When: December 21st, 2023
Where: 17 Kripes Rd, East Granby, CT 06026
Nestled near Bradley Airport in East Granby, Almost Famous Brewery takes its cue from the iconic movie, channeling a distinct rock and roll vibe. The establishment boasts an array of music memorabilia, with walls featuring artists from James Brown to Nirvana. Beer taps shaped like guitars and records on the walls further amplify the brewery’s commitment to its musical theme.
The spacious venue offers more than just a place to sample craft beers. Divided into several side rooms, patrons can engage in arcade games, board games, and other recreational activities, several which can be reserved for private parties. The ambiance is laid-back, catering to both beer enthusiasts and those looking for a casual hangout spot. Which seems to be what most new breweries in Connecticut go for.
A noteworthy feature at Almost Famous is their “Get Funky With It” feature were you can add a flavor to your drink. There is a list of around twenty flavors ranging from blueberry to Habanero Lime and Swiss Chocolate, any of which can be added to a beer or seltzer, but we only tried with the seltzer. Its certainly a unique feature and I enjoyed the Watermelon Seltzer.
Almost Famous Brewery offers a laid-back atmosphere with a touch of musical flair. They are also dog friendly as a number of well behaved dogs were at the brewery on the night we went.
Nick: I think I should have gotten the “Get Funky With It” in my beer as well because overall my takeaway was that the beer was bland. A sour should not be bland but both the “Tangent”, a tangerine sour, and the “Same as it ever was Peach” were pretty indistinct from each other. The “Stranger than Fiction” Stout was the same issue. I liked the Harmony Seltzer, we tried it with a few different Get Funky flavors added in but I found the Watermelon to be the best. While I liked the customizable flavor idea for the seltzer I feel like my beer should be good enough flavor wise for me to want to drink it on its own.
Chris: Almost Famous was doing live music trivia when we were there which was a pretty unique thing to offer. I always like a place that is willing to try new and unique stuff, and that includes the Get Funky flavor shots they offered, but as Nick already mentioned, it seemed that their beer needed added flavor. That being said, Almost Famous does have a lot of beers on tap with a wide variety of styles. The Tangent sour was my favorite but it still could have used more flavor. I also had Stranger than Fiction Stout and the Plush Milkshake IPA which all had nice base flavors, but were overall bland.
Other cool things:
- Live music
- Open mic nights
- Food trucks
- Many other events
Nick: Same as it ever was(Peach) (Sour) 5.3%- 3.5 out of 5
Nick: Tangent (Sour) 5.6%- 3 out of 5
Chris: Plush (Milkshake IPA) 6.9%- 3.5 out of 5
Chris: Stranger than Fiction (Stout) 6.5% – 3.75 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion:
Beer: 3.5 out of 5
Location: 3 out of 5
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Brewing Persuasions 