Author: The Hippo Press

Lager love

The enduring appeal of a light, effervescent brew

By Zachary Lewis
zlewis@hippopress.com

Aaron Share, brewer and co-founder of To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester, is excited about all things lager.

He always hears “that the tide is shifting back to lager every year. I hope this is the year. I prefer drinking lagers over IPAs,” Share said.

Lagers are “the most popular beer style in the world,” according to a June 6, 2023, article at Wine Enthusiast, which cites the beers from Budweiser, Coors Light, Corona and Michelob Ultra as examples of lagers.

“Lagers are actually relatively new” in the timeline of beer and emerged “in like the last five, six hundred years. What makes lagers unique is, one, that it’s a different type of yeast strain,” Share said. Ales have a different yeast strain and contain many variations. Also, ales are brewed at a much higher temperature.

“Lager strains prefer colder temperatures, so [they’re] a little bit more finicky…. With lagers you’re typically fermenting in the high 40s to mid 50 degrees [Fahrenheit]; if they’re not fermented in that range you’re going to get some unpleasant aromas and flavors from that beer,” Share said.

Lagers are all about being stored.

“Lagering is the German word for storage, so they cold-store this beer, and originally it was done in caves where they could keep cooler, constant temperatures,” he said.

Another brewing difference is that “ales will ferment at the top of one of our vessels … while lagers, they ferment at the bottom.” The two need different amounts of time to produce.

“An ale, for instance, I could get one of our IPAs out, between the time I brew it to the time we package it, somewhere between 14 and 21 days. … I’ve got two lagers over here going, these will be in the tank for, after fermentation is completed this will probably be in the tank for another four weeks. I haven’t even started lagering it yet,” Share said.

Basically, lagers take a lot longer to brew but are well worth the wait.
“You’re looking at anywhere from four to eight weeks on a typical lager. If you’re talking about your Octoberfest beers that come out, most folks start to brew those in spring and they let them lager … until Octoberfest,” Share said.

To Share has four lagers on tap at the moment. They have an American Light Lager. “Ruth, that’s our hoppy lager, our Pink Boots beer,” which is a beer brewed by the women at To Share. They also have a German spring lager and a Mexican-style lager.

Mexican lagers typically have an adjunct like corn, or flecked maize added, and the same can be said for the American lager, although those could also have rice as an added adjunct. The German and more international style lagers are typically just with malted barley. Other ingredients include hops, water and yeast.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP, bjcp.org) outlines the specifics of each type of lager. Lagers all typically run the range of 4.5 to 5 percent ABV.

Nicole Carrier, co-founder and President of Throwback Brewery in North Hampton, is another fan of lagers, although she wasn’t always.

Annette Lee, the other co-founder and Head Brewer of Throwback, helped Carrier find joy in lagers.

“At the time, I was just a dark beer drinker,” Carrier said. “I said to Annette, ‘If you can make a lager I like, I think we’re going to be successful.’”

That lager was one of the first beers Lee designed. It was named ‘Love me For a Long Time’ and was a Bohemian-style Pilsner with an ABV of 4.8 percent.

cans of beer beside glass of light beer on wooden table on outside patio sunny day
Cabra Dorada. Photo courtesy of Throwback Brewery.

“I love it,” Carrier said. “This is so good and I quickly became a convert. Once you get a really nice craft lager, for me, it’s hard to go back.”

Lagers could be considered a sort of tabula rasa.

“As a foodie I feel like it’s really easy to pair a lager with a lot of different foods. It’s almost like a blank slate…,” Carrier said. “It helps cleanse the palate, and the other thing is that they’re just ridiculously refreshing.”

Throwback has four lagers on tap at the moment. A standout is a Mexican-style lager called Cabra Dorada.

“It’s super approachable, especially for those who are just getting into craft and may not like the bitter, more hoppier, more traditional Pilsner,” Carrier said. “It puts a smile on my face every time I have a pint of it.”

Even among lagers there are large enough variations to never get bored.

“Lagers can really be a good entry point…. We’ve had a ton of success opening up people’s minds to a whole different style of beer,” she said.

Henry Vance, the owner and man in charge of brewing operations at The Czar’s Brewery (2 Center St. in Exeter and 10 Pierce St. in Dover), spoke highly of his team who expertly craft his recipes, which include both ales and lagers. They have about five different lagers they rotate.

“We have some lagering tanks in Dover that we use that allow us precise temperature control,” Vance said. “It allows us to cold-age our lagers, allows them to develop the full lager flavor profile.” It’s a patience game.

The result is a more relaxed drink.

“Lagers are typically softer. It depends. Modern IPAs are all hop-forward beers for the most part and lagers are just more nuanced, more subtle. It’s really a question of taste preference. Modern IPA drinkers, for the most part, enjoy the hops profile and lager drinkers enjoy the nuances of lager. They’re softer,” Vance said.

As Share and Carrier had noted, there is more than one kind of lager.

“There are definitely a segment of craft beer drinkers that are looking for Old World lagers and there’s a segment that are looking for modern interpretations of those Old World lagers,” Vance said.

What types can one expect at the Czar’s Brewery?

“We do a Bohemian Pilsner which uses Noble Hops and is somewhat traditional but it probably is a little bit more hop-forward than a European brewer would make. … We do a honey lager where we add some local New Hampshire honey to it — that’s going to change the profile,” Vance said.

Lagers are pretty cool, especially in a hot summer.

“The popularity of lagers has come back some. The category is definitely growing,” Vance said.

Mike Neel, Head Brewer at Candia Road Brewing Co. in Manchester, is all in on a lager revolution.

“I do love how complex and a little bit more process-driven it is to make. They are a lot more fun to make than ‘turnin’-and-burnin’’ just a regular IPA, which we do still make plenty of,” Neel said.

Neel has a bunch of horizontal tanks at Candia Road. They have three lagers on tap.

“Technically, you don’t really need different equipment” for lagers, Neel said. Breweries that don’t have these types of tanks still make some tasty lagers.

“Horizontal is the preferred method for conditioning,” he said, because “there’s a lot less strain on the bottom of the yeast bed.” Imagine choosing between holding 50 pounds of books on top of your head while you’re standing or having the 50 pounds of books distributed evenly across your back while you’re lying on your stomach.

“It could have a dynamic impact on what you’re trying to get as an overall outcome,” Neel said.

Lager is not new.

“It’s been the preferred beer style in the world for the last, what, 700 years? And that’s not really changing. It seems like the IPA fad is dominating the beer market right now, which it is in our area, but globally it’s always been lager and will always be lager,” Neel said.

All of Candia Road’s lagers are poured from side-pull wicker faucets made in the Czech Republic. These faucets have a tiny screen inside the nozzle that helps impart air into the beer, resulting in a creamier drink. Neel took a three-day course in Plzeň in the Czech Republic from Lutkr, the manufacturer of the faucet, to get ‘tapster’ certified.

“The Czechs believe that the brewmaster makes the beer but the tapster actually presents and rounds it out — the tapsters are just as important,” Neel said.

cans of beer illustrated with dinosaur playing maracas beside tall glass of beer with foam on top, in front of stacks of beer cans out of focus in background
Tiny Maracas. Photo courtesy To Share Brewing Co.

Craft brewers in the Granite State are passionate about their profession and often view brewing beer is art. “It’s trying to make the most complex liquid out of the simplest of ingredients…. It’s no thrills but still thrilling at the same time,” Neel said.

Paul St. Onge is Brewmaster at Backyard Brewery in Manchester and also welcomes the wave of lager love.

“We make a lot of different beer here, but we’ve definitely noticed lager is on the rise, so to speak, in terms of consumption and interest,” St. Onge said.

St. Onge has a hunch that someone might choose a lager over an IPA because IPA’s can be “super aggressive [with] bold flavors and I do believe that palate washout is a thing.”

It’s all about preference. Some drinkers are just “looking for something a little more approachable and drinkable and refreshing,” he said. “That’s sort of what I would think is happening, I know that’s how it gets for me.”

In terms of brewing, lagers claim a distinct feat.

“Because the flavors are more subtle and balanced, there’s really nowhere to hide imperfections or flaws in the beer, so you really have to keep a sharp eye and thumb on the pulse to create a good lager. I’m not saying that making IPA is easy, it’s just that making good lager is a challenge…. Really small changes to a recipe can make pretty large drinkability differences,” St. Onge said.

Backyard “usually [has] at least two, most of the time three, lagers on tap at all times. One of our flagships is Lawnmower, which is a Munich-style Helles Lager…. We make a broad spectrum of lagers ourselves…. It’s kind of been a passion project of mine to develop a lager program here,” St. Onge said.

Lots of lagers

Generally, malts and water are very important to lagers, and most lagers have ABVs around 5% or lower, are lighter in color and have a high drinkability quality. Dan Ward, Store Manager of Greg and Jane’s in Epping (63 Main St.), provided the Hippo with the nuances of different styles of lagers.

American lager: Anything that is usually lighter-bodied with American malts, middle range in color, possibly caramel, excluding Boston lager, which is typically darker, more on the malty side. Super drinkable, almost “crushable.” A beer for when “it’s a nice day outside, doing yard work, drinking beer throughout the day,” Ward said. Crisp and refreshing.

Czech-style lager: Originated from the Czech Republic. These lagers are almost exclusively very light, but there are exceptions. They are typically yellow in color, and you should be able to see through them. This is a light, sipping-type beer but more complex with different flavor profiles from American lagers, because of the hops and mineral content in their water. A lager but more complex.

Festbier: More Americanized than Marzen, lighter than Marzen, this has more of a pale ale quality. Similar crushable quality to American lager.

Helles: Paler, popular German style of lager. No different than a typical lager except the body has more of a floral quality. Helles means “pale” or “light” in German. Almost a pale ale but not quite.

India pale lager: Hybrid of lager and IPA. Tastes like an IPA but is usually going to be a little bit darker than a lager. A hoppy lager.

Märzen: Darker than a festbier and looks more like a Boston lager. A more rich and fuller-bodied beverage, caramel in texture and taste, resulting in slightly sweet back notes with a roasted quality. More flavor and aroma than a festbier.

Mexican lager: Think lime or sea salts. Tastes like a Corona that doesn’t need a lime. Pale and typically see-through with a lighter body and lower alcohol. Typically less than 5% alcohol, crushable but better paired with food and also refreshing.

New England lager: Most likely hazy in color and hoppier than a typical lager.

Pilsner: This is a blank canvas of a beer, with tons of different offshoots possible. It’s versatile and dependent on ingredients. Bud Light is technically a Pilsner. Pilsners are light, crisp, clean and clear. No bells or whistles and has typically less than 5% ABV; if alcohol content is higher it is typically labeled as an ‘Imperial.’

Vienna lager: As with the Helles or Czech Pilsner, the style is region-specific but, like with all the other imports, can be mimicked. The Vienna lager can range from light brown to pale in color. A tad maltier, typically, and pairs well with grilled veggies, meat and cheese.

Where to enjoy LOCAL lagers

Here’s some local craft breweries in that offer their own lagers, Check out their tap lists for the most up-to-date availability of each brew. Know of one not mentioned? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

603 Brewery & Beer Hall
42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com
Try this brew: The Range Hoppy Lager, an American-style lager, 5.2% ABV (Alcohol By Volume). One of four lagers on tap, it is described as “clean, crushable, and just enough hoppy flavor to put a smile on your face without wrecking your palate. Blazing yellow in color with a pillowy white head, bursting with notes of grapefruit zest, lemon peel, guava, and a kiss of New Hampshire pine.”

Able Ebenezer Brewing Co.
31 Columbia Circle, Merrimack, 844-223-2253, ableebenezer.com
Try this brew: Revuelta, a Mexican-style lager, 4.8% ABV. One of two available lagers, it is described as “a traditional Mexican yeast and grain bill (flaked maize) combined with New Zealand hops that give it a hint of fresh lime zest flavor.”

Backyard Brewery & Kitchen
1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
Try this brew: Junior Service Lager, an American-style lager. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as “crisp and well balanced … approachable.”

Candia Road Brewing Co.
840 Candia Road, Manchester, 935-8123, candiaroadbrewingco.com
Try this brew: Dark Lager, a dark lager, 6% ABV. It is described as “a dark lager. Real dark.”

Canterbury Aleworks
305 Baptist Hill Road, Canterbury, 491-4539, canterburyaleworks.com
Try this brew: Gemütlichkeit, a Munich-style Helles lager, 5% ABV. Its flavor is described as “a sublime, sweet malty ‘je ne sais quoi.’”

Concord Craft Brewing Co.
117 Storrs St., Concord, 856-7625, concordcraftbrewing.com
Try this brew: Logger Lager, a maple Marzen, described as “a full-bodied amber-colored marzen style lager that spent the dark days of winter in the cool fermenter. The generous malt blend finishes smooth and crisp with a touch of New Hampshire maple syrup.”

can of beer beside short glass of beer with foam layer, on wooden railing outside
Backyard Birds Smoked Lager. Photo courtesy of Feathered Friends Brewing Co.

The Czar’s Brewery
2 Center St., Exeter, 583-5539; 10 Pierce Street in Dover, 842-4062; theczarsbrewery.com
Try this brew: Vienna Wait…, a Vienna-style lager, 4.6% ABV.

Daydreaming Brewing Co.
1½ E. Broadway, Derry, 965-3454, daydreaming.beer
Try this brew: Chissà (kee sah – “Who knows?” in Italian), an Italian-style lagered Pilsner, 4.8% ABV. It is one of two lagers Daydreaming will have this summer and is described as having “a biscuity malt with a hint of orange and crisp, dry finish.”

Earth Eagle Brewings
165 High St., Portsmouth, 502-2244, eartheaglebrewings.com
Try this brew: Piscataqua American-style lager, 4.2% ABV.

Feathered Friend Brewing Co.
231 S. Main St., Concord, 715-2347, featheredfriendbrewing.com
Try this brew: Backyard Birds smoked lager, 5.3% ABV. One of three lagers available, it is described as “a nice light lager with smoked malts.”

The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille
40 Andover Road, New London, 526-6899, flyinggoose.com
Try this brew: Simulacrum Rauchbier, a Helles-style lager, 5.7% ABV. One of five lagers on tap, it is described as “a pale lager brewed with a touch of German applewood smoked barley and ‘noble’ hops.”

Great North Aleworks
1050 Holt Ave., No. 14, Manchester, 858-5789, greatnorthaleworks.com
Try this brew: Marzen Rover, a Marzen-style lager, 5.2% ABV, described as “lightly hopped with a blend of malts creating a bready, honey-like flavor.”

Great Rhythm Brewing
105 Bartlett St., Portsmouth, 430-9640, greatrhythmbrewing.com
Try this brew: Great Life, an American-style lager, 4.6% ABV. One of two lagers available this summer, it is described as a,”golden, full-flavored premium lager with a clean, crisp finish.”

Henniker Brewing Co.
129 Centervale Road, Henniker, 428-3579, hennikerbrewing.com
Try this brew: Squint pale lager, 5.1% ABV. One of five seasonal lagers, it is described as “an easy drinking brew that goes great with sunny days, peanuts and crackerjacks.”

Kelsen Brewing Co.
80 N. High St., No. 3, Derry, 965-3708, kelsenbrewing.com
Try this brew: Spacetown, a light lager, 4.8% ABV. One of four lagers available, it is described as “full-flavored and highly drinkable. The bright citrus flavors from the hops and bready flavors from the grains lead to a well-rounded, crisp finish.”

Kettlehead Brewing Co.
407 W. Main St., Tilton, 286-8100, kettleheadbrewing.com
Try this brew: Whey Loco Mexican-style lager, 5.5%. One of three lagers on tap, it is described as a “light & crisp Mexican corn lager that features hints of lime with a smooth and refreshing character.”

Liar’s Bench Beer Co.
159 Islington St., No. 4, Portsmouth, 294-9156, liarsbenchbeer.com
Try this brew: Slurp’s Up beach-style lager, 4.8% ABV, one of five lagers on tap.

Liquid Therapy
14B Court St., Nashua, 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com
Try this brew: Cali Love steam lager, 4.9% ABV, described as “an ode to Anchor Steam. Bready malt meets lager. Totally crushable all year long.”

Lithermans Limited Brewery
126B Hall St., Concord, 219-0784, lithermans.beer
Try this brew: Forty Days, a Czech-style lager described as “light in body, slightly roasted malt flavor, with an approachable alcohol content for a warm summer night.”

Loaded Question Brewing Co.
909 Islington St., Suite 12, Portsmouth, 852-1396, loadedquestionbrewing.com
Try this brew: Rustikal rustic-style lager, 5.1% ABV. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as a “golden-hued lager [that has] a crisp, clean taste with a smooth malt character and a subtle hoppy finish.”

Long Blue Cat Brewing Co.
298 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 818-8068, longbluecat.com
Try this brew: Granite State Lager, a German-style pale lager, 4.3% ABV.

Lost Cowboy Brewing Co.
546 Amherst St., Nashua, 600-6800, lostcowboybrewing.com
Try this brew: Lost Cowboy, an American-style lager, 4.5% ABV. Available on tap in regular and light versions, it is described as “a gently hopped, beautifully balanced, delicate lager with high drinkability.”

Martha’s Exchange Restaurant & Brewery
185 Main St., Nashua, 883-8781, marthas-exchange.com
Try this brew: Beyond the Stars, a German-style dark lager, 5.3%, described as having notes of “toasted malt, dark chocolate, caramel, and malted milk balls.”

Northwoods Brewing Co.
1334 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, 942-6400, northwoodsbrewingcompany.com
Try this brew: Kung Fu Crab, a Mexican-style lager, 5.3% ABV. This is one of three lagers on tap.

Odd Fellows Brewing Co.
124 Main St., Nashua, 521-8129, oddfellowsbrewery.com
Try this brew: Intrigue, a Vienna-style lager, 5.1%. This is the only lager on tap.

Oddball Brewing Co.
6 Glass St., Suncook, 210-5654, oddballbrewingnh.com
Try this brew: Oddlite, a light American Lager, 5.0% ABV.

Ogie Brewing
12 South St., Milford, 249-5513, find them on Facebook @ogiebrewing
Try this brew: Friar’s Purse, a copper lager, 5.4% ABV. One of four lagers on tap this summer, it is described as a “light, crisp lager [with] fantastic copper color and malty hints of biscuit, nuts, & honey.”

Pipe Dream Brewing
49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751, pipedreambrewingnh.com
Try this brew: IPL India pale lager, 5% ABV. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as having a “cold fermented lager base with a clean, hoppy presence. Crushable and tasty.”

Post & Beam Brewing
40 Grove St. in Peterborough, 784-5361, postandbeambrewery.com
Try this brew: Blackfire, a Schwarzbier dark lager, 4.6% ABV. One of three lagers on tap, it is described as “light-bodied and dry, with a touch of roasty bitterness.”

Rockingham Brewing Co.
1 Corporate Park Drive, No. 1, Derry, 216-2324, rockinghambrewing.com
Try this brew: Mulefoot, a lime and ginger lager, 5.5% ABV. This is one of two lagers on tap.

Sawbelly Brewing
156 Epping Road, Exeter, 583-5080, sawbelly.com
Try this brew: Schwarzbelly, a Schwarzbier-style, medium-bodied lager, 4.7% ABV. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as “black in color with a toasty, chocolate nose and gentle noble hop bitterness.”

Smuttynose Brewing Co.
105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton, 436-4026, smuttynose.com
Try this brew: Smuttynose Lager, a Helles-style lager, 4.7% ABV. One of three lagers on tap, it is described as having “a soft aroma with a balanced bite and floral character.”

Spyglass Brewing Co.
306 Innovative Way, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com
Try this brew: Cubist, a Helles lager, 4.8% ABV. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as, “a traditional German Helles lager with floor-malted Pilsner malt, hopped with Saaz and Saphir hops.”

Throwback Brewery
7 Hobbs Road, North Hampton, 379-2317, throwbackbrewery.com
Try this brew: Cabra Dorada, a Mexican-style lager, 4.7% ABV. One of two lagers on tap, it is described as “a bright, crisp golden lager with a balanced bitterness of Citra hops and lime zest and a slight salinity to the dry finish.”

To Share Brewing Co.
720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com
Try this brew: Tiny Maracas, a Mexican-style lager, 5.5% ABV. This is one of three lagers on tap.

Twin Barns Brewing Co.
194 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-0876, twinbarnsbrewing.com
Try this brew: Pitou Pale Lager, a Vienna-style lager, 4.3% ABV.

Vulgar Brewing Co.
378 Central St., Franklin, 333-1439, vbc.beer
Try this brew: Down to Huck, a Helles-style lager, 5.2% ABV, described as “clean, crisp, and refreshing like a dip in the Winni. Soft & bready malt character with a touch of sweetness. Low bitterness, with slightly floral notes.”

This Week 24/06/13

Thursday, June 13

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire hosts an evening of reflection and exploration with a panel of Black men in a discussion titled “A Softer Side: Re-Considering Black Masculinity” today at 6 p.m. at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org). A reception for attendees will be hosted in the Winter Garden from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Attendees are also invited to explore the exhibit by Raphael Barontini currently on display.

Saturday, June 15

WOOFStock 2024 at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana in Salem, 212-9650, tuscanvillagesalem.com) starts at noon and will feature specialty cocktails, live music and dog-friendly fun (dogs invited). This event will support Salem Animal Rescue, Live Free Rescue, Dawgs Fight Back and Great Dog Rescue New England. Sip on human-friendly cocktails, like the YAPerol Spritz and Moscow Drool. A portion of proceeds from each drink sold will benefit organizations present.

Saturday, June 15

It’s Sad AF Emo Nite at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) at 8 p.m., organized by the Sad AF Collective, a Concord-based group partnering with local bands to promote early 2000s-style emo and pop-punk music and culture. This night will feature Dead Wait from Massachusetts; Birds, In Theory, and Gina Fritz, from Connecticut, as well as a Depressed Cake Shop pop-up. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Saturday, June 15

Black Lives Matter New Hampshire is hosting its first ever Juneteenth kickback celebration at Keach Park in Concord today from 1 to 5 p.m. This gathering will feature traditional foods, music and storytelling and will be free for the general public. Keach Park is located in the Heights District of Concord, just off Loudon Road. The parking lot is at 7 Newton Ave.

Saturday, June 15

Turning Pointe Center of Dance (turningpointecenterofdance.com) presents Alice in Wonderland this afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org). Tickets are $23 at the door.

Saturday, June 15

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) presents a Candlelight Concert event, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $43.

Sunday, June 16

Harold Lloyd’s 1927 silent comedy The Kid Brother is the latest in the Wilton Town Hall Theatre’s (40 Main St., Wilton, 654-3456, facebook.com/wiltontownhalltheatre) series of silent films with live musical accompaniment. It will screen at 2 p.m. Admission is free; $10 donation suggested.

Save the Date! Saturday, June 29
Monster Jam, a monster truck event, will take place at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) Saturday, June 29, at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, June 30, at 1 p.m. Monster trucks will compete in high-octane, pulse-racing, extremely loud competitions, including races, a skills challenge, and donut and free-style competitions. Tickets start at $20 through the arena’s website.

Featured photo: Monster Jam.

Master of contraptions

Inspiring future engineers with Zach Umperovitch

Zach Umperovitch is the national contest director at the Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation & Creativity. A New Hampshire native, Zach is a three-time Guinness World Record holder, a national Rube Goldberg contest champion and an on-screen expert, judge and engineering producer for Contraption Masters on the Discovery Channel. He is also well-known for his work for Domino Masters, Google, Red Bull, Disney, ESPN and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. From Saturday, June 22, through Friday, June 28, you can find him at the fourth annual “Kickoff to Summer” with Zach’s Contraptions at the SEE Science Center in Manchester. Visit @ZachsContraptions on YouTube, @zachscontraptions on Instagram and rubegoldbergmachineexpert.com.

What is a Rube Goldberg machine?

A Rube Goldberg machine is a contraption or invention that takes a very simple task such as watering a plant or zipping a zipper and makes it incredibly complicated in a funny way using everyday objects.

How did you get interested in them?

I got involved with Rube Goldberg machines when I was 3 years old, before I even knew what they were. I was playing around with different parts around my house and my parents have a lovely photo of me building one up a staircase….

What was one of the first Rube Goldberg machines you ever invented?

One of the first ones I remember was, I wanted to knock something down the stairs, it was actually feeding a cat. It was a marble that went through my hamster’s tubing, which, fun fact, that hamster’s still missing. Then the marble slid out into a box, slid down the stairs, knocked over some dominoes and it knocked over a bowl of cat food and it just spilled all the cat food all over the place. But it effectively did feed our cat at the time.

Why do you think Rube Goldberg machines are so fascinating?

I think they’re really fascinating because there’s this child-like wonder and it’s bringing your imagination to life. I think all of us as kids, we played around with toys and sort of built these contraptions on our own. But seeing them in a bigger media space, and when I do them with things like shipping containers and yoga balls and giant fans and bicycles and seeing these crazy contraptions that we all built as kids in a larger setting, there’s such a sense of wonder and it brings us back. I’ve been to art galleries with very posh people and they look at these machines and they go, ‘Wow, this is amazing!’ And I built these machines for fishermen for the Seattle Boat Show and you’re thinking, big hearty fisherman guys, what are they going to think of a Rube Goldberg machine?, and they have the same response as some of the third-graders I teach. It really is just something that appeals to everyone’s childlike nature.

What will you be doing at the SEE Science Center?

I’m going to be building a life-size Rube Goldberg machine, roughly around 30 feet by 20 feet, so a really good size where I’m going to take exhibits, I’m going to take different items that are lying around the museum, I’m going to build a giant Rube Goldberg machine designed to help kick off summer. They always have their, it’s called the ‘Kickoff to Summer’ event, and quite literally, we’re going to kick off Summer with this machine. What does that mean? You actually have to go there to find out…. It’s going to be a liveexhibit, meaning that it’s going to be in one of the spaces that people can just visit through. Because they are anticipating larger crowds to come and see this, and only a select number of people can show up at a time to the museum … reservations aren’t necessary but recommended…. I’m going to have one of my smaller, portable Rube Goldberg machines … that’s going to be demonstrated. People will be able to play my Rube Golberg video game, Rube Works, there’s activities…. There may be TV monitors around that might be showing my show Contraption Masters or stuff from my YouTube Channel, Zach’s Contraptions.

With the television show and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, what was it like foraying into that realm?

It was a pretty incredible transition going from building these machines for collegiate events to actually going to the production scale. Sonic the Hedgehog was really nice because that was a 3D digital contraption, so a lot less mess, but really really cool in that millions of people have now seen that. My production company Zyyn Labs is the one behind OK Go [“This Too Shall Pass” music video] and we still get all the accolades from that. Working with Discovery and for my show Contraption Masters, it’s just such an incredible experience. I had the idea for 10 years and for it to be brought to life, the whole cast and crew just being so supportive and so behind the idea of it…. It’s so wonderful to have such passionate people and it’s only continued even from the competitions through the production side of things, people just really put their heart and soul into these things.

Can you talk about your book coming out on Nov. 12, 2024, with Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter called ‘Rube Goldberg’s Big Book of Building: Make 25 Machines That Really Work!’?

This book is going to be the guide to students building their own Rube Goldberg machines. It’s a wonderful manual that includes the basics behind Rube Goldberg but also how students, parents, home-school students, whoever, they’re able to take everyday objects that are already lying around and be able to build these contraptions using nothing more than scissors, string and duct tape. There’s 25 contraptions that I’ve personally built and we give step-by-step instructions, very much in a Lego style with these beautifully illustrated pictures. It’s such a wonderful book that we’re trying to get into every STEM classroom because it really is going to be such a helpful manual for students to begin thinking outside the box and begin their journey building Rube Goldberg machines.

What would you say to someone who’s interested in Rube Goldberg machines or building in general?

For anyone interested in building, inventing, possibly even the world of Rube Goldberg, it’s all about learning how to fail and learning from those failures. I might sound successful but in reality if 10 to 15 percent of what I make actually works, I’m thrilled, truly…. It’s understanding that there’s a lot of trial and error and you have to have the patience to persevere. If you do have that patience, the doors just open for you. It’s an incredible field to be in, but understanding how to fail and how to learn from failure is critical to success.

Kickoff to Summer with Zach’s Contraptions
Where: SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester
When: Saturday, June 22, through Friday, June 28
Info: see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400

—Zachary Lewis

Featured image: Zach Umperovitch. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 24/06/13

White pine needles

According to a recent press release, the New Hampshire Forest Health Bureau said that due to the amount of rain that occurred during late spring and summer last year, white pine trees in New Hampshire have been dropping needles, which is part of a larger trend over the past 15 years where pine forests across the Northeast have been affected by several fungi that attack pine needles, causing them to discolor and to drop from the trees prematurely in what is referred to as “needlecast disease.”

The recurring disease currently affecting white pines has been named “white pine needle disease” by pathologists, according to the same release.

In a statement, Kyle Lombard, administrator of the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands’ Forest Health Bureau, said that “the fungi that cause white pine needle disease depend on above-normal precipitation during the spring and summer of the previous year, and we certainly had that in 2023, which is why WPND seems epic this year.”

Fortunately, WPND is highly unlikely to kill white pines and is only a minor setback in the trees’ annual growth cycle, usually affecting only the most recent year’s needles, according to the same release.

Lombard also stated that “folks shouldn’t panic if they see white pines with orange or brown needles, or even if there are so many needles dropped that you can rake them up. Once the affected needles have cast off, new needles will start growing in their place, fully elongate in July and the trees will be green again in August.”

For more information about white pine needle damage, visit nhbugs.org or learn more about New Hampshire Forests at nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov.

Bridge for sale

According to a recent press release, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is currently accepting proposals for the purchase, relocation and preservation of the historic Smith’s Crossing Bridge (No. 240/104) that continues Jackson Pond Road over the state-owned Concord-to-Lincoln railroad in the town of New Hampton.

According to the release, in order to be considered, a proposal needs to be submitted electronically to Bureau16@dot.nh.gov and the subject line of the email must read: “PROPOSAL FOR THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE SMITH’S CROSSING BRIDGE.” The submission deadline is Tuesday, Aug. 6, at noon.

The Smith’s Crossing Bridge was constructed in 1934 and is a timber bridge, with no major rehabilitations. Jackson Pond Road is currently an unmaintained Class VI town road that is overgrown, deteriorated and not used for vehicular traffic, according to the same release.

The Request for Proposals and details are available on the Department’s Disposition of Historic Bridges (Bridge Sales) webpage at dot.nh.gov/historic-bridge-dispositions-bridges-sale, according to the release.

Other questions or requests for additional information should be addressed to Mr. Kevin Nyhan, Administrator, Bureau of Environment at kevin.t.nyhan@dot.nh.gov, and requests for additional information must be received by 3 p.m. on Friday, July 5.

Citizen science in action

According to to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the New Hampshire Silver Jackets, a state-federal interagency flood risk management team, which includes the NHDES, recently collaborated with the Town of Pelham to install a CrowdHydrology staff gauge below the Willow Street Bridge on Beaver Brook that will enhance local flood forecasting and response capabilities while presenting an opportunity for community engagement in citizen science.

According to the release, the staff gauge is conveniently located in the landing area below the bridge where volunteers can participate by simply reading the water level on the gauge and texting the station number, along with the reading, to the phone number provided on site.

Submissions are incorporated into a long-term database hosted on crowdhydrology.com that is accessible free of charge to schools, resource management agencies, watershed organizations and anyone interested in utilizing hydrologic data, according to the release.

CrowdHydrology originated in the Northeast in 2010 and has expanded across North America to address data gaps in streams, rivers or lakes that may lack resources for more advanced measurement tools. This marks the second installation of a CrowdHydrology stream gauge in New Hampshire, according to the release.

In a statement, Brian Hauschild, Geoscience Program Specialist with the New Hampshire Geological Survey at NHDES and member of the New Hampshire Silver Jackets, said that “the installation of the stream gauge in Pelham continues to offer opportunities for public contribution to scientific data collection. These efforts are invaluable for providing real-time data that informs flood trends and ultimately enhances public safety.”

According to the release, water level measurements at the new site have been recorded weekly since the gauge was installed and community members are encouraged to visit the site at the Willow Street Bridge in Pelham. Contact Brian Hauschild (NHDES) at Brian.K.Hauschild@des.nh.gov or 271-7332, or Dena Hoffman (Town of Pelham) at dhoffman@pelhamweb.com or 508-3000, ext. 3101.

On Thursday, June 13, Family Promise of Greater Concord holds its second annual summer jazz concert featuring Tall Granite Big Band at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord (79 Clinton St.) from 7 to 9 p.m. Family Promise works to end family homelessness. Tickets are $30 or two for $50 at familypromisegcnh.org.

The nonprofit Corey’s Closet thrift store has moved into its new, larger location at 1271 Hooksett Road in Hooksett (in the Kmart plaza) as of Thursday, June 6. “The mission of Corey’s Closet is to create meaningful work experiences for those with developmental disabilities,” according to the shop’s website (coreyscloset.org), which says the shop sells donated clothing, books and home furnishings.

The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., 624-6550) hosts a talk on the history and current events of the Middle East on Tuesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium and on Zoom, according to their website. The talk is presented by Brandon Gauthier, Adjunct Professor of History for Fordham University and the Director of Global Education at The Derryfield School, who will examine the history of U.S.-Iranian relations since the 1950s and the effects of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on the Middle East in the present. A Q&A session will follow. Visit manchesterlibrary.org.

On The Job – Graham Gifford

Program & Marketing Director

Graham Gifford is the Program & Marketing Director of the New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner (nhtelephonemuseum.org).

Explain your job and what it entails.

Oh my goodness, I’ll try to keep it under three days. As a museum employee, there’s a ton that we have to do. Primarily I am, of course, the director of programming. I’m also the marketing director, so the day is quite filled with those things. We take in a variety of artifacts. We are a registered nonprofit, a 501(c)3. We do a tremendous amount of collaboration, so we’re doing off-site exhibits as well as new exhibits in-house. We actually do a lot of programming. We have both free and for-charge programming, depending on if people are members of the Telephone Museum or not…. We’re not just about telephones, we’re about telecommunications and communications. We’re doing a code talker presentation … and in years past, one of the huge successes is our animal programming, whether it’s with falconry or canine. There’s always tours that have to get done and there’s walls that need to be patched and painted. I could go on for days.

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been here for 12 years.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

It was very serendipitous. I was hired to improve the marketing for the museum and it’s so fun I never left.

What kind of education or training did you need?

At the time I simply needed to know marketing. Since the I’ve had to undergo a variety of education, but I do have my master’s, so that served me well in learning.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Something incredibly casual which includes sneakers because I am either giving a tour or I am patching a wall.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

Trying to juggle so many varied tasks at once can be incredibly difficult. It’s the nature of the work so you just have to keep a smile on your face and be positive. I know that sounds like such a kitschy answer but that’s the truth.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

That it is non-stop, continuous, 24 hours a day.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Work well with your teammates. They’ll make all the difference.

—Zachary Lewis

Five favorites
Favorite book: anything by Ryan Holiday\
Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings
Favorite music: Hozier
Favorite food: sushi
Favorite thing about NH: There’s so much to do.

Featured photo: Graham Gifford. Courtesy Photo.

Kiddie Pool 24/06/06

Family fun for whenever

Bugs!

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) will be offering a free Little Ladybug Make & Take on Saturday, June 8, between 1 and 3 p.m., at which kids can learn how to make an adorable paper ladybug, according to a press release. All supplies will be provided to make this paper craft, according to the same release. The gallery is handicapped-accessible. Visit TwiggsGallery.org

• NH Audubon and Steve Mirick, an avid birder and expert butterfly enthusiast who has guided birding and butterfly communities, will lead an exploration of butterfly habitats in the capital area on Tuesday, June 11, starting at 11 a.m. A similar program on Tuesday, June 18, at 11 a.m. will be led by Mike Thomas, a retired entomologist and butterfly enthusiast. Both will be at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, nhaudubon.org). Participants will learn how to identify butterflies in various habitats. All skill levels are welcome. Space is limited and registration is required.

On stage

• The Community Players of Concord with their Children’s Theatre Project will be holding auditions for Charlotte’s Web, which is based on the book by E.B. White, by appointment only on Sunday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on Monday, June 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Community Players Studio ( 435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord) for those between the ages of 8 and 18. Kids ages 6 or 7 can audition to be baby spiders or baby Wilbur. To schedule an audition slot, contact Director Karen Braz at k.braz@comcast.net. For more information visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

Library fun

• Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua) will allow kids in grades K-5 to explore simple printmaking techniques using everyday materials on Monday, June 10, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in their Activity Room. Objects include apples, leaves, Legos and more, and participants will dip, press and create their own prints on paper or fabric in this interactive art activity, although supplies are limited, according to the website. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• The Children’s Room staff at Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester) have announced a storytime program in collaboration with the SEE Science Center where once a month kids between the ages of 2 and 6 are invited to join Ms. Yvonne and Ms. Helene from the SEE Science Center for Storytime Science, with hands-on activities afterward the story-reading, according to their website. This month’s reading will take place on Wednesday, June 12, from 10 to 11 a.m. with I Am Not A Fish by Peter Raymundo. Registration is required to ensure enough materials for everyone, according to the same website. Storytime Science is a program of the SEE Science Center’s First Steps in Science Initiative presented by Dartmouth Health Childrens, according to the same website. Call the library at 624-6550, ext. 7628.

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