Willimantic Brewing Company

When I Went: September 4th, 2020

Where: 967 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226

If you know Connecticut craft beer you know Willimantic Brewing Company, or Willibrew as everyone calls them. They started brewing their own beer in 1997 making them the oldest brewery in the state, which makes me feel old. Willibrew is a full service restaurant and pub that is located in a former post office that was built in 1909. The brewery has done its best to preserve the early 20th century architectural feel. Maybe the idea of drinking in an old post office sounds boring, but let me tell you this place looks nice both on the inside and outside. They kept a considerable amount of post office memorabilia, they have a giant mural depicting 1920’s Main Street, a 60′ mahogany bar, and frogs everywhere! Take a full 3D tour here! If you don’t know why the town of Willimantic is covered in frogs, just look up the Battle of the Frogs.

Chris: Do I need to keep putting my name here? Either way, I was excited to go to Willibrew both for the beer and the food. I had never been to any breweries in Windham county and now that I have gone here, I have been to 20% of them! I feel very accomplished for once. When it comes to their beer they only had 6 of their own beers on tap and three of them were IPAs, so of course I got their stout. You can imagine my excitement when they had an oyster stout on tap, Six Shooter Oyster Stout, and it was smooth and light. I also got their Overseas Mail Octoberfest, a Marzen, which got me ready for all the Octoberfest celebrations that have already been cancelled. Overall, I liked the atmosphere and my beer, but I wish they had more of a selection to pick from but a lot of breweries selections have been more limited during Covid.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • They have a full bar of assorted liquors
  • Full restaurant
  • Private dining room in the old Postmaster’s office

What I Drank:

Overseas Mail Octoberfest (Marzen) 6.4% – 3.5 out of 5

Six Shooter (Oyster Stout) 5.9% – 4.5 out of 5

Brewing Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Taft’s Ale House

When Shannon Went: August 14, 2020

Where: 1429 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Taft’s Ale House – the original location!

Taft’s Ale House has been pouring cold, fresh pints of beer in their renovated, three-story 1850’s church since they opened in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in 2015. Over the last five years, they have racked up quiet the reputation winning several different Ohio food and brewing awards. In 2017, they opened a production facility/ second taproom 10 minutes north of their downtown location. Their second location, the Brewpourium, features 12 to 16 different craft beers, plus some appetizers and New Haven style pizza (which makes my Connecticut heart very happy). In 2019, Taft’s expanded even more when they opened another Brewpourium in Ohio’s capital, Columbus. Word around the taproom is that their third location is decorated in a funky 90’s space theme! And if you haven’t already noticed their logo, yes, that is 27th US President Howard Taft relaxing in a bathtub, sipping on a beer brewed by a business named in his honor.

Shannon: Since moving to Ohio I’ve had the chance to visit two out of the three Taft locations – the original taproom and their Brewpourium – Cincinnati location. Admittedly, I visited the Brewpourium first and was not so impressed. It’s exactly what it sells itself as, a production facility with 10 or so taps and some tables and chairs thrown around. After hearing a lot of great things about this brewery, I left thinking their beer was good but they didn’t have the wow-factor everyone said to expect. Then I went to their original location, and I have to admit, I was wrong. Taft’s Ale House’s original taproom is simply breathtaking. I’ve never been to a brewery in a renovated church before but something about the atmosphere was just indescribable. The downtown location has more seating, more beers on tap, and more food options. While I was there I tried their smoky, malty, yet subtly sweet, Cherrywood Amber Ale. I would drink this beer over and over again, no questions asked.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • They have 3 locations – Taft’s Ale House, Taft’s Brewporium – Cincinnati, and Taft’s Brewporium – Columbus
  • Known in Cincy for their delicious, award winning tri-tip steak!
  • Tons of merch available online!
  • Lots of different events going on at all 3 taprooms
  • Food and cans-to-go available

What Shannon Drank:

Shannon: Cherrywood (Amber Red Ale) 6% – 4.5 out of 5

Shannon: Old Sport (Stout) 5.2% – 3.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Cold Creek Tavern

When We Went: July 26, 2020

Where: 175 West Rd, Ellington, CT 06029

Cold Creek Brewery started out as a to-go beer only brewery on Industrial Road in Ellington in 2015. Then they opened up a restaurant, Cold Creek Tavern on West Road, where they serve their own brews and food, as well as beers from other Connecticut breweries and big name companies. We can’t give an accurate description of what the atmosphere feels like inside since they were only doing outdoor seating, but the food was awesome. Waiting for Shannon to take a picture of those nachos took significant restraint.

Chris: The brewery/tavern/restaurant gave me the impression of a much smaller scale City Steam. If you have never been to City Steam, it is one of Connecticut’s oldest breweries, but just like Cold Creek, it is a restaurant first and a brewery second. They only had a few of their own beers on tap, so I ordered their Winnie Oatmeal Stout and it was delicious. It had tastes of maple and coffee and was surprisingly light with all that flavor. Cold Creek recently posted on Facebook that they, “started brewing again,” so maybe that explains their lack of selection when Shannon and I went in July. But it’s tough to say because they don’t have a website. Either way, I want to go back once the inside is open and they have more of their own beers on tap.

Shannon: Cold Creek Tavern is more restaurant than it is brewery. That doesn’t mean this tavern isn’t contributing to the CT craft beer scene with their limited house-brewed beers though. (It’s a stamp on the beer passport!) When Chris and I visit places like this for the first time, I always order a beer that is brewed by the location. While there might be a ton of great beers by other breweries on tap, trying the location’s beer is a humble nod of appreciation to them. During our visit to Cold Creek, we sat on the small outdoor patio, which was socially distant and safe. Our server was awesome and deserves some love! Between bites of nachos, I knocked back Cold Creek’s 6% blonde ale. This light, hoppy beer was super easy to drink on a hot July afternoon in Connecticut.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Full restaurant menu
  • Cans available at local package stores
  • Voted best restaurant in Tolland County in 2019 by Connecticut Magazine
  • Open 7 days a week

What We Drank:

Chris: Winnie Maple & Coffee (Oatmeal Stout) 6.8% – 4.5 out of 5

Shannon: Tavern Ale (Blonde Ale) 6% – 3 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 3.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?