Night Shift’s Whirlpool and The 87

Excitement. It’s the root word we use to describe all sorts of feelings and experiences. Our first roller coaster ride at the fair was exciting. Experiencing the top of the Empire State Building for the first time was exciting. Your favorite action movie or car race can be exciting. Well, the point of this is to get your attention to a very exciting moment in delicious craft brewed beer. Finally coming to New Hampshire is the long awaited and exciting arrival of brews from Night Shift.
Night Shift Brewing of Everett, Massachusetts has its beginnings in a kitchen in Somerville, MA. During 2007, co-founders Rob Burns, Mike O’Mara, and Michael Oxton began homebrewing at night after their normal work day jobs were done. Their hope was to make beers for friends and family that were more flavorful than the commercial choices on store shelves. By 2012, the trio had moved their hobby to a small warehouse in Everett and launched their business. Their “create better” mindset and passion for great beer for loyal customers soon grew their staff, production, and distribution in the local marketplace. They began to self-distribute their beer in the back of an old Subaru but quickly found the need for expansion in that regard as well. Today, Night Shift Brewing still operates and distributes from their Everett location. They now offer a craft coffee and hard seltzer side to the business and have opened a massive tasting room and eatery at LoveJoy Wharf in Boston. They also support a “pop-up beer garden” where their beer is served and supported by food trucks. Look over their website at NightShiftBrewing.com
Both Whirlpool and The 87 are super delicious IPAs.
Whirlpool gets its name from the action of adding hops just after the boil process is complete and before fermentation. After the boil, the liquid is held around 185°F and spun or whirlpooled while the hops are added. This action creates an abundance of aroma to the finished beer. At 4.5% ABV, Whirlpool is considered to be a ‘session’ beer (any beer under 5% is referred to as a session). It is a hazy straw colored beer with a healthy white head. Aromas of tangerine, grapefruit and mango grace your nose before you sip. Light and dry, mellow and slightly spicy, Whirlpool lathers your tongue with a pillowy tropical freshness. If you still have work to do, this beer makes for a great afternoon break.
The 87 is a double IPA rated at 8% ABV. As delicious as fresh-squeezed orange juice, 87 is hazy juice bomb of aromas and tastes that display brewing excellence. Like its Whirlpool cousin, 87 is a New England IPA with notes of tropical citrus and pineapple, but just a lot more of it (thus the double status). The beer gets its name from the address at the Everett location; 87 Santilli Highway. I loved this beer and of the two, would choose 87 again and again.
BeerAdvocate.com has awarded Whirlpool with a 92 out of 100 and an ‘Outstanding’ badge, while The 87 edges one better at 93. You can buy either of these beers in 16 oz four packs and look for other offerings of Night Shift at Case-n-Keg in Meredith as well as other fine beer providers. And you might have noticed their stylish trademark logo. It’s the night owl of course… very exciting!