When We Went: June 17, 2020
Where: 409 Canal St, Milldale, CT 06467
Kinsmen Brewing Company, located in the historic 1854 Clark Brothers Bolt Company building in Milldale, opened its doors in 2017. When the breweries two founders got together, they wanted to create an extension of home and kinship, leading them to the name Kinsmen. This enormous beer hall is full of exposed brick, wood, and pipes. Large communal tables, tinted lighting, and a huge “V” shaped ceiling make the taproom feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the medieval period. Most important is their sprawling tap list full of creative, flavorful, and innovative tasting beers. We can say with confidence that these guys know their way around a dark beer!
Shannon: Kinsmen Brewing is a pretty epic beer hall. It kind of reminds me of where the Red Wedding took place on Game of Thrones, minus all the fighting and bloodshed, of course. They have a tap list with normally 10 or so beers ranging between all the traditional styles. My favorite beer by them was a collaboration with Eli Cannons Tap Room, Perkatory Coffee Roaster, and NoRa Cupcake Company, all located in Middletown. The beer, called Two Bad Neighbors, is a strong and VERY roasty chocolate/coffee/cupcake imperial stout. Two Bad Neighbors hasn’t been on tap since the end of 2019 but keep your eye out for it, you’ll regret not having a pint.
Chris: I have been to Kinsmen quite a few times, but it was the Secret Stash Stout Brunch that made me fall in love. It combines two of my favorite hobbies, drinking stouts and eating brunch. They switched their taps to go all out on stouts and porters , not just from Kinsmen but other local breweries. They also had their in-store restaurant Sauced do breakfast pizza which if you have not had you are missing out. In summary, it was a dream come true. Even if you go when there isn’t a special brunch event, Kinsmen is a great place to go. They are constantly trying out new beers. Last time we went, I got their Dessert Sandwich Stout, a Nutella flavored beer. That’s not to say they don’t do plenty of non-dark beers too, but you know me, I like my beer as I like my metal.
Other Cool Stuff:
- The taproom is crafted with reused lumber, pipes, and other materials original to the old factory building!
- Kinsmen is on the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that goes from New Haven up to Northampton, Mass.
- Huge outdoor deck and patio
- A bar full of assorted liquors available
- Has an in-house restaurant called Sauced where you can order some pretty tasty food!
- Pets welcome on the patio
- Live music on the weekends
- There’s a rental hall in the brewery called Clark Hall where weddings are held!
What We Drank:
Shannon: Bowl Cut (DIPA) 8% – 3 out of 5
Chris: Dessert Sandwich (Imperial Stout) 10% – 4.5 out of 5
Brewery Rating: 4 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 