When Chris Went: October 24th, 2020
Where: 942 Main Street, Hartford CT 06103
City Steam opened in 1997, making it one of Connecticut’s oldest breweries. Their flagship beer series, Naughty Nurse, is a Connecticut staple. The brewery’s name comes from their method of brewing, with steam. The Hartford Steam Company has engineered a way to run steam pipes into City Steam, and the brewery uses the steam to power their 23-barrel brewery. City Steam is located in the historic Cheney building, built in 1875 by the Cheney brothers who produced silk in Manchester. The structure later housed part of the historic G. Fox Department Store, and the brewery’s iron railings and millwork are salvaged from it. Needless to say, there is a lot of history behind both City Steam and the Cheney building. When you walk inside, the first thing you will notice is how the brewery has kept their historic look. Almost every surface is covered in dark expensive looking wood. City Steam is a restaurant as well as a brewery, and their main dining room feels like a miniature Gatsby mansion with a grand chandler and multileveled seating area. City Steam brewery is an exceptionally unique location.
Chris: I have been to City Steam a bunch, not just for their beer but also for their food. Their food is self described as, “upscale casual” and I would say that is a fitting description. You will find your typical pub food, but much fancier and tastier. My personal favorite is their Naughty Nurse beer-battered fish and chips. They also have some great desserts as you can see. For their beer, City Steam has a pretty large selection, although they usually only have one dark beer on tap. When I went last I got their Blueberry Guava Twist Sour which tasted exactly how it sounds. Overall I would say that City Steam has an amazing location, amazing food, with some pretty good beer and definitely deserves your visit.
Shannon: It seems surprising but I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting City Steam once. I’m not quite sure why I never visited more while I was still living in Hartford. City Steam truly is a one of a kind place. From my one visit way back in 2018 I had two beers – their flagship beer Naughty Nurse Red Ale and a Pink and White Grapefruit Wit (thank god for Untappd, right?) Naughty Nurse is truly a home run, I’ve had this beer many times outside the taproom and every time I love it. City Steams Pink and White Grapefruit Wit is a low percentage traditional Belgian Witbier that’s brewed with pink grapefruit peels instead of the usual orange peel. The result is a aromatic, sweet, and juicy brew that goes down easy. Seriously, if you haven’t visited City Steam, I highly recommend that you do! You’ll find something here for everyone – tasty food, great beer, a variety of events, and a gorgeous historic building. What more could you ask for?
Other Cool Things:
- Mug club with your own personal mug
- Brew Ha Ha Comedy Club (plus specially brewed beers just for Comedy Club members)
- Pool table game room
- Private space available to rent
- Outdoor covered seating
- Bar section (order cocktails, wine, or beer)
What Chris Drank:
Chris: Blueberry Guava Twist (Sour) 4.3% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Steampunk (Porter) 5.5% – 3.5 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 