Notch Černé Pivo - Notch Brewing

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. brown bottle. Bottled on date stamped on label.
Served in a nonic tumbler.
It pours a stout-like color with a 2" mocha head and a little patchy lacing.
Smells of roasted malt on a bed of dried hay are balanced by a mild Saaz resinous hop fragrance. A very light whiff of sulfur is noticed in the background.
A very light taste of sweet chocolate malt carries flavors of saltless crackers, light lime-like hops, and just a hint of a metallic tang.
This is an extremely liquid brew (after the initial spritzy effervescence fades) that goes down slick and quick.
Impressive flavors for such a small beer!

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 00:23:44 | More by BeerResearcher

mmmaaattt

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-25-2013 14:39:05 | More by mmmaaattt

MAbeerNE1

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-14-2013 23:29:22 | More by MAbeerNE1

cortez

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-11-2013 22:06:07 | More by cortez

deciding39

Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle served in a...not sure what this is. Footed pilsner glass? Sounds right.

A: Pours a deep, opaque jet black, with only the slightest hint of crimson near the narrow foot of the glass. A tight, one-finger tan head forms and recedes slowly towards the walls of the glass, leaving a ring with fine bubbles and very impressive lacing.

S: Roasted malt and dark cocoa fill the nose, with an ever-so-slight floral note. Very clean, quite mild.

T: Sweet chocolate and caramel up front, almost reminiscent of a tootsie roll. The flavor shifts in the middle to nicely roasted malt with flavors of bitter cocoa and mild coffee. Finishes clean with a soft noble hop bitterness. Filled with flavor, but not overly complex. I think refined is the word I'm looking for, although that sounds like an awfully pretentious word to use to describe a beer!

M&D: Medium-full bodied with only the slightest chew and a low alcohol that doesn't bite at all. Carbonation is light enough to not sting the tongue and distract from the flavor, but present enough to provide a little levity and to contribute to a nice dry finish. If I could find this on tap, this would be a regular for me. I could drink this all night!

Absolutely fantastic. I would absolutely make this a mainstay, provided I could get it on tap regularly or in sixers/twelve packs. The flavor is bold but its contituents are all well balanced and below the cloying threshold. Remarkably similar to some of my favorite schwarzbiers. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:48:57 | More by deciding39

maxk

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +9%

01-14-2013 17:10:03 | More by maxk

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark, dark brown, bordering on black, with the faintest hint of ruddy red coloring. The beer pours with a nice lightly khaki color head that sits a fingers width above the beer with plenty of tightly packed, little bubbles that form a very smooth top to the head. The lacing on the sides of the glass is thin, tightly packed, and moves out with tendrils along the glass. On the nose, the beer smells lightly roasty, with a nice bready tinge and some slight hay notes. As the beer is swirled in the glass I get strong waftings of milk chocolate with the slightest hint of sea salt, which has me very intrigued. The smell is light, lager-clean, and inviting. On the tongue, the beer tastes roasty, but clean and light. The beer begins with light and watery milk chocolate before pulling in watered down and light roasted malts that suggest very light coffee, and is really quite pleasant. The finish of the beer is where it really shines, bringing the roast to a full flavor and hinting at chocolate on the sides of the taste. The aftertaste rings with light roasted chocolate, coffee, and even a slight hint of vanilla. On the mouth, this beer feels light and clean in body, as a lager should, and is honestly a little watery in feel, though paired with the flavors of this beer, that is certainly not a bad thing. After the beer passes, the mouth is left clean with only a light feeling of dryness on the roof of the mouth. Overall, I love this beer. Notch has done it again. All hail the session king. It is smooth, light, and extremely drinkable, and yet still is packed with flavors reminiscent of a big old stout. This beer could be knocked back all night, and is perfect to sip in front of a fire. Try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:00:03 | More by Maxwell

Todd

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

11-21-2012 19:50:54 | More by Todd

mbs11

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

08-01-2012 04:28:18 | More by mbs11

trevorpost

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

06-27-2012 22:24:36 | More by trevorpost

MyMagicalPants

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

06-19-2012 19:47:21 | More by MyMagicalPants

vande

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-14-2012 03:49:24 | More by vande

wesley14

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-31-2012 02:58:47 | More by wesley14

polishkaz

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-30-2012 04:35:05 | More by polishkaz

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Spirit Haus, Amherst, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint, formed a 1/4" brown head over the almost opaque reddish brown brew. Head collapses promptly, with average slow-falling lace. Aroma is rich dark malts with coffee notes.

Taste is sweet dark worty character to start, pop of citrus in the middle, and then cruises through the close with a sedate bitterness. Mouthfeel is very smooth, and drinkability is awesome. Session abv, session flavor, I'm sold.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 20:27:51 | More by ppoitras

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 1" beige head with decent life and replenishing with more pours. The body is dark raw umber brown, almost coffee. Not a lot of smell but what I get is roasted malt, yeast, and a hint at sourness. The taste has very mild roasted malt, slight hint of sour. In the aftertaste black coffee comes out. It's OK.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 01:32:01 | More by MoreThanWine

jongullotti

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-19-2012 20:54:21 | More by jongullotti

Jason

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz brown bomber with a freshness date.

LOOK: Dark brown, garnet highlights. Healthy looking tan froth.

SMELL: Dark bread, mild charcoal, clean, herbal, dried grass

TASTE: Smooth, moderate sized body, carob, mild coffee, toast, light burnt raisins, peppery, kiss of brown sugar, herbal, dry finish

Very easy to drink but that is a given factor here, certainly a bold flavor profile for its size. Great to see Notch broaden their portfolio and further define their intent of brining sessionable beers to the public.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 03:49:59 | More by Jason

tigg924

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: minimal head, high carbonation, red/brown in color, clear

Smell: roasted malt and cocoa

Taste: roasted malt at the start, chocolate and cocoa that comes in the middle with caramel sweetness

Mouthfeel: sweet with slight bitterness, moderate-high carbonation, light bodied

Overall:For the style, this is one of the best I have had. I would make this more the a 3.5- 3.75 if not grading to style. I like to roastiness of this one. Not my favorite from Notch, but certainly one of their better offerings. I would pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:24:45 | More by tigg924

timbre

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-06-2012 22:48:39 | More by timbre

jraras

Massachusetts

1/5  rDev -74.4%

01-27-2012 02:55:34 | More by jraras

spry

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

01-24-2012 05:59:24 | More by spry

calmstock

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

01-22-2012 01:45:32 | More by calmstock

BostonBrewins

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

01-21-2012 16:22:08 | More by BostonBrewins

stickynotes

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

01-19-2012 02:31:23 | More by stickynotes