Lack of Session Obsession
Justin Farrar wrote a piece this week on his love of Session Beer, and the lack Session Beer options currently available. Great article, and not just because I was quoted. It’s a quick read, but a good one. Enjoy it!
Hop Session and the Dustbin of History
When we sold Tremont Ale, I didn’t hang onto much memorabilia. I try to live lean, and packing away a bunch of crap for nostalgia value was not on my mind at the time. Most items were sent to the dustbin. However, I did keep two medals from the 1997 Chicago Real Ale Festival, and their place on a [...]
Back to the blog
More brewing than blogging in the past week, as would be expected of a brewer. Casking and kegging finishes later this week on the next two Notch Session Ales, and more details soon on draft locations, first tappings, and a cask here or there.
I’ve also been fielding quite a few calls for interviews related to [...]
Back to the Brewery
I’ve collected a great deal of feedback over the past month on the first two Notch ales, as well as insight on what craft beer consumers are looking for in Session beer. Was there a clear favorite between the Notch Session Red and Session Pale? The Session Red may have edged out the [...]
It’s Time for Session Beer
I wrote the following article for the Beer Advocate Magazine, which appeared in last month’s issue (#39). I have posted it on the Notch Blog to participate in Beer Blogging Friday, as this month’s topic is, of course, Session Beer. Be sure to check out all of the unique perspectives that will be posted on Session Beer today, [...]
Fuzzy front end
Lew Bryson gave a mention to Notch this week in his Session Beer Project blog, and he was correct in thinking these initial Notch beers are for market research, but also correct in that I’m messing around a bit. Product design folk call this messing around the “fuzzy front end”, which I’ve always liked, because [...]
One Month Notch
Notch Brewing is one month old, and as May winds down, our first two American Session Ales will be in scarce supply as the last few barrels are tapped. The Session Pale and Session Red served as starting point, and provided me with a wide variety of responses on what Session beer means to craft beer drinkers. [...]
Notch Interview with WAAF
Video interviews with Mike Hsu from WAAF and the brewers at SlowFest last week . Some funny stuff. The Notch funny stuff was edited out, really.
Final thoughts on SlowFest
What struck me the most over the weekend at SlowFest was that Session beer has a place, a purpose, and a reason to be. When exposed to Session beer’s flavor, variety, and reasonable ABV, the craft beer consumer gets it. Anything that craft beer enhances, session beer extends. It’s just that simple.
I was also amazed [...]
Notch Photos & Video from SlowFest
Great time at SlowFest. People get it. They get the concept of Session beer, and even better, they loved Notch, and want more. Photos below, and a link here to WAAF’s brewers’ interviews.
Photos include the Notch bar, and the ceremonial (we’ll call it that anyway) tapping of the first cask. And in tapping of a cask [...]