We had been a few times after they opened and were frankly less than wowed. On a whim, we decided to try Notch 8 again. What a difference. First the craft beers were significantly improved and the partnership with Pepperjacks for food is inspired. While we didn't try the boozy shakes, we will definitely partake next time. Love the friendly staff and the wide roll up doors on a nice evening. It was hopping, but not crazy on a Thursday night. read more

I enjoy sitting outside on their patio when the weather is nice. It's busy on weekends but never feels crowded. I am not much for beer myself, but their boozy milkshakes and bar food are pretty good, with reasonable prices. They also have a small number of cocktails for non-beer drinkers. You can use the QR code on your table to order or you can order at the bar. Parking behind or on the side of the building is never an issue. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Patty Melt - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Delicious IPA! Inside kinda has a funky smell, but the beer made it all better. They have a nice patio and a full menu, although I only had the beer. read more

This must be a popular spot! On a Monday it was pretty packed. Pets, babies, literally everyone and their mama was in here! Modern vibes with a QR scannable option to view the menu, order and pay! I love the convenience but at times, I prefer the old school face to face! I felt because of the contactless setup, service felt very standoffish. Nobody greeted us when we walked in. We just sat down and placed our orders. Meh! Parking was easy! No happy hour that I noticed, but prices aren't outrageous! The menu is limited. There's beer and cider, some wine, mules and sangria. I tried the citrus sangria and it was good. I was a lil hungry. The margherita flatbread was just ok. I probably wouldn't get it again. I might visit again but not in a hurry! read more

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I have driven by this place and have always wanted to check it out. I finnally did...out of all the breweries in the area this place has a cool vibe and good drinks and good prices Food was hot and good. Rockfish was ok Sandwhich was good and messy but will other something else next time.. Beers are good read more

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Let me start by saying I'm not typically a fan of breweries -- I don't drink beer, and the overall vibe usually isn't my scene. That said, Notch 8 unfortunately didn't change my mind. It's not a place I'd return to. The biggest issue was the service. You order through their website, which is fine in theory, but it feels like the staff is trained to ignore you. While I appreciate a tech-forward approach, it would be nice if someone were available to answer questions or offer basic assistance. When I walked up to the bar area to ask for help, the staff member I approached abruptly walked away. When she returned, she said nothing -- just stared blankly. After a few awkward seconds, I asked for a box. Without a word, she turned to get them, held them for a while as she chatted with a coworker, and finally handed them to me. The food didn't make up for the poor service. We ordered the nachos, crab dip flatbread, and the patty melt, and every dish was underwhelming. The nachos were as basic as they come. The flatbread was overcooked to the point of being uncomfortably crunchy, and the crab dip was overly salty. The patty melt had potential but was completely lacking in seasoning. Overall, between the indifferent service and the lackluster food, Notch 8 just didn't deliver -- even by casual brewery standards. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Andrew runs a really good establishment here. And Olivia the bar manager is so sweet. Love this place for work and a great beer. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Their beers are amazing. Very refreshing. - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

A new to me brewery - tried it and don't feel the need to go back. Food was fine - lots of chips but tasted like it was all from a can (which I can make at home fairly easily for less). Beer was fine, too. Didn't hate anything, but didn't live anything either. They rewrote my flight card but didn't put the beers in the order of the card. Service was slower than I would expect for the amount of other customers. Had a second round at another nearby brewery instead. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Notch' os and beer flight - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Service is always pretty quick and friendly! The atmosphere is always amazing to be in! Trivia on Tuesdays! The apps you can't go wrong with! Fried pickles, crab dip, honey old bay wings, all amazing! read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Raspberry wheat, Air Monkey, Honey Old Bay wings! - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

This do-it-yourself establishment is worth the visit. From the parking, to the seating, to ordering, to drinks, to entertainment, to the bar... it is self service with a smile. Nestled off of 32 in a business district between Columbia and Annapolis. There are TV's, table games, indoor/outdoor, takeout, fire pit, bar seating, and dine - in experiences! We ordered the rockfish sandwich, chicken tenders, infused beers, onion rings, boardwalk fries and of course the Moscow mules. Everything was made to perfection + seasoned well. We were a bit confused with the process as a first timer, but quickly got acclimated. The vibe was very chill, so whether you come with yourself, little people or little pets, it is totally worth the visit! #enjoygoodpeople read more

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Great brewery in the both new and historic community of Annapolis Junction. There is plenty of seating and a sandwich shop and coffee shop attached. Nice brick and railroad station decor too. The one bartender the day after Christmas did a great job serving everyone. The beers in the two flights we tried and boozy apple pie shake we tried were amazing. read more

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I went here with a very close friend for a Wednesday night meet up, to drink and catch up. We tried a few of the appetizers and beers, and they were all top notch. The beers I had, a larger and a dunkle, were outstanding. Very, very good beers here. All in all, a great place to go for beer, excellent service, and food. read more

At Notch 8 Brewery the table became an altar to appetite, and the offerings arrived in abundance. The wings, cloaked in blackened Cajun seasoning, tore easily from the bone, radiating the kind of elemental satisfaction that reduces language to silence and grease-slicked fingers. Beside them, the crab dip gleamed like molten gold, scooped up with bread and fries as though dredged from some maritime abyss. Even the rockfish bites, humble in description, carried the gravitas of classic fish and chips--familiar, reassuring, but never tedious. The boardwalk fries, in their endless repetition of crisp salt and starch, seemed less like food than a reminder that all human joy is fleeting but still worth pursuing, one bite at a time. The pint of IPA stood tall, frothing amber against the encroaching night, a bitter reminder of both mortality and refreshment. Service was swift and unobtrusive, the unseen machinery of hospitality turning smoothly; the meal unfolded without delay, as if fate itself wanted no interruption. In such a moment, one wonders how long pleasure can hold off the encroaching silence of time--but one dips another fry, and decides to wait until later for the answer. It is a rare and lovely thing when a simple meal feels fully complete. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - My receipt - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

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I was in town visiting family,the food is good and enjoyed the atmosphere, service is great. I rate this place top notch

What an awesome place! It is a brewery with a restaurant next to it. There is an open doorway or hallway in between so you don't need to go outside to order or get food. I loved their beer options and they had awesome dark beers. They also have board games so the kids could play too. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Excellent vibes. Nicole is about the best bartender I've ever encountered. Had the Chesapeake pizza. Interesting run on crab pizza. Super good but rich. Finance had the French dip and she loved it. read more

This spot is really a gem. Good vibe, Good drinks, Great food. I like like this is the perfect spot for a business meeting, couples date, or even a girls night out. They don't have a full bar so it's not really a guys night out type of place unless you really like beer and mules (I'm just more of a whiskey person, but the drinks here ARE good). Not to take away from anything going on here, I like the more easy going adult vibe that I get here. I also LOVE how they have their order/pay system set up. You can start a tab by phone, and then pay at the end without having to wait or have someone push one of this scanners in your face with 20% tip already selected. You also don't have to worry about splitting up the check at the end because everyone in your party can run their own tab, and that's BEAUTIFUL, because it's always so much confusion when that check comes. The food here is really good. I came here a few times this month and haven't found anything I wouldn't order again. So if you see my pictures, just know it was fire. Glad to have this place around, and can't wait to come back for another round. read more

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A nice little brewery with about a dozen options on tap. There's ample space inside with a nice patio available outside. There is a sandwich shop in the same space offering sandwiches, salad, and soup. They also offer a summer concert series and pub bingo (Monday nights) read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Sour Puss and Main Squeeze IPA - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Do NOT get the crab dip. Yikes. Terrible. Fishy. Canned maybe? I hope it's canned cuz otherwise it was straight up bad. Off. Old. Yiiiiikes. It was inedible. Unacceptable for a MD establishment. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Not good. Crab dip. - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

The food and beer were great. Service for drinks at the bar was warm and efficient. The space is very pleasant-lots of places to hand and chat with friends while still feeling connected to the whole vibe read more

We love this hidden gem. Serves great food and great BEER! Indoor and outdoor seating with a very pleasant staff. It's our go to.

Great spot! There are lots of drink choices. I loved that they made some cocktails with their beer. I tried a beer/bloody mary drink. It was super refreshing, perfect for an afternoon. I also tried the cider, which was descent. My husband got the sour, it was crisp and flavorful, just how a sour should be. Food was excellent. Rockfish bites are a must IMO. The pulled pork sandwich knocked it out of the park, and the fries were great. They don't have a kids menu, so I asked if they could make mine a grilled cheese, which they couldn't bc they didn't have a button for that (??). Either way, I saw avo toast on their brunch menu and got that for him, which he loved, so it all worked out. It's attached to a sandwich shop and a coffee shop. All seem clean and nice. We tried to get a coffee on our way out but they were closing up. Next time! read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Their boozy shakes. They are huge. Def share with someone. lol!!!! Their food is great. I couldn't eat it all. Their portions are huge. Def a shareable dinner for sure. read more

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Our visit all the breweries quest continues with this spot! I had no idea there was this little live/work/play spot in Annapolis Junction. Atmosphere: so nice. Big walls that open to the outside with patio seating. Big communal tables. Nice and chill but clearly a local hangout. Beer list was diverse and I enjoyed the sour. You know that's my go to. The biggest surprise was the food. Omg. So good. Easy mobile ordering and table delivery. And the milkshake!!! Fried pickles were excellent. Great sandwiches. Good sized too. 100% will be back. read more

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One of my new favorite spots. Met my friend there for a Thursday night football game and it lived up to the hype. He has been there a few times and recommended it. Since it's pretty close to my house I decided to give it a try. It's right off route 32 in the Annapolis Junction shopping g center. There was plenty of street parking as well as a large parking garage. It wasn't too crowded so I chose on of the seats at the bar. They have craft beers that they brew in site. It is attached to Pepper Jacks restaurant and they share a kitchen so you are able to order food. I ordered some fries to nibble on and a beer called the Main Squeeze lol. The name drew me in and the flavor had me wanting a second. On this particular night they had a live band performing. The bar tender told me they usually have live music Thursday to Saturday. The bar tender was very helpful in telling me about the history of the brewery and the different craft beers they produce. They will allow you to have tastes of various beers to make your decision on what to get. If you can't decide you are able to get a flight of several that you like. Nice spot to meet up to watch a game Ot a after work happy hour. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Chilling with my Main Squeeze - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Great bar and a ton of fun! The servers were superb and very attentive. Will be coming back soon.

We stopped in this place and were pleasantly surprised when Will the manager greeted us.I collect pint beer glasses and I am starting a coll of ones from every county in MD I chose Notch8 to represent Howard County. The brewery was clean inside and outside and decorated really cool. Will was friendly and shared the backstory of the brewery and the hard working family behind it. we sure will be back here and if you're in the area, check it out, it's worth the trip! read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Will the manager and myself. - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Didn't get to eat here. Website says they are open for lunch, and the menu is all lunch items. But you can't eat until dinner.

My first time at Notch 8 earlier this week. Calm, chill atmosphere. I ordered a strawberry Moscow mule. Very strong! I could not drink it all but it was good. The soft pretzel was awesome! Very good flavor! The pizza my husband ordered was also great..love.mozzarella cheese! Drinks and food were brought in a timely manner and our server was helpful. I will go there again. read more

I've been wanting to come and try this brewery for quite sometime! I finally made it in recently, because I missed my train and had 30 minutes to "waste" and since it was in walking distance it was the perfect thing to do with my new found extra time! I only tried the beer sangria since I was on a schedule. Service was good! The atmosphere was in the restaurant was friendly, seating is plentiful, and they have a cute outdoor patio situation as well. I'll definitely be back to try their other beers and beer cocktails and to give a more thorough review to include food and beer tastes! But so far, worth the stop in! read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Beer Sangria - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

In a word... meh. Red beer/bloody beer was mostly hot sauce. Bang bang shrimp were just buffalo shrimp and the atmosphere is really weird. No better than any other of the hundred breweries in the area. read more

Well found this place while driving home from work and decided to call a friend and give it a try. Besides its Friday. They used a QR code for menu and ordering. I like it because you can run a tab. We ordered the 3:10 to Lager. Now I am not a beer connoisseur but I know what I like and I like this. We got the boardwalk fries, wings, and fish bites. Now we are talking bar food here so don't expect too much. It was good not great. Why would you bring young kids to a brewery? This couple walked in with what looked like a 6 and 3 year old. Somebody started cursing and they were offended or looked it. They left so kudos to cursing guy. Next I am trying the Highball Brown which is an Imperial brown ale with coffee. Now I asked if they have a sampler. The bartender said no. Then he comes to another table with four small things of beer. It is called a flight not a sampler. WTH dude its a brewery. Think! So I ordered the flight. Good choice on my selection. Well now it is time to start drinking which means I need to end this review with 4 stars because they have room to improve. The owner came out and offered us a sample of his new brew. It was good so here comes 5 stars. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

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A hidden gem. I repeat HIDDEN GEM. When I initially heard about Notch8d craft brewery, I was super excited to learn a new craft brewery expanding in our area, but hadn't been able to check them out because the posted yelp hours were so limited. I was surprised to learn, via Facebook, there were expanded hours (see posted update photo). We decided to go check out the brewery for ourselves, obtaining more information than was present on social media. Super excited to discover: 1. Extended beyond weekend hours 2. Space upon space upon space (sit inside at the brewery, sit inside at the brewery or restaurant, sit outside on the patio area-there were ample options to entertain ourselves) 2. There is delicious food offered. We unfortunately ate before we arrived because we expected, typical of breweries in the area to byof, but Notch8d is affiliated with not only the delicious Pepperjack Sub menu offering, but a specialty in-house bbq menu unique to the head-brewer and head-chef. I wish I left room for the pulled brisket sandwich, I must visit again to try! As for the beers, though only less than 5months into the craft brew scene, Notch8d has managed to produce a quality base IPA, unique fruity pale ale, wit, and roasty coffee stout, offered at reasonable half and full pour prices with flight availability. I spent some time asking the brewer about their growth and expansion, learning about the delicious menu & upcoming beers. I am super excited for the growth of a small family business to expand as a local, count me in for the ride. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Hours as of 7/29/2022 - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

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Super happy and knowledgeable staff members--whenever staff is this happy, you know they love their job. They serve beer with smiles and facts. You can taste and learn at the same time. Love it. Beer here is pretty d*** good. They also have a tasty food menu. If you want something else to eat, you can either order delivery or go next door to one of the other establishments that they are connected to and bring food over. Dog-friendly and they have outdoor seating too! Live music on certain days so be sure to check their event calendar out! read more

Great food and boozy shakes. Looking forward to trying their craft beer. Fun atmosphere and okay counter service.

I came by here yesterday for food and wine and enjoyed it. Getting in here is confusing (go in through Pepperjack's door). The Cab I had was pretty good and the place got busy for lunch. I can't comment on their beers but the vibe here is cool. read more

Absolutely enjoyed my time here. We got the cider and sour (can't remember the name) which were both good but nothing special. The bartenders were very friendly and made the experience even better. We also ordered the Notch-Os (around $11) and they were delicious and a generous portion. I loved that they had games available like cards, connect 4, checkers... the only reason I don't give this place 5 stars is because the available beers on tap is very limited. Looking at the reviews, we will definitely have to come back here for brunch. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Was looking for a local brewery and found Notch8. I went on a wednesday and it was packed but it was also before Thanksgiving so... there's that. Anyways the place is excellent! Well done atmosphere. I had 3:10 to Lager and the Marzen but I can't remember the name. Both were fantastic! Ordered the French Dip sandwich and it to was fantastic. The bartender Ivan was knowledgeable about the bar and the beers. Small selection of beers but I'll return to get one of their growlers before I depart the area. read more

Notch 8 Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Annapolis Junction, Maryland

It was an ok experience. Very low energy atmosphere, including the service. Just seemed like everyone was ready to go home. As for the food, it was pretty good. No complaints about the Street corn. Very tasty and enough for two. The burnt ends were also very good. Although not sure they were technically burnt ends. I'd still get them again. The beer was ok. Not a huge selection but enough to find one you like. Not a place to go out of your way for, but if you live in the neighborhood you'd probably be a regular. read more

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The food was great, hot and seasoned well. The bartenders were nice and helpful with what good drinks to choose from.. nice spot for a quick bite and drink. Will visit again read more