Elicit Brewing Company

When we went: January 2nd, 2020

Location: 165 Adams St, Manchester, CT 06040

Opened only a few months ago in November 2019, Elicit Brewing is already an must-go-to entertainment destination in Manchester. A brewery, restaurant, bar lounge/hall, vintage arcade, craft cocktail lounge, beer garden, and entertainment space. This place has everything and more! The main downstairs bar features 50 different in-house and guest taps, plus cans of beer if what you want isn’t on tap. If you’re looking for something a little harder, upstairs they have a craft cocktail bar with traditional and signature drinks.

Shannon: Elicit really is the ultimate adult playground. It can be a little overwhelming when you first walk in, but once you take a few minutes to walk around and see everything they have going on, I think you’ll find a room and a space that you wont want to leave. Whether you want to drink beer, wine, or a cocktail, everyone can find something they’re going to enjoy and want more of. Plus, who doesn’t love in house food and arcade games? Last time Chris and I were here, a few of the arcade games were out of order, but I suppose I can over look that considering all the people that have been playing on them since they opened in November. Something that I really like about Elicit is that between all the guest beer in the building, they find the time to brew some of their own creations. I’ve only had one of their beers so far, the Deliberate Milk Stout, which is a collaboration with Real Café in Bristol. It is a pretty traditional tasting stout, but good nonetheless. Overall, Elicit is a pretty cool place and I hope to see them slingin’ beers and pizza for years to come!

Chris: Okay, so I am going to pretend I am a mature 27 year old man who will NOT make a joke about Shannon’s decision to call it an “adult playground.” But my childish humor aside, I would describe Elicit as a crowd-pleaser. Not matter who you are coming with they will find something they like. This place gives the feel of a gigantic modern and stylish sports bar fitted with an arcade and karaoke station. Yet the brewery also gives off an older feel with a mural of an old Cremo Ale advertisement on one of the main room walls. (You might remember Cremo from our post on Alvarium). In addition, Elicit’s location may be recognized by Manchester locals as the old Adam’s Mill restaurant, but the structure dates back even farther to a 19th century paper mill. I personally like the combination of old and new especially since old industrial buildings have become an almost accidental brewery staple. I have gone to Elicit a few times now so I have been able to try a few of their beers and my favorite was Deliberate Milk Stout (shocker the stout guy picks a stout). It is a coffee milk stout that was light in alcohol without being overpowering in flavor. Being a newer brewery they don’t have a huge selection of their own beers (only five on tap), but hopefully as they become more established they will branch out not only with selection but with variety as well.

Other cool stuff:

• Old school arcade (17 different vintage games like Donkey Kong, Centipede, and Tetris)
• Comfy couch lounges
• Upstairs craft cocktail bar and lounge
• Outdoor beer garden in the warmer months
• Live entertainment  (bands, DJs, karaoke, trivia)
• A full kitchen because they know we all want something to snack on (plus they do brunch!!)
• Dogs are allowed (but only on the front patio)
• Merch
• Open 7 days a week

Our Persuasion:

What we drank 

Brewery Persuasion: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?