When: March 15th, 2025
Where: 2323 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT
Haven Beer Company, which opened in 2024, is Hamden’s newest — and largest — brewery. The spacious taproom features two full-sized bars, an extensive selection of cocktails and wine, a biergarten, and a robust food menu that includes weekend brunch. When we visited, the place was absolutely packed — from the bar to every table — despite its large capacity and accommodations for parties of all sizes. The tap list was impressive in size, offering a mix of their house brews alongside a generous lineup of guest taps. That said, the variety leaned heavily toward lagers and IPAs, so the selection felt a bit narrow depending on your preferences. Since it was still pretty cold in March, we didn’t get to take advantage of the biergarten, but now that spring is here, we’re definitely planning a return visit.
Chris: This was actually my second time going to Haven Beer Company, so I’ve had the chance to try quite a few of their beers. My favorite of the bunch was the Long Night, a dark lager with a light and malty flavor. Other than that, I was not a big fan of the other beers I tried. The Lustrous lager, Linn Kolsch, and Paz mexican lager were all very light and crispy, but too bland and flavorless for my tastes. Neither time that I went did they have any stouts, porters, or brown ales on their menu. HBC can brew whatever beers they want to, but this was a difficult brewery for me to find something I would like that was brewed by them and not from the guest tap.
Nick: After a Quinnipiac hockey game (That’s why I’m wearing a Whalers jersey), we made our way to Haven Beer Company in Hamden, and it was clear we weren’t the only ones with that idea—it was packed. The place has a very cool vibe that fits right in with the Hamden scene, and despite the crowd, my two favorites two beers were Long Night and Heavy Feathers. We had gone in expecting to grab dinner and drinks, but it was so busy that just getting the drinks was a win. Still, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular spot.
What we drank:
Chris: Long Night (Dark Lager) 5.2% – 3.5 out of 5
Chris: Linn (Kolsch) 4.8% – 3 out of 5
Chris: Lustrous (Pale Lager) 4.1% – 3 out of 5
Nick: Heavy Feathers (Dark) 4%- 4 out of 5
Nick: Long Night (Dark Lager) 5.2% – 4 out of 5
Other cool thing:
- Annual gold tournament
- Small gift shop
- Private event space
Brewing Persuasion:
Beer: 3 out of 5
Location: 4 out of 5
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Brewing Persuasions 