Hop Culture Farms and Brew Co.

When Chris went: August 29th, 2020

Where: 144 Cato Corner Road, Colchester, CT 06415

Like many craft breweries, Hop Culture Farms and Brew Company was started by two home brew enthusiasts who decided to take things to the next level. Heather and Sam Wilson wanted to create more than just a brewery, so they bought a 40 acre plot of land in Colchester and turned it into a farm. The taproom itself is a converted old cattle barn, not unlike Fox Farm in Salem. Hop Culture officially opened in 2019, and its large outdoor property gives it a huge advantage in these times as there are plenty of picnic tables that are safely spread out. This also allows Hop Culture to be dog and family friendly, in the warmer months anyway. The converted cattle barn reminds me of the Yankee Candle village on the outside and a summer cottage on the inside. Hop Culture is the peak picnic venue for you and your beer.

Chris: I went to Hop Culture during covid to celebrate my brother’s birthday, and I loved the fact that we were both able to bring our dogs. They had their inside seating open, but we decided on staying outside. They have a pretty good system; each picnic table was at least 15 feet apart and servers came around delivering beer avoiding any crowds at the bar. It made all of us feel pretty safe. When it comes to the barn inside and outside aesthetic, they pass the vibe check as the kids would say. I always like a place that comes up with clever names for their beers, like There She Gose Again, and Hop Culture does a great job of that. My favorite beer from this place was their Java Boot coffee stout, but the other beers I had from here were average. They have a smaller brewing capacity than other places meaning they only have 5 or 6 beers on tap. Overall I would say that Hop Culture is a great place to go to on a nice day, especially if you want a brewery that lets you spread out.

Other cool stuff

  • Dog friendly
  • They have their doggy treats (our dogs approved)
  • Grow their own hops
  • Merch for sale

What Chris Drank:

Chris: Java Boot (Coffee Stout) 6.5% – 4 out of 5

Chris: There She Gose Again (Sour) 5% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Blue Jean Baby (Fruit Beer) 5% – 3 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 3 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Wallenpaupack Brewing Company

When We Went: July 25, 2020

Where: 73 Welwood Ave, Hawley, PA 18428

Wallenpaupack (Wall-in-paw-pack) Brewing Company, one of the few brewpubs found in the far corner of Northeastern PA, opened its taproom in 2017. The brewery is named after Lake Wallenpaupack, the state’s second largest man-made lake, and is located less than a mile away from the recreational body of water. While it does not have that “traditional” pub aesthetic, it does have delicious food, including our personal favorite, poutine (with REAL cheese cruds.) They have two bars with taps at either end of the building, and the walls are decorated with barrels and labels from the hops they use. The brewery boasts large rooms with plenty of seating and a nicely decorated outdoor patio for more seating. When we went, they designated half of the brewery for cans-to-go and the other half for dine-in food and drinks. They were also letting people tailgate in the parking lot, which must be a PA thing?

Chris: We have been to Wallenpaupack a few times, and I have been a big fan of their food and location. When it comes to their beer, they always seem willing to try new things, like my stout ice cream float which you can see below. While it looks delicious I was a little disappointed to be honest, but I was happy that they tried it. I was a big fan of their This Is Sour. Can you guess what kind of beer it is? It had a nice citrus taste to it that wasn’t too sour and at 4% you can knock back quite a few. They always have a big variety and selection of beers, so you will be able to find something you like.

Shannon: As a Pennsylvanian local to the area, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has a special place in my heart. Outside of the Scranton/ Wilkes Barre area, this little corner of PA does not have many breweries. So when Wallenpaupack decided to buy the long closed Arby’s and knock it down to build a brewery, I was on board! Like many small town businesses, Wallenpaupack has immersed themselves into the community by taking part in festivals and creating menus of locally sourced food. A large majority of their beers are inspired by the lake and one of my personal favorites is No Wake Zone. A 5.3% lager brewed with orange peels and citrusy German hops, No Wake Zone is a light and refreshing beer that goes down fast. One of their stronger lagers, Smoke on the Water, is an excellent smoky beer that has a noticeable smoke flavor and aroma without being too overpowering. If you’re looking for a lager with a little something more to it, I highly recommend this smoky brew.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Cans-to-go and food curbside pick up. They also do dockside and boat slip delivery!
  • Huge menu of great food!
  • Largest craft brewery in Wayne County, Pennsylvania!
  • Located just off Lake Wallenpaupack
  • “Pints with a Purpose” is a monthly event held in the taproom that benefits nonprofit organizations
  • They brew their own seltzer (because who doesn’t at this point)

What We Drank:

Shannon: No Wake Zone (Helles Lager) 5.3% – 4.5 out of 5

Chris: This is Sour (Sour) 4% – 4 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4 out 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Esoteric Brewing Co.

When Shannon Went: September 6, 2020

Where: 918 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Did you have any idea that there are just over 60 Black-owned craft breweries in the United States? That’s slightly more than all the breweries found in the Greater Cincinnati area. Among those is Esoteric Brewing Company, the Queen City’s first and only black-owned and operated brewery. Dedicated to revitalizing and diversifying the Walnut Hill neighborhood, Esoteric began pouring pints only a month ago! Their taproom is elegant, suave, and the definition of excellence. Located in an art-deco style building originally constructed in 1931 as a shopping destination, the building fell on hard times and into a state of decay. When Esoteric moved in, so did a new era in the buildings history. Inside the newly restored structure is a full production brewery and taproom guided by the meaning of their logo, the lotus flower. The lotus fights its way through adversity in order to blossom into its fullest potential, and that right there is the embodiment of Esoteric Brewing Co.

Shannon: Esoteric’s taproom is an experience unlike any other. Their opening coincides with a time when calls for racial justice and equality have never been louder. Walking into their taproom on opening weekend was humbling on so many different levels. I was blown away by the level of sophistication in the taprooms design and even more blown away by their craft beer. On opening weekend, only four beers were on draft, but since then a handful of other beers have been added. I really enjoyed all of the beers that I tried, but my favorite so far is the Lotus IPA. Coming in at a 6.5% ABV, Lotus is a dry and hoppy IPA that’s well balanced and reminiscent of the west coast craft beer style.

Other Cool Things:

  • Cincinnati’s first minority-owned and operated brewery!
  • In an exquisite historic building!
  • Dog friendly
  • Food trucks for snacking in the taproom
  • Level up your tailgate with a game day mini-keg appropriately named “Li’l Sebastian”
  • Lots of merch for sale
  • Pouring their version of Black is Beautiful
  • Outdoor patio
  • Community nights and happy hour specials weekly
  • Free parking (which is exciting and rare in the city)
  • Plans to donate a portion of their proceeds to non-profits in the Walnut Hills community that promote education, economic equity, improve food access, provide skills training and other important causes that better the neighborhood

What Shannon Drank: Flight Edition!

Shannon: Lotus (IPA) 6.5% – 4 out of 5

Shannon: Ethereal (Belgian Blonde Ale) 6.7% – 3.5 out of 5

Shannon: Dahlia (Brown Ale) 5.3% – 4 out of 5

Shannon: Mystic (English Pale Ale) 5.1% – 3 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 5 out of 5!

Feeling persuaded yet?