2017 Night Shift Barrel Society Release #2: King Lear

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Everett, Massachusetts, Night Shift Barrel Society, Night Shift Brewing

Jumping back into my beer reviews with the second entry in this year’s Barrel Society lineup.  While not exactly a new release at this point, I at least got around to this review in a slightly more timely manner than I did for release number one.

Beer Name: King Lear

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 8.3%

Description: Submitted for your approval, the brewer’s notes: Pours a rich, dark orange with a bright white head; grapefruit, classic Brett funk, and oaky white wine on the nose; a cascading symphony of tropical fruits on the palate, across a background of funky stone fruit; finishes with dry, tannic notes imparted by this beer’s time in barrels.  Some additional bits of information from the label add that this double IPA was aged in Sauvignon Blanc barrels with brettanomyces.  Bottled in July 2017.

Appearance: An orange/amber body underneath a fluffy layer of off-white foam.

Smell: Sweet tropical fruit with a funky tartness lingering on the end.

Taste: Light, sweet tropical fruit upfront turned tart and funky towards the middle.  From there, the beer went on to close with a moderate hay-like funk that combined with dry white wine, oak barrel, and just a hint of grassy bitterness.  In its final settled form this drank equal parts (tart) fruity, funky, and oaky.

Mouthfeel: Fluffy, medium body with a moderate amount of steady carbonation throughout and a dry, almost wine-like finish.

Hype: Always elevated for these releases.  With only four planned for this year, they should all be amazing.

Overall: Overall a very solid brew.  Given some basic similarities, I couldn’t help but think of the wine-styled IPAs I’ve had from Trillium recently.  With that reference in mind, I do say that the front end of this beer with its juicy tropical fruit and mild bitterness held up quite well in comparison.  The Brett and barrel aging added a lot of complexity to the finish, making the brew tart and oaky in place of the typical DIPA bitterness I would otherwise expect.  By personal preference this isn’t a style I would want frequently, but I also don’t doubt that the brewers got exactly what wanted out of this.  I enjoyed my first bottle and have every intention of doing the same with the second.

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2017 Night Shift Barrel Society Release #1: Titus Andronicus

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Beer, Beer Review, Everett, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Barrel Society, Night Shift Brewing

I’d been hoping to get to this beer for a little while now, pretty much since its release back in March.  Scheduling conspired against me, however, so I am just now finally able to review it.  The good news I suppose is that with the Barrel Society switching to a quarterly release schedule this year I am not too far behind on the current lineup.  Naming theme this year is Shakespeare’s plays.

Beer Name: Titus Andronicus

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Barley Wine

ABV: 11.2%

Description: From the front of the label, this is a barley wine aged in port finished bourbon barrels.  From the brewer’s notes: Titus Andronicus Brewer’s Notes: pours dark amber in color; nose of fig, plum, caramel, and bourbon; sips with big notes of port, molasses, toffee, and dark fruit; finish is sweet, mellow, and well-integrated.

Appearance: Dark caramel brown body with a thin tan head that did not stick around for long after the initial pour.

Smell: Sweet, brown sugar and caramel with a bit of heat on the end.

Taste: Toffee, caramel, and brown sugar sweetness upfront mixed with dark fruit about halfway through.  A slight bit of oak also came out in the middle as the beer transitioned to a moderately hot finish, the port influence coming out just a tad bit more than the bourbon.

Mouthfeel: Slightly slick, medium-plus thickness with low levels of carbonation.

Hype: I was hoping for a lot with this one.  Since there are fewer beers in this year’s series I am expecting them all to really stand out.  I was also excited by the style; I’ve always been on the lookout to get more into barley wine and it’s a style Night Shift has done very well in the recent past.

Overall: Very good, I enjoyed how the opening sweetness blended in with the port finish.  Definitely not a brew to drink quickly, this was a nice beer to sit down with at the end of the day and slowly sip at.  My one nitpick is that I wish the barrel influence was just a bit less noticeable in the middle, but this was only a minor observance and perhaps particular to my tastes.  Very curious to see how the other bottle ages.  Solid start to this year’s series.

Night Shift and The North – North by Northeast

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Beer, Beer Review, Everett, Massachusetts, New England, New York, Night Shift Brewing, The North Brewery

Even though the weather suggests my unofficial stout season is at end, I won’t let that stop me from seeking out one of my favorite styles.  I caught this on draft while visiting Night Shift last week and had to give it a try.

Beer Name: North by Northeast

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA) and The North Brewery (Endicott, NY)

Style: Stout

ABV: 5.5%

Description: Since the brewery was kind enough to offer a description I will share that.  They have it listed as a stout brewed with chocolate, salt, and raspberries.  Brewed in collaboration with New York state’s The North Brewery, whom I have admittedly not heard of before.  My 16 oz. pour cost me $6 at the brewery.

Appearance: Deep, dark brown body with a foamy light tan head.

Smell: Notes of light, roasty cocoa.

Taste: Slightly sweet bitter chocolate upfront, followed by roasted malt and a touch of caramel sweetness and salt.  There was also a mildly sweet and tart raspberry presence that drifted on the periphery of the beer when first poured.  After sitting for a bit, the beer settled into a combination of raspberries and roast, with the other elements occasionally sneaking in on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a light carbonation level.

Hype: I’m always partial to trying out new stouts, but I think that’s about the extent of the hype on this one.

Overall: I’m generally not a huge fan of roastiness in my beers, but something about this one was really enjoyable.  The addition of raspberry and salt really worked out well here, cutting into the roast a bit and giving the beer an intriguing flavor profile.  Nice brew and a successful collaboration.

Night Shift Brewing Company – Rickey Weiss

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Beer, Beer Review, Everett, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Brewing, Weiss

If you’ve never had a raspberry-lime rickey, you sure are missing out.  A mixture of club soda, lime, and raspberry (in varying degrees of fresh fruit and syrup), it is one of the most refreshing warm weather drinks out there.  It’s also an excellent candidate for becoming an adult beverage.  One of our summertime traditions at work is to get rickies to go from the diner downstairs and mix in vodka back at the office.  Knowing how tasty that is, I was curious to see how the drink would translate into a beer.

Beer Name: Rickey Weiss

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 4.7%

Description: Per the notes available at the brewery, this is a mixed fermentation sour ale aged with raspberries and limes.  Not available on draft, they were offering bottle pours at $6 for 12 oz.

Appearance: A bold reddish pink body with a fizzly white/pink layer of foam across the top.

Smell: Light hints of tart fruit and a little bit of funk.

Taste: Started out with a burst of tart lime before the raspberries came on and sweetened things up a little bit.  The finish was tangy and mixed in a subtle sweetness and just a little bit of funk.  Overall though, I would say that lime was the primary flavor in this one.  Very light and refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Light and bubbly, this felt very similar to the drink that inspired it.  A tingling of bubbles on the end mostly negated the syrupy feeling I tend to get from this style of beer.

Hype: I really wanted to try this out from the moment I saw it released last month.  Tons of potential here as the Night Shift weiss series tends to be very well done.

Overall: I liked this and think the brewers did an excellent job capturing the essence of a raspberry-lime rickey.  Since I got to try it on particularly warm day I really appreciated how light and refreshing it was.  That said I don’t think it really compares to our work concoction, though it is admittedly hard to compete with that on account of the fresh fruit and ice.  Definitely would recommend breaking this out on a warm day though.

Stout Season: Night Shift Brewing Company – Cow Tipper

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Everett, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Brewing, Stout, Stout Season

When I heard that this was being released I was definitely intrigued.  Night Shift has been putting out some great stouts lately and something about a chocolate milk stout just sounded too good to miss out on.

Beer Name: Cow Tipper

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Chocolate Milk Stout

ABV: 6.0%

Description: Per the brief brewer’s notes, this is a stout brewed with chocolate and lactose.  Currently available as a limited release to drink on draft at the taproom or take to home in 4 packs.  Cost was $6 for a 16 oz. pour and $14 per pack of cans.

Appearance: Black body with a healthy light tan head forming with the pour.  The foam left some nice lacing on the glass as I made my way through the beer.

Smell: Sweet milk and dark malts with a faint hint of roasted coffee.

Taste: Right out of the refrigerator there was a moderate level of roasted coffee that began on the front and carried through to the finish. This faded somewhat after a few minutes, more clearly leaving behind creamy notes of sweet milk, lactose, and bittersweet dark chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Just a touch above medium with mild carbonation.

Hype: Nothing out of the ordinary I suppose.  As mentioned already, I was certainly eager to try this.

Overall: Highly enjoyable.  Considering it was labeled a chocolate milk stout, I wish there had a bit more sweetness in comparison to the bitterness and roast, but this was still very good regardless.  Nice, easy to drink way to get my stout fix.

2016 Night Shift Barrel Society Release #7: Olympus

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Barrel Society, Night Shift Brewing

And with this beer I bring to a close my reviews of the 2016 Night Shift Barrel Society lineup.  It had been an excellent run thus far and the final offering was of particular interest as it gave me a chance to try a style I haven’t had before.

Beer Name: Olympus

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Oud Bruin

ABV: 8.4%

Description: I will once again turn this section over to the brewer’s notes: pours brown with dark red at the edges of the glass. Aroma is slight chocolate with dark fruits, tart cherries, some Brett funk and red wine tannins. Taste follows nose, some dark fruits melding with the red wine character, the sourness and cherries in the back finishing sour and dry.  The bottling date was December 2016.

Appearance: Medium brown body with reddish/amber highlights.  Topped off by a thin bubbly white head.

Smell: Tart and sweet dark fruits with a moderate hay-like funk on the end.

Taste: Closely followed the smell.  A funkiness in the background began right away but didn’t really peak until the end when it took on some red wine and oak barrel flavors as well.  At the forefront of all this were tart dark fruits and sour cherries.  As the beer sat and settled into the glass sour cherry, oak, and that hay-like funk emerged as the primary flavors.  The finish was dry with just a little bit of heat.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with a few bubbles on the end.

Hype: I was excited for this one. It was a new style for me and I was optimistic about the 2016 lineup ending on a super high note.

Overall: It was a bit intense drinking this on my own, but overall this was a very good beer and a solid final entry.  Here’s to 2017!

2016 Night Shift Barrel Society Release #6: Vesuvius

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Massachusetts, Night Shift Barrel Society, Night Shift Brewing

The second to last 2016 Barrel Society review is finally here!  I’ve been looking forward to getting these last two reviews in and now that things have quieted down a bit I am finally able to sit down and get to it.

Beer Name: Vesuvius

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Brett Saison

ABV: 8.4%

Description: A brett saison brewed with blackberries and meyer lemons, bottled in the first half of December 2016.  To quote the brewer’s notes: pours magenta in color; strong aromas of blackberry jam, barnyard funk, and sweet lemon; sips with bright citrus notes and rich berry flavors; finishes oaky and tart.  

Appearance: Deep ruby/purple body topped off by a thin pinkish-light purple head.

Smell: Mainly tart berries with a bit of sweetness.

Taste: There was a lot going on here.  The beer started out with a mixture of sweet and tart blueberries before transitioning towards a blend of lemon and peppery yeast.  The finish had a dryness to it that made me think of red wine and featured a light hay-like funkiness mild oak barrel influence that gradually built up as the beer went on.  

Mouthfeel: The body was on the thicker side and a bit syrupy.  Moderate-plus carbonation.

Hype: Usual excitement for a barrel society release.  Maybe a little bit more since I’d been putting this one-off for a bit.

Overall: An excellent brew that I definitely enjoyed taking my time with.  Saisons tend to take me outside my comfort zone a bit, and this one did so in a very enjoyable manner.  Fantastic blend of tastes.

Night Shift Brewing Company – Aloha Weisse

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Massachusetts, Night Shift Brewing

And here is a look at the other bottle I brought home with me following my last trip to Night Shift.  

 

Beer Name: Aloha Weisse

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 5.6%

Description: Similar in concept to my previous review, this was a mixed fermentation sour ale brewed with pineapple.  You can take a closer look at the label here.  The 750 ml bottle cost $12, which seems like the going rate for this series.  I was once again compelled to break out the 2014 teku glass.

Appearance: The body was a surprisingly clear light straw yellow.  A foamy white head formed with the pour, fed by little bubbles running up the glass.

Smell: Lightly sweet with a pretty noticeable layer of funk on top.

Taste: Tart and sweet upfront, tangy pineapple clearly stood out as the dominant flavor.  For the finish the beer took on a moderate hay-like funk in comparable strength to the remaining pineapple.  The two aspects mingled nicely into one funky, fruity whole.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with that usual syrupy finish.  The carbonation level was actually relatively low considering all the bubbles I saw on the pour, it really only showed itself at the end.

Hype: Mostly curiosity on my part.  As I mentioned in my last post, I was really interested to see where Night Shift was going to take their Berliner Weisse lineup and how it would grow with the brewery.

Overall: I liked this a lot, though it certainly helped that I am a fan of pineapples.  I thought the beer showcased both the fruit and sour aspects quite nicely.  Light and refreshing, my only wish for this beer was that I was drinking in much warmer weather.

Night Shift Brewing Company – Bramble Weisse

Tags

Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Brewing

While picking up my Barrel Society bottles the other day, I couldn’t resist coming home with a couple of other goodies as well – new installments in Night Shift’s Weisse line.  They seem to branching out from their four traditional entries and I was eager to give those efforts a taste.   First up is the brew they didn’t have available on draft the day of my visit.

Beer Name: Bramble Weisse

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 5.0%

Description: Labeled as a “mixed fermentation sour ale with raspberries,” the 750 ml bottle cost $12 at the brewery.  The bottle for this review was from the October 2016 batch.  Since drinking this somehow felt like it would be a return felt to the Night Shift of old for me, I drank it out my 2014 Barrel Society teku glass.

Appearance: The body had a very nice looking pinkish/purple color with some bubbles running up from the bottom of the glass.  A slightly pink fizzy head formed on the pour and quickly bubbled away to leave some lacing across the top.

Smell: Tart and fruity berries, with a moderate funky/sour aroma towards the end.

Taste: This beer was all about tart and sweet raspberries.  Mostly sweet and fruity upfront, it gradually took on a more tangy and tart character as it went on.  The finish went back to a sugary, fruity sweetness mixed with slightly sour, funky flavor.  I found it a bit acidic towards the end as well, especially as I made my way through the bottle, but overall it was pretty refreshing and mellow throughout.

Mouthfeel: I found it tough to get a good handle on this aspect, but I would say the beer was on the thinner side with the thicker, syrupy finish I usually get from this style.  The carbonation level was pretty robust, with plenty of little bubbles in every sip.

Hype: There was some excitement around this beer, especially since the brewery in part built their early reputation on their Berliner Weisse series.  It was actually those earlier brews that introduced me to this style, so I was very curious to try out one of their newer creations.

Overall: I enjoyed this a lot and thought the beer was quite refreshing.  The taste and feel made it seem not entirely unlike a raspberry rickey, albeit a really damn good one that just happened to be a little bit funky as well.  A worthy addition to the Weisse lineup.

2016 Night Shift Barrel Society Release #5 – Sheridan

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Barrel Society, Night Shift Brewing

Time once again to get caught up on this year’s Barrel Society lineup.  I actually made it into the brewery to have this on draft, my first time being able to sit down and grab a drink there in a few months.

Beer Name: Sheridan

Brewer: Night Shift Brewing Company

Style: Flanders-style Sour Ale

ABV: 9.2%

Description: The fifth entry in this year’s Barrel Society lineup came with the following brewer’s notes: “Pours red orange with a tan head; aromas of strawberry, lemon pith, and cranberry; sips with tannic notes of peach marmalade, tart cherry, and vanilla. Smooth, soft body mellows the ABV warmth.”  It was tapped on 10/24, just about a month before I got a chance to try it out the other day.

Appearance: It poured a deep reddish amber body with a healthy off-white foam head.

Smell: Hints of subtle fruits with a slightly boozy aroma that lingering in the background.

Taste: Tart fruit upfront, primarily strawberry, cherry, and just a bit of lemon.  These were followed by a sweet, warming alcohol presence accompanied by more cherry and notes of vanilla atop a notable barrel influence.  The flavors flowed into each quite well, with a tart sweetness carrying the beer throughout.

Mouthfeel: Thick and a touch syrupy to start, the beer turned more full-bodied and creamy by the end.  Very low carbonation.  Excellent compliment to the flavor profile.

Hype: Elevated.  I was not only excited to try this release, but it was nice to have it on tap as well.  There was also a sense of mystery here for me, as I haven’t tried many beers in this style before.

Overall: I really liked this.  The flavors played off each other well, putting this release in serious contention for my favorite of this year’s batch.  Can’t wait to see how this develops in the bottle at sometime in the future.