.

@themeatnpotatoes 5 жыл бұрын

Uruquell for sure. sadly I haven’t ever had the privilege of drinking at the mother land, only bottles ☹️

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

@@themeatnpotatoes It's worth the trip, or just to a place serving it unpasteurised from the tank - there are bars all over Europe with it now

@ATL-xi7lo 5 жыл бұрын

Ayinger makes a world class pilsner.

@liberwill 5 жыл бұрын

Budvar and augustiner pils for me

@scottkoschwitz4726 Жыл бұрын

I visited the Salem location this weekend with my wife. Centrally located site, good vibe, professional staff, good music, and high-quality beer (including the Bavarian Radler). We are already planning our return visit.

@MrDgmiller Жыл бұрын

This dude is my spirit animal

@user-kj1rl1il5z Жыл бұрын

Great job, guys. Chris seems like one cool dude. I could talk to him about beer for a long, long time. Cheers!

@tzieser 5 жыл бұрын

Did you guys check out Jack's Abby when you were in Mass? They've been doing incredible things with lagers for a pretty good amount of time now. They deserve a lot of credit with sticking to the whole "lagers only" concept in a market dominated by hoppy, hazy ales.

@jayblaz7389 3 жыл бұрын

This is so crazy, I am a Canadian that moved to Poland in 2004. I also visited the Golden Tiger pub in 2005 in Prague and it changed my perspective on beer. One beer, so fresh, so crisp and drinkable, I said to all my friends in Canada that they are not drinking beer, you havent even tasted beer if you havent been to Czech. It made me a beer snob in a way, this was before craft beer movement in Europe.

@jayblaz7389 3 жыл бұрын

It's stange that no one can reproduce Pilsner Urquel. Poland has a huge craft beer industry but zero beers like fresh Czech pale lager. Actually, the Polish lagar market is total shit. German pils can compete but still not as good as fresh Czech pils. Some German breweries do a good one but will never win against Czech. Rest of world, no chance. Belguim is a different animal, Ireland of course has the black stuff , which is amazing, Czech has origional and best, most drinkable beer in the world.

@downsideup119 5 жыл бұрын

Hey guys. Thanks a lot for doing episodes like this. I'm a brewer from South Africa and your videos are awesome and a big source of inspiration for me. Keep up the excellent work

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Hope to visit SA one day!

@TheJbaxter33 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. I’m at that phase now where I’m going back & enjoying a ‘good’ lager. When you first discover craft beer you tend to go down the, ‘ all lager is shit’, road for a while. Definitely something you ‘get’ more, once you’ve developed your pallete... Nice one guys

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

100% - we call it the circle of craft. IPA - imp stout - sours - Belgians - lambics - lagers and then back around!

@zabuzamomochi2323 9 ай бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannelMy circle was Belgians - Imperial Stout - IPA thus far, but growing up in Austria I always love a good Märzen, Festbier or Doppelbock, and of course I am a massive Hefeweizen fanboy. I indeed never left these styles for all those amazing craft beers, I mostly enjoy beer in its full diversity and the best week is a week where I can have a brilliant Schneider Weisse Hefeweizen on one day, a super crafty double dry hopped NE DIPA on the next day, and return back home for a relaxed Freistädter Ratsherrn (in my opinion the best classic helles Lager brewed in Austria) with my dad the other day

@manatoa1 4 жыл бұрын

I love this guy... and his soapbox!

@SomeoneElse038 2 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel. Some of my favorite breweries. Love it! Cheers from Maine!! ✌🏼❤️🍻

@keifereef9673 5 жыл бұрын

Top vid! Great viewing!

@my_krosh Жыл бұрын

dude i spent 4k in notch just for last 6 months just for myself drinking amazing pale lager called Zwickel and this brewery brought me to the brewing now i learned so much and brewing my very own lager. the US public are so amateur in terms of beer taste and that makes me so weak because i can’t push ppl hard enough to feel the difference

@beerbbqbaseball1585 5 жыл бұрын

Love the video. Let’s Go Blues!!’

@Gallagherfreak100 5 жыл бұрын

If you guys get down south, check out "Arches Brewing", which is just north of the Atlanta Airport. They are another brewery concentrating on various forms of European inspired lagers.

@mikemotta9754 5 жыл бұрын

excellent video. love pilsner urquell. I've been to notch a few times, great beer, I haven't run the board yet, i think i better step it up.

@jeffj5080 5 жыл бұрын

What a fantastic video. Honestly this video inspired me to take a trip up to Notch from the Philadelphia area; we're heading up there next week!

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

AMAZING! Love to hear that as we make these kinda vids to inspire people to go to the source.

@vendettawarcrime 3 жыл бұрын

I stumbled upon Notch when in Salem nearly 5 years ago and I have to say it was the highlight of my trip having been to Treehouse and Trillium. Maybe it's becasue I've been to Germany and the Czech Rep a few times? The beer at Notch was cracking and brought back fond memories! We just happened to be there at Hallowe'en and the staff all had this amazing zombie make up on but the lasting memory was the beer. European style beer done so well as to be better than any import - it was fresh and Left of the Dial which I think I had three of before moving on to other brews just worked so well! If we go back to Boston the trip to Notch will happen again and I recommend all who get the opportunity to take it.

@distlledbrewedreviewed 5 жыл бұрын

very interesting and informative.

@victorkarlsson5183 4 жыл бұрын

I moved from Sweden to Czechia when I turned 19, discovered real pilsner and fell in love. What that dude is talking about when he mentions the low ABV and beerhalls is spot on! Having 6-7 beers after work with colleagues was great. Pilsner is truly the best thing out there.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Amen to that. We talk about and love a lot of different beers, but the styles we drink the most of are Czech Pilsner and German Helles

@TheEriceads 5 жыл бұрын

I've loved this series about New England! Been travelling there relatively regularly over the last 7 year, most in Maine, and the beer scene has exploded. Thank you for highlighting Notch, I have not found a brewery that brews Pils, let alone Czech Pils. Can't wait to go through Boston this summer and snatch a cold liter!

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Ach Maine is just insane for beer but Mass has some incredible breweries too. Notch are special.

@cpthooray5032 5 жыл бұрын

I have a couple of small breweries near me making really tasty lager, Firebird Brewery in West Sussex and Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate making Czech style Pils.

@MicahDouglas 3 жыл бұрын

Such a good interview. Shocked I missed this one! Chris is the ultimate dude. Super knowledgeable and still passionate about craft (even a decade deep in the game) one of the best.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more!

@zyzor 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve never had notched but now I’ll look for it. I really love lager and specifically German lagers. I totally agree that it’s more fun to sit and have a lighter refreshing crisp beer when drinking rather than a heavy.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Indeed! If good lager was in every pub we would likely drink that there and save the exciting stuff for cans at home or friends' - except in Belgium. Then geuze is lager.

@jayblaz7389 4 жыл бұрын

Golden Tiger is one of the greatest pubs in the world. It has Pilsner Urquel only , however, its not even tank beer, only kegged. Its poured so proper that it is a great beer experience. Beer factory in Plzen makes a great pale lager, Clock brewery in Czech makes great pale lager and basicly everything they make is outstanding. Permon craft brewery in Czech makes crazy single hopped IPAs. I have a rotation of several Czech pale lagers every weekend. Rohozec, Krakonoś, Opat, Zavis from Polićka.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 4 жыл бұрын

We have been to the Beer Factory and LOVED their pilsners, and had some good stuff from Clock too. Will have to check out the others.

@2010LACES Ай бұрын

just went to the Boston location this weekend and it was so good!!

@AaronOverEverything 5 жыл бұрын

great stuff... randomly came across this video to watch after coming up with an idea to make a film here.... good stuff...

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Clearly we both have great taste!

@ATL-xi7lo 5 жыл бұрын

What a great interview! I enjoyed hearing Chris Lohring's perspective on lager. Glad to know there are brewers out there who enjoy the challenge and rewards of making quality lagers. I especially enjoy Vienna Lager and am glad to see more craft breweries taking a run at it.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Did you see our video last week then? We were in Vienna trying to track down the original!

@ATL-xi7lo 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel yes I did! Thank you for doing that one. The history of Vienna Lager is fascinating to me. I am always in search of great Vienna Lager!

@douglussier2885 5 жыл бұрын

notch is an awesome brewery!

@TimFitzwater 4 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel and glad I did. I was in Boston visiting a friend in October - she brews at Notch so we went to have some beers with her there when she got off work. I believe she is the brewer that "went down with injury" because I know she got hit on her bike in the streets of Boston. Small world.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Amazingly small! And welcome to the channel!

@TheoriginalPbSlinger 5 жыл бұрын

This was SPECTACULAR! I’m and fairly new subscriber from Colorado and a lagerhead. My favorite brewery is Zwei here in my home in Fort Collins. Kirk and Eric are crushing the lagers. A brewer’s brewery. Pilsners, helles, Vienna, Schwartz etc. Come check out the lager scene in Colorado. It’s good!

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Hey man, welcome! Thanks for subbing! We'd bloody love to come to Colorado. It's been on our list since we started this, but still not made it. This year or next, and we'll definitely check out Zwei!

@weisspayne 5 жыл бұрын

Notch is truly an innovative brewery. I am sad I missed meeting you guys as I am in the next town over.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Well I am 100% sure we'll be back!

@ohjesussaveme 5 жыл бұрын

Longtime mass resident but finally ventured up to the north shore to check out Notch just a few weeks ago. The Standard is the best beer I've had in some time. Really enjoyed the cerne pivo too. Between Notch and Jack's Abby, MA is doing OK on the lager front.

@ohjesussaveme 5 жыл бұрын

Should also mention that despite being primarily a session / lager brewer, they've started a small line of higher ABV beers, and the sips I pilfered of their mosaic + citra NEDIPA absolutely stood toe to toe with any of the big NEIPA players. I really think Louhring is one of the few who can honestly be called a real "master brewer".

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Basically they got the whole lager family nailed!

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Yeah we kept meaning to try the other beers and never got around to it...

@goodolarchie 2 жыл бұрын

5 of the top 10 rated lager makers are in New England and the Hudson Valley region. I'm so jealous.

@pedersteenberg2010 2 жыл бұрын

wow

@unklestu 5 жыл бұрын

Great video lads. I had the pilsner urquell tanka in Manchester for the first time a couple of years ago. 4 pints with my brother over lunch. need to get out to NE now.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Haha, PU tank beer sneaks up on you like that!

@MrJBear2323 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel lol mo

@MrJBear2323 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel i

@MrJBear2323 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel n Ooo mk I’m M M

@santiagokaderian544 5 жыл бұрын

Envy envy ... even if we have the luck in third world (Argentina) to have great craft lagers... that Notch is great..

@goodolarchie 2 жыл бұрын

I can't get over that the same place that popularized new england IPA that has eaten the world of craft also houses 5 of the top 10 craft lager producers in the world. In addition to Notch you've got Suarez, Schilling, Jacks Abby and Hill Farmstead.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed - I think it comes with the longer heritage of quality brewing. NE is also responsible for the Black IPA and many other things. That said, I would only regard Notch as a top 10 craft lager producer... the rest are good but we have the whole of Germany and Czechia to think about.

@goodolarchie 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel When I think "craft lager" I'm thinking more about the new world. Everybody here knows if you want the best german and cz lagers... you go to Bavaria and Bohemia!

@sambloke1327 5 жыл бұрын

I love that you guys are using No Rome for your background music. Beautiful music goes so well with your brilliant videos! Will you be going to cavedirect this week?

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Will be there Saturday!

@sambloke1327 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel cheers. May see you there!

@brianlocal3 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to try their Lager. Is it sold in the St. Louis area? Also the best Pilsner I have ever had is by Urban Chestnut Brewery in St. Louis, Mo. it’s called Stammtisch. It’s a game changer

@smalley182 5 жыл бұрын

Damn, this made me thirsty. Our craft game is pretty strong now in Australia, but there's still a lack of quality lagers being produced here. I'm so keen to try some hyped lagers.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

It's always the last style to modernise (or rather got back to its roots in this case!) - we talk about it in next week's episode.

@Srups11HD 5 жыл бұрын

I think the beers that changed my perception about lager were Brooklyn Lager and Camden's Inner City Green.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Both great beers and Camden still make some great beers if you can stomach the ownership (we can't but sometimes have no choice). Make sure you look out for Braybrooke, Donzoko and Lost and Grounded who are other great lager breweries in the UK!

@Srups11HD 5 жыл бұрын

The Craft Beer Channel thanks, I'll keep an eye out for them. I'm always looking to try new brews.

@my_krosh Жыл бұрын

Right pale lager 4.5% is indeed the best beer that exists

@jackferriter2533 5 жыл бұрын

This place is only 30 minutes away from where I currently live. My other favorite lager brewery is Suarez Family Brewing in Livingston, NY

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

We wanted to get to Suarez on our trip but just a bridge too far - heard great things.

@tzieser 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel Suarez is so nuanced and incredible.....I speak of all their beers, mind you. You guys gotta check them out sometime, Dan used to work at Hill Farmstead and with the quality of the product...it really shows. Like you said though, it's pretty far from everything, I only go when I'm camping in Upstate NY.

@squiremuldoon5462 3 жыл бұрын

i totally agree that dry hopping a pilsner with new world hops is something done by brewers who dont understand anything about pilsner. (im looking at you STONE)

@davidbeiler6364 5 жыл бұрын

LMAO, love it, makes me want to go there, but im in CA :(

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Surely someone out west is making killer pilsners!?

@ATL-xi7lo 5 жыл бұрын

Can you get pFriem? They are out of OR, but if you can get them I've read they are really good.

@davidwilson1810 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Johnny About 12 minutes in you mention two different beers. I can't quite make out what they are. What are they please?

@TheCraftBeerChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Hey David. That was Koutske (sadly now closed) and Uneticky near Prague (still going, still amazing)

@davidwilson1810 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel thanks so much

@mrougelot 5 жыл бұрын

Pilsner Urquell is a sensation no doubt, but I feel Jever doesn’t get the love they deserve.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Very different beer but world class too. Love those big bitter northern german lagers.

@ThomasOpent 5 жыл бұрын

If the video in itself wasn't convincing enough, that shot starting at 15.57 is enough to make me want to just sit there and have a few of those pints..... I guess I haven't tried many classic 'real' pilsners to claim which is my fave, but Urquell would rate superhigh for me. I did enjoy the Enter Night by stone, which I now is probably a bit removed from classic pilsner in terms of hopprofile, but I really liked the crisp clean finish on it.

@liammasterson3482 5 жыл бұрын

"If you don't believe me you need to go to Notch" Or Pilsen? ;)

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

er...yeah or Pilsen

@richharper8159 5 жыл бұрын

My favourite takeaways: 'for a palate of a 12 year old' (NEIPAs) 'What the fuck are you doing?!' (Dry hopping Pilsner with mosaic/citra)

@IamSeafarer 5 жыл бұрын

Dude, the lager will be the next big thing. I've been saying it for so long. I really hope it will be, anyways. Hah. It has so much potential

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Haha me too. Years I've been saying it. Could be right any day now.

@QuarfLord 5 жыл бұрын

Is that a special tap? Why were they dipping it into the beer?

@jeremyl3133 5 жыл бұрын

side-pull tap

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

It is a side pull tap, very common in czech. Allows for the production of what is called "wet foam", which is thicker and creamier than standard head that forms as it hits the glass. As for dipping the tap that is totally acceptable if the nozzle is kept very clean and ideally constantly in use!

@kevindeloscities 5 жыл бұрын

It's like looking in a mirror. I agree with everything he said and I feel validated. Lmao

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

God me too.

@digestingbeer 5 жыл бұрын

The best pale lager brewers I know. So glad you featured them. You can see me rave about their Standard Czech pilsner here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q7VnpKeBmJyZeHk.html

@TheVirtualGroomroom 2 жыл бұрын

I want all good breweries to be good at all styles. Big IPA one after another is tiring.

@yearginclarke Жыл бұрын

That's what I'm saying. I see hop-dominated styles way too much. Personally I want more lagers with subtle hops and decent malt flavor. Something more than what you can get from adjunct lagers, but still being light and refreshing like those are.

@dthamrick1 5 жыл бұрын

Lager > any NEIPA

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. We'll sit on the fence and say different, but not necessarily better. Though give us the choice between Notch Standard and any IPA and we'll pitch Notch.

@squiremuldoon5462 5 жыл бұрын

Yes... yes! I agree with his comments about the pretentiousness of dry hopping a Pilsner with fucking cat pee hops, assholes that do that don’t understand ANYTHING about pilsner. Anyway great video, that beer looks absolutely delicious.

@lukaswint7067 5 жыл бұрын

I'll never be a lager man, can't stand the stuff. And really will never understand giving all that foam on top.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

I mean, lager is a VERY broad church with tens of different styles - helles, pilsner, Vienna, bock, amber, baltic porter, dunkel, IPL, Mexican, steam then hybrids like Kolsch and Alt... I'm sure there will be plenty you enjoy. As for the foam, it's thick and creamy for a lovely full texture, and also protects the delicate beer from oxidation. All beers should have a healthy head on them for the latter reason.

@aaronmacca 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel For me, although I absolutely adore and have fell for craft beer, including DIPAs and thick stouts, a freezing cold lager is still my main beer. Yes maybe if the price of Verdant, Cloudwater, Wylam eventually got to a price where you could afford often to buy a few, that would maybe change. But, then the quality just wouldn't be as good. I think for many people the odd shop at the local beer shop is a treat, and then they go back to the regular lager thoroughout the week. I couldn't imagine drinking IPAs as a main beer, would just get too sickly for me personally. Anyways great vid, loved your longer doc.

@lukaswint7067 5 жыл бұрын

The Craft Beer Channel my favourite lager ive ever tried was a marzen called donkey vote which was a collaboration between lost and grounded and mahrsbrau bamberg. Still wouldn't choose it though. Ive never taken so long to drink a beer that needed half pint of foam on top to keep it fresh. Its a gimmick. Sorry know you love your lager, its just not for me:).

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

@@lukaswint7067 That's cool! It's all down to individual taste . Can't agree that good foam is a gimmick though, it's vital to the taste of any style, particularly towards the end of the pint. Ever loved the first sip of a beer, then found it's not so good by the end? That's partly to do with oxidation. Foam protects it from that.

@ATL-xi7lo 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheCraftBeerChannel I didn't realize how much enjoyment I was missing by not pouring a beer out into a glass with a proper head. Once I started doing that correctly, I started REALLY enjoying my beer and avoiding that bloated feeling from not releasing the carbonation.

@zeveroarerules 5 жыл бұрын

Never put your tap in the beer while you tap. Damnit. That's disgusting.

@TheCraftBeerChannel 5 жыл бұрын

This is a very common misconception. How does the outside of the tap touching your beer differ from the inside of it!? If anything the inside is much less clean. Many taps - including almost all UK cask taps and czech sideways taps - are designed to be dipped. The latter HAVE to be dipped to get the required creamy head and protect the beer from oxidation - as they do here. Nothing wrong with dipping taps especially when properly maintained.