Night Shift Brewing Hosting an IPA Showdown

Photo provided

Last week, Night Shift Brewing in Everett divided up their brewing staff into three teams and challenged them all to make one great India Pale Ale. Working in experimental seven-barrel batches, the three teams created a wide range of IPAs, all of which will be released to the public on October 15 in what they’re calling the Santilli Showdown.

For one week only, visitors to the Night Shift taproom (on Santilli Highway) can order a flight of the brewery-only releases and take part in voting for the next addition to the Morph IPA series.

“We release small test-batch IPAs all the time at the brewery, but only the most successful ones go on to be produced at a larger scale for the Morph project, which is rotating IPA line,” says cofounder, Michael Oxton. “This is a more interesting way of doing that and incorporating direct feedback from our guests.”

Besides the opportunity to try some rare one-off beers, Night Shift will also be awarding prizes. After voting ends, three random cards will be chosen from the winning pile and awarded with special taproom gift cards and Night Shift merchandise. And for those who can’t make it to the brewery, The Tip Tap Room will be pouring all three beers on October 17. Flight cards will be handed out that evening and the first 24 to order will get a free Night Shift taster glass.

Below, Oxton describes the three IPA competitors:

• Team Young Guns: “This was created by our two youngest production guys on staff. They used Motueka hops from New Zealand, which have a really unique lemon/lime flavor. They also went with a super simple malt, no caramel malt or anything, just a basic pilsner malt in order to showcase the hops.”
• Team Brothers, Kennison: “The three Kennison brothers went with a more classic American IPA recipe that uses caramel malts for sweetness and Amarillo hops. It’s really juicy IPA with flavors of peach and citrus peel. There’s also a small amount of wheat in it to give it some body.”
• Team Knee Highs: “This isn’t a single-hop beer, but the one they’re focusing on is Polaris, which is a really weird hop. We’ve never used it before. It almost has a spearmint flavor to it. This is just totally different than any other IPA I’ve ever had. As far as the recipe goes, they went with high protein mash additions such as wheat and oats. That gives it a more chewy hops experience.”

Artwork provided

87 Santilli Highway, Everett; 617-294-4233 or nightshiftbrewing.com.