Yankee Brew News Archive

What's Brewing: Connecticut

Originally Published: 06/97

By: Gregg Glaser

Connecticut's craft beer scene continues its expansion, making up for years of sluggish activity. Since this column last appeared, two new micros have sold their first kegs of beer in the Nutmeg state. By summer's end, one micro and six brewpubs plan to open their doors.

Alewife Grille & Brewery (860-659-8686), a Glastonbury brewpub, will brew an alt and a smoked porter as new beers, and a new menu features upscale brewery food. Darts, pool and virtual reality golf are additions to the brewpub, as well as patio entertainment on Thursday nights through the summer. Brewer's Dinners and cigar dinners continue, and on Saturdays Alewife offers a Brewer's Lunch - for $25 you can brew a batch of ale with Head Brewer J.J. Ramos, finishing with lunch and a beer tasting.

Bank Street Brewing Company (203-325-2739), a Stamford brewpub, began a regular Brewer's Dinner series in March, with beer dinners offered the first Monday of each month. Head Brewer/co-owner Ted Steen reports that he will begin serving some of his beers nitrogenated, having taken to this method of dispensing after a trip out west. Live music is now a staple at Bank Street every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9:30 p.m. with blues and funk bands, and on Sundays during a Jazz Brunch.

Colorado Brewing & Trading Company (303-442-2799), a Danbury brewpub owned by Flat Rock Brewing Company of Boulder, Colorado, has hired Alan Polacsek, formerly of Rockies Brewery, as head brewer. A late summer opening is planned for the 330-seat, 10-barrel brewpub.

Cottrell Brewing (860-599-8213), a Pawcatuck micro, sold their first kegs of Old Yankee Ale last February. Bottles are planned for June.

Diglio's Restaurant & Brewpub (203-288-0925)in Hamden opened in January with a 1-barrel brewhouse and, due to heavy demand for their beers, increased to three barrels in April. Head Brewer Ron Harrison now brews twice a week at Diglio's.

Essex Brewing (860-691-0408), a Niantic micro, sold their first kegs of S.G. Hooker's Pale Ale in southeastern Connecticut on March 1. Essex also brewed a porter through the spring and plans a blonde ale for the summer.

Hammer & Nail Brewers of Connecticut (860-274-5911) an Oakville micro, will brew an American wheat ale as a summer seasonal (draft only).

John Harvard's Brew House (860-644-2739), a Manchester brewpub, will brew an oatmeal amber ale and a dark wheat beer (dunkel) for the summer. Five-course beer dinners take place the last Tuesday of each month.

John Harvard's Brew House (203-457-2337), in Westport, set a May 14 opening date. The brewpub will brew in a 7-barrel PUB brewhouse and seat 165 inside and an additional 85 on an outdoor patio.

Indian Neck Brewery (203-785-5393) a Branford brewpub, isn't open yet, but they held a pre-opening party last March 29 for the Branford community that supported them during their arduous zoning hearings. Owner/brewer Greg Waterbury and his two partners served a Belgian abbey ale, an ESB, a porter, an oatmeal stout and their two flagship beers, Hunter's Irish Ale (a red ale) and Osprey Amber Ale (a hoppy American-style pale ale brewed with some rye malt). An IPO is in the works, and Indian Neck hopes to open in late summer.

Maine Street Brewing (203-938-8021) is the name of the planned Georgetown brewpub mentioned in this column last issue. Owner Tom Maffucci was successful at a hearing last March with an amendment to the town laws allowing him to brew beer in town. Maffucci plans an autumn opening for his 7-barrel, 100-seat brewpub.

New England Brewing Company (203-866-1339), a Norwalk micro, will brew a pilsener (available on draft only) for the summer. New England Brewing's American Wheat and Raspberry Wheat also return for the summer in bottles and on draft.

Olde Wyndham Brewery (860-423-0444), a Willimantic micro, plans to begin brewing in May with first sales in June of Frog 'n Hand Pub Ale, an English-style amber ale.

Southport Brewing Company (203-256-2337), a Southport brewpub, had set an April 14 opening date for their 7-barrel (DME system), 160-seat brewpub. Head Brewer Mark DaSilva listed ten beers for the opening: Irish stout, porter, red ale, light ale, ESB, blonde ale, two pale ales, IPA and American wheat. The menu will feature pasta, seafood and European-style pizzas.

Trout Brook Brewhouse (860-951-1680), a Hartford micro/brewpub, opened their restaurant early in February, with the 20-barrel PUB brewhouse beginning production a month later. On tap at opening were McCarthy's Irish Stout, Thomas Hooker Ale (an American-style pale ale), (Mayor) Mike's Light Ale (a Kolsch), Trout Brook ESB and Trout Brook Cream Ale. The brewpub offers blues and jazz on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting at 9:30 p.m. , and Irish music on Sundays beginning at 5:30 p.m. The game room features pool, darts, a bowling machine and big-screen virtual reality golf.

David Wollner of Willimantic Brewing Company/Main Street Café (860-423-6777), a Willimantic brewpub, reports, "Come hell or high water we'll have our brewing system delivered in June and have our beer on tap in July." In the meantime, there are 38 American-brewed craft beers on tap at the bar.

Page 6 YBN Connecticut Column

April-May 1997