Finding out that sometimes good things come in small packages.
When you think of the state of Connecticut, one usually thinks of….well…ummm…not a whole lot. Colleges maybe…Yale and Harvard are there, or maybe hockey (they did have a professional hockey team at one point). One certainly doesn’t think about good beer, but for being the third smallest state in the country, that should be exactly what they’re known for.
As far as population goes, the state of Connecticut is slightly over double the size of the city of Philadelphia and has over double the amount of breweries. Throughout the state, there are about 19 breweries and brewpubs to choose from. Being such a small state at the same time, it’s hard to drive more than 20 or 30 minutes without getting to your next destination. So, visiting 8 breweries in an afternoon is a very accomplishable goal. Of the 19 breweries in the state, only one is available in Philadelphia, so you’re guaranteed to find more new beers than you can try.
The one brewery available in Philadelphia is no slouch though, and should be near the top of your list of destinations. Thomas Hooker Brewing in Bloomfield, doesn’t have a brewpub to hang out in, but they offer up a to-the-point tour and plenty of beers to sample, not to mention some incredible deals on growlers for you to take back to the hotel. Within close distance, you can also visit The Cambridge House, Tullycross Tavern, Olde Burnside and even stop by Manchester Wine and Liquors for a great selection of beers to bring back home. The Cambridge House and Tullycross Tavern both offer brewpubs and make it easy to lose track of time when sampling a variety of their great beers, on top of offering up a selection of guest taps of other local beers.
For an end of the night destination, which isn’t much further off and located next to UCONN, Willimantic Brewing Co. is located in one of the coolest buildings of any brewpub. Situated in an old post office, Willimantic is huge, with gigantic vaulted ceilings and antique remains of the post office. Brewmaster/ Owner David Wollner is also offering up some great beers to match the atmosphere. With only one constant house beer, you’re almost guaranteed to see something new on every visit.
Heading further south and back towards PA, you’ll hit another dense area loaded with breweries and bars. New England Brewery in Milford is doing its part in helping to revive the canned beer movement. They are one of the smaller breweries, but they’re putting out a lot of beer and have formed a cult following with their most renowned beer: Imperial Stout Trooper. Nearby, you can also find a new brewery trying to revive the session ale. Open for a little over a year now, Cavalry Brewing is creating a selection of very traditional, classic English style ales.
Don’t expect to find any Russian imperial stouts or double IPAs here, but you’re sure to find some solid, well-brewed session ales worth a try. There are some other area breweries, but you can also hit up some of the great nearby bars. New to the scene, the Cask Republic is offering up 53 drafts and an extensive bottle list, both of which are made up of locals and some hard to find rarities. They also have a vintage room in the back to tease you with their future offerings. Delaney’s Tap Room down the road just underwent renovations to improve their already great selection, or you can visit Prime 16. All three of these bars have can’t miss selections. Further down the road, even closer to home, you can visit the Norwalk location of The Ginger Man, which offers up a selection that can almost rival Cask Republic.
After a tour through Connecticut, you’ll be sure to have a new impression of the state and actually have something to think of when you hear the name. And, being less than three hours away, Connecticut is definitely worth a trip.
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