Notch celebrates our four year anniversary in March, something that was a bit of a long shot back in 2010 when we released our first draft only batches. Preaching the gospel of session beer in 2010 took thick skin, and it still does, but we have many more allies today. So here we are again at the start of a new year with much to look forward to in 2014.
We’ll be building on the successes of last year, re-tuning our full time beer lineup a bit, while expanding our one-off program. You’ll see the return of Left of the Dial in April, but elevated to year round status in cans, as well as Session Pils in 6 pack cans for the first time (in addition to 12 pack cans). The release of Pils in cans was a runaway success for us, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their support.
Our seasonal / one-off series will continue in the spring with some adjustments. Polotmavy will be back after a yearlong nap, but with a new name (ya, it was hard to pronounce), Berliner Weisse will finally hit after my years of unfulfilled promises, the Mule Corn Lager returns (screw you Brewer’s Association), our Valley Malt beer returns but for the first time it will not be a saison, and as always, we will round out the year and ring in the new with our small black lager, Cerne Pivo!
And we will continue our “love of hopeless causes” line of beers – the cask only beer series. We have our Yorkshire Bitter, named the English Dream, out and about on beer engines across the city right now, and that beer has a special place in our hearts. We will have a few more cask only beers hit this year, including the return of our only tricked out gimmick beer, Coffee Milk Stout (a Drink Craft Beer collaboration).
I’ll be brewing and/or overseeing production at the same spots this year, Ipswich Brewery (in their new home), Two Roads Brewing, and Kennebunkport Brewing. Each brings a little something to the table, and by using all three I’m able to produce a wide range of styles in a wide range of packages. My 2010 TDI Wagon has 90K miles on it, and is constantly littered with empty coffee cups. But we are at a place in the company growth I feel good about, and we can pretty much do whatever we want beer wise, except put Berliner Weisse in a can (but still dreaming of that).
And expect the same type of FUN as last year – the Session Beer Day event, Cambridge 5K races and teams, guest DJ nights, NERAX get togethers, beer release socials, Valley Malt events, and more. And, as always, no traditional beer dinners this year, but we will definitely have some food focused events happening.
Looking back on 2013, I had one moment that really stood out, and it happened just last month. I sat at a neighborhood bar in the South End with only three taps (my local back in the day), and realized that a beer I created has been on tap there continuously for twenty years. That moment was hard to put into words, even right now.
For Notch, this year will be interesting and challenging, with more brands and styles on the market than ever before, all fighting for a finite spot on the taps and shelves of your retailer. We’ll do our best to fight the good fight by brewing the best beer we can, at the best price we can offer, while always telling the truth. Hopefully it’s enough to earn your biz. Here’s to a big year of small beer!
