Fun outdoor bench area with gravel underfoot and views of the water, in addition to indoor seating options. Outdoors is dog friendly and I made some furry friends while sitting out for a drink! The German style beers they have on tap included some unique finds and some styles you don't see too often. Bartenders were very friendly and helpful when I was trying to decide what to get, as lagers and ales are not my usual go tos but made up the majority of the offerings. I got the Salem Ale, a helles style, in a half pour- I love that they offer this smaller size since their other glasses are absolutely massive! This was an easy drinking, smooth beer with low hops, just what I wanted for a hot summer day when I only had limited time to spend here. My drinking partner also enjoyed their selection, and we really enjoyed the location. Would love to go back, very chill vibes and the people there were all so friendly and happy, patrons and employees alike - a rare occurrence in Massachusetts! read more

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I liked the beer, very solid red ale and dunkel selections. The water view from the patio tables is excellent and provides a nice breeze. Meanwhile, the Biergarten itself is basically a kids playground, which may be bad or good, depends on what you're looking for.... The food, well maybe some of it is nice, but we got the smoked trout spread and it wasn't for us. Mostly creamy (edited: owner says no mayo), no clear fish flakes, small arrangement with a few crostini and cornichons. Very disappointed, especially for the price. So overall, we'll try again, not everything works, but we'll stick to the good beer and German food options. read more

Notch Brewing - Patio view - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Awesome brewery in Salam, might be my favorite in Salem. It faces a little waterway, which is awesome on a gorgeous day. The space is huge and there's seating inside and out. Great options for beer and they're priced reasonably well. Do yourself a favor and stop by Notch. read more

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This brewery is in such a fantastic location, right along the water with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Dog friendly as well which is great to see. They have a couple of board games and dart boards inside to use which is nice to play while you are drinking beers with your friends. They specialize in German and Czech beers which is cool, but they could use a few more options though, majority of their beers were only 4.5% and a few of the beers tasted similar to one another. They definitely could step up their food game for sure; I'm not saying they need a full blown menu but more snack options would be a great addition here. We got to go during their Polish festival which was nice, but super packed, they had a Polka band and brought in tents to sell some amazingly delish pirogies- but that was only a one day thing. They also added a few Polish beers on tap for the day as well. read more

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Finally got the beer poke! Went to the holiday market event for the second time and tried the magnificent heating of a dark lager. This location's kitchen serves up sausages, kraut, and tinned fish, along with a healthy selection of its german-inspired brews. Dog-friendly outside year round(and with heat lamps), and the service is friendly. read more

Notch Brewing - meeting Krampus - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Notch is such a great brewery in Salem, and well worth the visit. I come here every time I am in Salem, and always enjoy the beer and the food! Last time I came here, I loved the beer so much, I bought a bunch to take home. The service is always friendly and nice. The ambience is relaxing and quiet. There's indoor and outdoor seating, there are board games, which is fun to make the visit last longer. Will definitely be back! read more

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This is an awesome brewery right in Salem, we saw it driving in and had heard good things so we decided to give it a try. You walk down essentially a driveway to get there, but that's because you get to enjoy the views of the canal while you drink your beer. Their HUGE outdoor patio is right on the water which is really cool. Their indoor space is gorgeous and roomy. They had great merch, my husband walked away with a hat, but there was plenty to choose from and lots of cute options. The beer is for everyone. They also had traditional Berliner Weisse, which is a beer with flavor added, and it was SO GOOD. I drank these all the time in Germany, so I was very excited to find a place that served them stateside. My husband tried a couple different styles as well and they were all fantastic. Such a cool spot, I'm very jealous we don't have one closer to home to enjoy! read more

Place had a cool atmosphere, it was a busy saturday afternoon! The beers we had were all local recommendations and were good! read more

Notch Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We walked into Notch after a long morning or walking around Salem. The Saturday crowds were too much! Notch is tucked away on the water and was busy but we didn't wait long for food or beer and we found an indoor table no problem. It's all counter service so we ordered and then were given a number. All of the food was delicious. The wurst platter was the standout. The bartender was able to give a solid recommendation when a beer I wanted was kicked. Highly recommend! read more

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Always down for a brewery and notch was it good selection of beers quick turn around for a salem halloween weekend and just good team to get you beers and apps fast get the blood orange slush or pint and sit outside if you can take the cool weather read more

Notch Brewing - beer and pretzels on a cool fall day yes please - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Very nice location for beers on the bay. Beers were good. Service was great, kind, knowledgeable and friendly. The outside is the star of the show. We would come back for sure!! read more

Notch Brewing - Sausage plate with a pretzel on the boardwalk. - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

The food was ..okay. The atmosphere was boring, and the beer was just okay. This isn't worth the hype.

Nice brewery on the water in Salem! They specialize in Belgian/German-style beers. Not usually my jam, and the only beers they had outside of that category was one IPA and one radler. The blood orange radler I got was light and refreshing, not too fruity. The pretzel bites were delicious! Perfectly salty and the mustard was well matched for it. Just a heads up so you can plan accordingly, they are 21+ after 6pm, if you tote your little one everywhere like I do. read more

You have to stop by here for a beer! The place is located right on the water with gorgeous views. It has a ton of outdoor and indoor seating and offers lots of free board/card games to play. We loved the drinks we got and would definitely come back. read more

Notch Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Amazing people with great values and some of the best beers in one of the best states for craft beer. Great great service and amazing patio/views when the air gets warmer. Patronize and celebrate these guys - they're doing everything right. read more

Service is great. The servers are very friendly and love the beer. Highly recommended going.

Cool biergarten on the South River Canal with picnic tables and umbrellas for outdoor seating and close to Pickering Wharf Marina. Sit outside with all the happy people and bring your dog to this friendly biergarten. The first U.S. brewing company to focus on session beer, lighter beer under 5.0% ABV. "Dog and Pony Show" was a Great IPA tropical tasting with hints of mango. Perfect on a hot and humid summer day. There are 2 different fillings of pierogis offered at Notch, the mushroom and cabbage or Ruskie (potato and cheese). I was not a fan of the mushroom and cabbage filling because you cannot taste any flavor of mushroom , just stick with the Ruskie and all is good. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++So, why 3/5 stars ? ONE STAR removal for the benches. Please be cautious if sitting outside on an outdoor BENCH they are NOT STURDY and can easily FLIP. They need to run support beams underneath the bench or add weight to the bench. (see pic) After speaking with female bartender (see pic) she said the benches flip quite often. (insert confused emoji face here). Luckily my friend's knees were not cut from gravel and stone. ONE STAR removal for bartender not filling the beer back up when the bench tipped over. (insert unamused face emoji) read more

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Party of 6. Beer is good for East coast but could be a lot better and the food needs improving for sure. Was really let down even though it's all snack stuff. The beer cheese for the pretzel was not good and the pretzels were overly salted. read more

Consistently great beer in styles that don't just follow national trends. Lots of quality sessionable styles as well. Worth a visit or a store purchase. read more

Good place to sit and enjoy one of their brews. Located right in the heart of old Salem. We sat outside enjoying the water view. They also have indoor seating. The service was friendly and efficient. The two beers we tried were very good. read more

Notch Brewing - Belgian Saison and a Kölsch Cologne-Style Kölsch 4.5% Willi Becher - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Visited this brewery while in town seeing Salem and the beers were really good! I liked the indoor outdoor space they had. Also the staff was very friendly. A great spot to give a try! read more

Notch Brewing - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

what is not to like... great beer selection that strives to give you something exceptional (read, not ordinary to underwhelming IPAs). If you like European style beer this is your place. Vibe is chill. In good weather, enjoy outdoor sitting. read more

One of the best breweries in the country IMO. Those beers haunt me in me my sleep. Honestly can't express how great those beers were. read more

Notch Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I have been a patron at Notch since they opened and for the last many years I have been a regular with Meters for Liters on Wednesday evenings. I cannot speak highly enough about Notch, their offerings, or their staff; all are of the highest caliber in product and service! Notch is a vital part of the community of Salem and reflective of their owner and his polish heritage, which he proudly shares. It's both unique and a joy to experience. Chris has traveled to the countries that inspire his brews and we are lucky enough to have this in our backyard and be able to experience all that he has learned. The taproom food offerings are perfect pairings for the beers; soft delicious pretzels, pierogi, local veg, and sausages. The atmosphere is that of a Biergarten; lively , full of character, and an a great way to spend an afternoon! The setup on the water is lovely when the weather is nice! Overall a wonderful spot to drop into and spend an afternoon at! The staff are also wonderful & knowledgeable! read more

Great beer, great vibe, great people - outdoor seating, indoor too with board games and snacks. So good - can't wait to go back!

Great quality beer, they support the community and local small businesses and newer breweries. Great beer and great company.

Great craft selection, great service and wonderful location! Especially in the spring/summer/ fall with outdoor waterfront seating.

Come for the beer, stay for the food and ambiance. Notch continues to be my go-to brewery on the North Shore. They do mid-central European beers well, especially their Düsseldorf style Altbier and the Ungespundet. The bierhall and garden along the river remain very cozy, welcoming spaces with the occasional themed market or beer spotlight event (Altbier-day, for example). There are a variety of glass sizes and they offer beer to-go in cans and in on-demand 32 oz cans. They also have a decent food menu including a variety of sausages and pickled meats. We tried out the Leberkase sandwich (German spam sandwich, recommended) and NAKLÁDANÝ HERMELÍN (Czech marinated cheese served in a jar to be spread over toasted rye slices, worth a try though a bit rich and salty). read more

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I love everything about Notch! First, they have an incredible lineup of authentic, deliciously flavorful, primarily German and Czech beers. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with exposed brick, a wood stove in winter, an amazing outdoor patio in summer right by the water, and always great music playing. And the servers are the best! the friendliest and most knowledgeable around. This is my #1 brewery! read more

As we have been visiting the area, I looked up breweries near me on my phone and it said this place is 365 Feet away. Which appeared that I need to stop here and that was our next stop. Notch Brewing stands out as a beacon for craft beer enthusiasts seeking a unique blend of quality brews and historical ambiance. From the moment you step into this brewery, you're greeted by an inviting atmosphere that seamlessly marries the contemporary craft beer scene with the rich history of Salem. The first thing that strikes you is the brewery's industrial-chic aesthetic, with exposed brick walls, rustic wooden accents, and large communal tables that encourage a convivial atmosphere. Notch Brewing's commitment to authenticity is evident, and it perfectly complements the city's eclectic vibe. The star of the show, of course, is the beer. Notch Brewing specializes in session beers, lower-alcohol brews designed for extended enjoyment without sacrificing flavor. The brewery's diverse and rotating selection caters to various tastes, from hop-forward ales to maltier lagers. Whether you're a seasoned beer aficionado or a casual drinker, the knowledgeable staff is always ready to guide you through the menu and help you find your perfect brew. Believe they opened their doors 7 years ago. This was our first brewery to visit in Salem, MA. I didn't do much research on breweries in the area but I was happy with this selection. The outdoor beer garden is a highlight, especially during the warmer months. The spacious patio, adorned with string lights, provides a charming setting to savor your beer while soaking in the local atmosphere. It's not uncommon to see groups of friends, families, and even four-legged companions enjoying the laid-back vibe. read more

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Probably the best brewpub I've ever visited, out of hundreds. Scores, anyway. The brews ranged from very good to excellent. German and Czech menu offerings were indistinguishable from what you'd expect from a German or Czech kitchen. Best pretzel bites I've ever had, and dip them into the obatzda for extra deliciousness. They have real dartboards, and the highest quality bar darts I've ever encountered (but I used my own). Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highest recommendation! read more

I went on a more unusual route and got nonalcoholic beer with the options they offer here. It's an idea I am certainly open to in exploring but my excursions into nonalcoholic craft beer land I haven't found exciting in the past and unfortunately it's the same case here with this recent experience. It tasted dull, uninspired and wasn't appealing really. I used to have similar feelings with gluten free beer but that turned itself around when I finally had good gluten free beer in more recent times. I hope someday this will be the case with nonalcoholic beer options but for now the best avenue with that for me is exploring nonalcoholic Kombucha. The nonalcoholic beer I had from Notch was Pilsner. The pilsner is crisp and those that like this kind of thing would probably find it refreshing. The beer is bright in color. * Update* The owner feels that my review should count towards an entire experience but I have the firm belief in order to earn more stars and have a strongly positive review it would be a place where it doesn't really matter what you order... that anything you would place an order for would be good and impressive. It definitely diminishes the amount of stars I issue if it's a situation where some products are " hit and miss". And while I appreciate atmosphere and decent service the bottom line is having a good product in everything you do. I have been to plenty of places that are hole in the walls and occasionally staff that are impatient but still produce awesome products. read more

Great service! Ambiance is perfect during end of this September! Such great weather! The smoked trout dip was delish and the beer was great! read more

Notch Brewing - Smoked Trout Dip & great ! - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Nice food spot in Salem with an outdoor sitting area in range of the ocean smell. Sandwich exceeded expectations. Would recommend. read more

Notch Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Authentic German Beir!!! Hell yeah! Thus has become one of my favorite stops in town. The beer is great service is fast overall just exceptional. Don't miss the opportunity to stop at this craftwork brewery! read more

Notch Brewing is a great day drinking spot especially on a nice day. They have a nice outdoor area with benches where you can enjoy your beer and food. The sausage sandwich was good. Nice combo of flavors. The pretzel was your standard pretzel. The beers are served in big glasses/mugs so be ready to drink. Food is limited to shared bites. They do not have extensive menu so eat before or after you come. Cool spot if you are into beers. read more

Great lagers, chill vibe and a great bar game selection. Good stop for a beer if you're in the area. read more

Notch Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Best radler ever...this is dangerous! Pretzel bites were fresh and delicious, if a bit over salted. Cheese board was a good snack. I just wish the apricots hadn't been spoiled by the juices of the pickled onion. IMO, the onions should go in a tiny bowl. Overall, we enjoyed our afternoon break from touring. Sitting in the shade by the water took it to a higher level. read more

Notch Brewing - Picturesque view of the area. - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Phenomenal, tremendous, amazing. From the staff to the beer quality, notch is truly the best brewery I have encountered living in New England for the last 10 years. I'm a snob with my beer, and everytime I'm blown away by Notch's high-quality brews, venue and always friendly staff. I appreciate that they keep favorites like Cerne Pivo on seasonal rotation while also trying new things simultaneously. Keep it up Notch---Cheers--- read more

Notch Brewing - Cerne Pivo - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Unique food. Fantastic beer. Wonderful service. Great location. What more is there to say? Would visit again in a heartbeat. read more

Notch Brewing - Deck view next to the water - Breweries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts