Let's Remember Some Beers (In Memoriam: Old Whales)

[abawol01]

Went to Night Shift/Idle Hands once. I assumed I was in a game of Resident Evil while I was there. That **** was insane.

 

[JulianB1]

Now I'm kind of curious about the old Night Shift location. Anyone have photos?

 

[MikeG1]

Now I'm kind of curious about the old Night Shift location. Anyone have photos?

Actual shot of the bar.

 

[bramsdell]

Now I'm kind of curious about the old Night Shift location. Anyone have photos?

No photos, but also - no AC. I used to go a lot, and it was ******* miserable when it was hot (or cold, even). I went there for some anniversary party once (second, maybe?) and it was straight up over 100 inside. It was 90ish outdoors and going to drink out back was a huge relief

 

[davey101]

Reminds me of my first visit to the original Night Shift Brewery, which was located in basically an abandoned building, right next door to another brewery.

When I went to college in Springfield we use to volunteer at Paper City brewing in Holyoke since they let you take home a case of beer if you drunkenly helped can/box for an hour or so. That place was super sketchy, in a crappy area of the city and in an abandoned paper mill that you had to climb a few levels of stairs. But free beer!! They've closed recently.

Pretty good Yelp review.

"Step 1: Remove all valuables from your person and vehicle. Wear old ratty clothes, preferably no name brands showing. Finish writing your last will and testament. Say final goodbyes to loved ones.

Step 2: Drive through a part of Holyoke that has been described by others as "post apocalyptic." No phrase has ever been more appropriately used than to describe some of the neighborhoods surrounding Paper City Brewery.

Step 3: Find address using GPS. If you get lost do not ask for directions. Use air conditioning. Do not roll down your windows. Park in a shady location. No I am not talking about under a tree. Trees don't grow here. They moved away to a nicer neighborhood. Say goodbye to your car. Walk up 1,000 flights of stairs. This is why people were always skinny in old pictures - no elevators.

You have arrived. Pay the man $7 and you get admission and a plastic cup in return. All you can drink beer between 6pm-8pm. Menu varies night to night. Some beers are not labeled. Bring snacks and some cards, or maybe a board game. If you're lucky enough to get a table. On the way out, pick out 4 beers to take home.

Step 4: Walk down 1,000 flights of stairs. Hopefully your car is still there. Hopefully."

No chugging allowed

 

[KevSal]

When I went to college in Springfield we use to volunteer at Paper City brewing in Holyoke since they let you take home a case of beer if you drunkenly helped can/box for an hour or so. That place was super sketchy, in a crappy area of the city and in an abandoned paper mill that you had to climb a few levels of stairs. But free beer!! They've closed recently.

Pretty good Yelp review.

"Step 1: Remove all valuables from your person and vehicle. Wear old ratty clothes, preferably no name brands showing. Finish writing your last will and testament. Say final goodbyes to loved ones.

Step 2: Drive through a part of Holyoke that has been described by others as "post apocalyptic." No phrase has ever been more appropriately used than to describe some of the neighborhoods surrounding Paper City Brewery.

Step 3: Find address using GPS. If you get lost do not ask for directions. Use air conditioning. Do not roll down your windows. Park in a shady location. No I am not talking about under a tree. Trees don't grow here. They moved away to a nicer neighborhood. Say goodbye to your car. Walk up 1,000 flights of stairs. This is why people were always skinny in old pictures - no elevators.

You have arrived. Pay the man $7 and you get admission and a plastic cup in return. All you can drink beer between 6pm-8pm. Menu varies night to night. Some beers are not labeled. Bring snacks and some cards, or maybe a board game. If you're lucky enough to get a table. On the way out, pick out 4 beers to take home.

Step 4: Walk down 1,000 flights of stairs. Hopefully your car is still there. Hopefully."

No chugging allowed

i was all in until the no chugging

seriously tho, super sketchy!

 

[flexabull]

When I went to college in Springfield we use to volunteer at Paper City brewing in Holyoke since they let you take home a case of beer if you drunkenly helped can/box for an hour or so. That place was super sketchy, in a crappy area of the city and in an abandoned paper mill that you had to climb a few levels of stairs. But free beer!! They've closed recently.

Pretty good Yelp review.

"Step 1: Remove all valuables from your person and vehicle. Wear old ratty clothes, preferably no name brands showing. Finish writing your last will and testament. Say final goodbyes to loved ones.

Step 2: Drive through a part of Holyoke that has been described by others as "post apocalyptic." No phrase has ever been more appropriately used than to describe some of the neighborhoods surrounding Paper City Brewery.

Step 3: Find address using GPS. If you get lost do not ask for directions. Use air conditioning. Do not roll down your windows. Park in a shady location. No I am not talking about under a tree. Trees don't grow here. They moved away to a nicer neighborhood. Say goodbye to your car. Walk up 1,000 flights of stairs. This is why people were always skinny in old pictures - no elevators.

You have arrived. Pay the man $7 and you get admission and a plastic cup in return. All you can drink beer between 6pm-8pm. Menu varies night to night. Some beers are not labeled. Bring snacks and some cards, or maybe a board game. If you're lucky enough to get a table. On the way out, pick out 4 beers to take home.

Step 4: Walk down 1,000 flights of stairs. Hopefully your car is still there. Hopefully."

No chugging allowed

That is equal parts awesome and terrifying.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Another whale lost to the sands of time...

 

[Stewmeister91]

Another whale lost to the sands of time...

Wow forgot about this one and those years when Sam Adams used that odd shaped bottle

 

[stupac2]

Another whale lost to the sands of time...

Was that ever really a whale? I traded for it with RR stuff I think. I think that's when I decided that those two breweries weren't any good.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Was that ever really a whale? I traded for it with RR stuff I think. I think that's when I decided that those two breweries weren't any good.

There were a LOT of ISO's for that beer, even though most people said it sucked. What you get for a gruit brewed with rosewater. At least they were trying ****, I guess?

 

[FoudreGuy]

I remember being super excited when a brewer I know gave me this. I think he was entertained at how much I geeked out over it years ago. Drank it in 2014 and it was just fine.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

Anyone else remember those first two Hellshire releases? I wish I could forget. Bad BA Barleywine and an infected coffee stout.

I remember that the first Hellshire was one of the first releases that got great reviews from locals to up the trade value. I don't want to remember what I traded for it.

 

[thebandit1]

When I went to college in Springfield we use to volunteer at Paper City brewing in Holyoke since they let you take home a case of beer if you drunkenly helped can/box for an hour or so. That place was super sketchy, in a crappy area of the city and in an abandoned paper mill that you had to climb a few levels of stairs. But free beer!! They've closed recently.

Pretty good Yelp review.

"Step 1: Remove all valuables from your person and vehicle. Wear old ratty clothes, preferably no name brands showing. Finish writing your last will and testament. Say final goodbyes to loved ones.

Step 2: Drive through a part of Holyoke that has been described by others as "post apocalyptic." No phrase has ever been more appropriately used than to describe some of the neighborhoods surrounding Paper City Brewery.

Step 3: Find address using GPS. If you get lost do not ask for directions. Use air conditioning. Do not roll down your windows. Park in a shady location. No I am not talking about under a tree. Trees don't grow here. They moved away to a nicer neighborhood. Say goodbye to your car. Walk up 1,000 flights of stairs. This is why people were always skinny in old pictures - no elevators.

You have arrived. Pay the man $7 and you get admission and a plastic cup in return. All you can drink beer between 6pm-8pm. Menu varies night to night. Some beers are not labeled. Bring snacks and some cards, or maybe a board game. If you're lucky enough to get a table. On the way out, pick out 4 beers to take home.

Step 4: Walk down 1,000 flights of stairs. Hopefully your car is still there. Hopefully."

No chugging allowed

I remember the Crooked Stave brewery in a sketchy part of Denver sandwiched between to large grow operations (before recreational was legal here). Wife dropped me off to me my old trustee and went to shop at Cherry Creek.

 

[Stubs]

I remember the Crooked Stave brewery in a sketchy part of Denver sandwiched between to large grow operations (before recreational was legal here). Wife dropped me off to me my old trustee and went to shop at Cherry Creek.

I like how it used to be right next to the people that made the oak barrels that they used.

 

[fogindex]

I remember being super excited when a brewer I know gave me this. I think he was entertained at how much I geeked out over it years ago. Drank it in 2014 and it was just fine.

A vintage keg was recently on tap at the Toronado and it's still banging.

 

[tehzachatak]

Now I'm kind of curious about the old Night Shift location. Anyone have photos?

Here's the inside:

But the inside, as beat as it was, was not really the problem. It's pretty hard to describe how wild the entrance to that place was without pictures... Think "abandoned mental hospital" style weird

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

Anyone else remember those first two Hellshire releases? I wish I could forget. Bad BA Barleywine and an infected coffee stout.

I remember that the first Hellshire was one of the first releases that got great reviews from locals to up the trade value. I don't want to remember what I traded for it.

I remember trying like hell to trade for that barleywine and getting crickets offering up pretty decent brewery only beers (HF one offs With higher limits as well as other limited beers) and only responses I got were for like 4 of them packaged together for 1 hellshire. glad I passed

 

[ExPimp]

Anyone else remember those first two Hellshire releases? I wish I could forget. Bad BA Barleywine and an infected coffee stout.

I remember that the first Hellshire was one of the first releases that got great reviews from locals to up the trade value. I don't want to remember what I traded for it.

Traded for both.... I think the barleywine was just a hot mess and the RIS was infected. I stopped by their booth at the last GABF (nostalgia for the old days) and the barrel aged stuff they had was really quite good. End up stopping back a few times since there was never anyone in line. No idea if they bottle anymore since I haven't seen their name on any board in year, but I'd gladly trade for the stuff they were pouring.

 

[Brez071]

Speaking of old buildings, wonder how new money would react to seeing OG Hill Farmstead...

 

[stakem1]

Anyone else remember those first two Hellshire releases? I wish I could forget. Bad BA Barleywine and an infected coffee stout.

I remember that the first Hellshire was one of the first releases that got great reviews from locals to up the trade value. I don't want to remember what I traded for it.

“The second comings of Wooden Hell.”
AMIRITE?

A buddy of mine bought a case of it, drank 1 and shipped me the rest. Think I still have 2-3 of them lol

 

[FoudreGuy]

Traded for both.... I think the barleywine was just a hot mess and the RIS was infected. I stopped by their booth at the last GABF (nostalgia for the old days) and the barrel aged stuff they had was really quite good. End up stopping back a few times since there was never anyone in line. No idea if they bottle anymore since I haven't seen their name on any board in year, but I'd gladly trade for the stuff they were pouring.

Hellshire still gets bottled every year with WA/OR distribution and they throw a party down in Eugene. Oakshire in general makes good stuff that’s get canned but mostly ignored by internet beer people. Their Sunmade cucumber berlinerweisse is one of my favorite summer crushers.

 

[falc0n26001]

Hellshire still gets bottled every year with WA/OR distribution and they throw a party down in Eugene. Oakshire in general makes good stuff that’s get canned but mostly ignored by internet beer people. Their Sunmade cucumber berlinerweisse is one of my favorite summer crushers.

And now, Alesong is killing it! And nobody outside the west coast gives a ****!

 

[KevSal]

I remember being super excited when a brewer I know gave me this. I think he was entertained at how much I geeked out over it years ago. Drank it in 2014 and it was just fine.

yes!! after that savor bottle thisnone came to mind immediately, impossible to trade for

 

[KevSal]

Here's the inside:

But the inside, as beat as it was, was not really the problem. It's pretty hard to describe how wild the entrance to that place was without pictures... Think "abandoned mental hospital" style weird

 

[GetchaPull]

Speaking of old buildings, wonder how new money would react to seeing OG Hill Farmstead...

Loved rolling into the barn and meeting Phil and maybe one other couple for the first handful of visits. BS with Phil and drink with no lines for hours on end. So chill.

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

Loved rolling into the barn and meeting Phil and maybe one other couple for the first handful of visits. BS with Phil and drink with no lines for hours on end. So chill.

Was that the original space or the first addition. I remember heading there for bottles of fear and trembling in dec 2010 after the heady topper bottle release at the alchemist brewpub. The retail space was 4’x6’ and was a 3’ wooden wall that separated you from the rest of the brewery. My biggest regret was not having more cash that day. Shaun had bottles of 3F 50th for sale for like $150 a bottle

 

[GetchaPull]

Was that the original space or the first addition. I remember heading there for bottles of fear and trembling in dec 2010 after the heady topper bottle release at the alchemist brewpub. The retail space was 4’x6’ and was a 3’ wooden wall that separated you from the rest of the brewery. My biggest regret was not having more cash that day. Shaun had bottles of 3F 50th for sale for like $150 a bottle

Sounds like it was the first addition...October of 2011.

 

[iong516]

Was that the original space or the first addition. I remember heading there for bottles of fear and trembling in dec 2010 after the heady topper bottle release at the alchemist brewpub. The retail space was 4’x6’ and was a 3’ wooden wall that separated you from the rest of the brewery. My biggest regret was not having more cash that day. Shaun had bottles of 3F 50th for sale for like $150 a bottle

Finds ATM an hour away, drives back to hill

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

Finds ATM an hour away, drives back to hill

We got there 20-30 minutes before closing