Connecticut Valley Brewing Company

When We Went: June 28, 2020

Where: 765 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor, CT 06074

For this weeks socially distant brewery review, I (Shannon) would like to welcome you to one of my top 5 favorite places, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company! Located in the heart of the Connecticut Valley, this South Windsor brewery opened its doors back in 2018. CT Valley is all about aviation, which makes sense since one of their co-founders is an aviator himself. Their logo features the F4U Corsair, a World War II carrier-based and ground support fighter aircraft used by the U.S. Navy and Marines. The Corsair was named the official Connecticut State Aircraft in 2005 because 12,500 of them were designed and built by Connecticut workers at Hamilton Standard, Pratt & Whitney, and Vought Aircraft. CT Valley truly believes that community and industry is important and that is why they choose to highlight some of the states greatest achievements through delicious beers and beautiful can art.

Shannon: Let me start off by saying that I am a bit obsessed with airplanes, so I may favor CT Valley a little more than I probably should, but who cares? This brewery makes me happy! Between the aviation memorabilia covering the walls, the airplane can art, the aeronautical beer names, even the flight holders shaped like propellers, CT Valley has their theme down to a ‘T’. Beyond my love for old airplanes, CT Valley makes some really delicious beers. I’ve had 16 different beers by them and I can honestly say there has only been one that I haven’t liked. The one I didn’t like (let’s just get it out of the way) is their cucumber gose The Sailor’s Dream. I’m not a sour beer fan so I couldn’t really get behind this one. Beers I can get behind though, oh man, they have so many great ones. The Fun of It (Berliner Weisse), Black Sheep (Stout), The Great Escape (Porter), Double Wasp (Doppelbock), Let’s Fly Away (IPA), Trailblazer (NEIPA), Ace of Aces (Lager), Sherwood (IPA)….okay, okay, okay! I’m done gushing about how much I love Connecticut Valley, but only if you promise to go there!!

Chris: There are a lot of things that make Connecticut Valley Brewing a unique brewery. Shannon has already gone on and on about their (and her) long obsession with planes, but another one of the cool things about this place is how much they change. Every time we go there is something new to see, most recently was their almost finished fancy outdoor patio equipped with fireplaces! The previous time we went Birdhouse Coffee (owned by the same people who own Connecticut Valley) had just opened up inside serving craft coffee to go along with the craft beer. The brewery also makes their very own line of hard Seltzers, so they are doing a little bit of everything. I am a big fan of this place, especially their huge selection of fruit and sour beers, which is perfect for this time of year. They also have a huge selection of beers in general, usually close to 20 things on tap. Definitely check this place out, I guarantee you and all your friends will love it.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Dogs are welcome on their outdoor patio area!
  • Awesome merch available
  • Outside food is welcome but they often have food trucks for you to munch from
  • Wine is available if you aren’t in a beer mood
  • They hold fun events featuring trivia, comedians, and live music
  • They have their own coffee house located in the brewery! Go check out Birdhouse Coffee!!
  • CT Valley partners with Bevv to bring their beer all across the country. You can get their beer in Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska!!!

What We Drank:

Shannon: Cosmic Circus (IPA) 6% – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Spiked Smoothie Lemonade (Sour) 5% – 4 out of 5

Chris: Strawberry Lemonade (Sour) 5.1% – 4.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Thomas Hooker Brewing Co.

When We Went: June 24th, 2020

Where:

  • Location 1: 16 Tobey Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
  • Location 2: 140 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106

Thomas Hooker Brewing is one of the oldest breweries in Connecticut. Originally located in Hartford as Trout Brook Brewpub, the brewery closed down in the early 2000s and reopened in Bloomfield as Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in 2006. The name comes from the founder of the Connecticut Colony, Thomas Hooker, who landed in the area in 1636 with a group of 100 English settlers from Massachusetts to found what is now the city of Hartford. Since 2006, Hooker Brewery has opened a second taproom in the old Colt firearms factory in Hartford. Shannon and I have been to both locations, but most recently we went to their Bloomfield one for the first time. Since things are still in the process of reopening, we ordered indoors (and got a good look at the inside which was impressive), and took our beer and pretzel bites outside. Inside, the taproom has plenty of hightops in both the front and back of the brewery, plus a tap in each room! If you don’t feel like going to the brewery, you can see exactly what the locations look like through the virtual tours Hooker has for the Bloomfield and Hartford taprooms!

The brewery has an awesome exhibit panel in the taproom that talks about who Thomas Hooker was and history of brewing in Connecticut! The panel was made by the Connecticut Historical Society!

Chris: You may have noticed Hooker is my #5 favorite brewery, but to be honest I was thinking about potentially switching it up with Little House or Connecticut Valley, which are both great breweries. But this most recent trip to Hooker confirmed why I had them in my top 5. What I love most about this brewery is that they do so many different things and that they do them so well. Both locations are super nice and I always feel welcomed, not only by the space but by the staff as well. They have amazing food, and just expanded their menu to serve pizza as well. Hooker is also really good about partnering with other institutions for all sorts of things. They have a beer for the Hartford Yard Goats called Hit By Pitch (Pale Ale), another for the Hartford Athletic (self-titled lager), and a collaboration with Munson’s chocolate for their Chocolate Truffle Stout (my personal favorite). They even setup a tap on occasion at the dog rescue next to their Bloomfield location. Since it was pretty hot on the day we went, I got their Pul’D Raspberry Sour which was very refreshing. No matter what kind of breweries you like, Thomas Hooker will have something for you.

Shannon: Personally I am a fan of Hooker’s second taproom, but hey, it’s always nice to visit their roots by going to the original location. The inside of the Bloomfield taproom is pretty bare bones right now. A bunch of tables have been removed to promote social distancing due to Coronavirus. The only part of the brewery that doesn’t feel empty is a single corner packed full of branded Hooker merchandise – it’s seriously a mini boutique up in there! Okay, but beyond all of that, (I really hate to say it) their beer is kind of hit or miss for me. There have been beers from them that I’ve really loved, like the Chocolate Truffle Stout and the Ode to Blumpy IPA, but on the flip side, there have also been beers I’ve really had a hard time drinking, like the Tropical Storm Pina Colada IPA or the Golden Nymph IPA.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Stowe Cider on tap
  • Large selection of merchandise
  • Dog Star Rescue is right next door! Sometimes they’ll throw up a tent and some taps and pour you a beer while your dog gets some play time in!!
  • Lots of food available! We had some tasty pretzel bites!
  • Bloomfield location open 7 days a week
  • Hartford location open everyday but Monday
  • Virtual taproom tours online!

What We Drank:

Shannon: Watermelon Ale (Fruit Beer) 4.8% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Pul’D Raspberry (Berliner Weisse) 4.5% – 4 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Witchdoctor Brewing Company

When We Went: June 17, 2020

Where: 168 Center Street, Southington, CT 06489

Chris and I are officially back on the CT Beer trail, passport apps in hand!! With breweries taking the recommended steps towards reopening, we decided to travel the Beer Trail to Southington and enjoy a socially distanced, outdoor beer at the one and only, Witchdoctor Brewing Company. Opened only a few years ago, Witchdoctor is located in the original Southington Tool Manufacturing building built in 1883. Today it’s a multi-use retail and office space, but all we really care about is that this building is home to a brewery that prides themselves on having a rotating line of beers on tap. From IPA’s to stouts, Witchdoctor is constantly changing up their ingredients and serving the most unique beers.

Shannon: If you like your breweries with a spacious, semi-dark lighting vibe, Witchdoctor is the place for you. They have great beer, a great space, and tons of seating and other things to do. Chris and I have been coming here for a few years now, and I don’t think there’s ever been a time we haven’t enjoyed ourselves. One of my all time favorite beers from them is their 5.4% Strawberry Malt-Shake NEIPA called Bunny Patch. As they say at Witchdoctor, this brew would make the Nesquik bunny proud. The Bunny Patch isn’t your standard milkshake. It’s a smooth, creamy, sweet beer that’ll leave you with just the right malt and strawberry taste.

Chris: When you walk into Witchdoctor you will get the feeling that the brewery loves music as much as beer.  They have an indoor stage for their many musicians that they bring in, and the walls are covered in photos of concerts from all sorts of different artists (including one of my favorite bands Rammstein.)  Its not just music they have in variety but beer as well; when Shannon and I went they had 19 beers on tap which is an insane number.   The huge assortment of beers and styles makes this a place everyone will enjoy. 

Other Cool Stuff:

  • If you aren’t in a beer mood you can always buy food, wine, Avery’s Soda, hard cider, and some select liquor
  • They often have live music or trivia events
  • Outdoor seating
  • Outdoor games (pre-Covid)
  • Beer-to-go service during Covid-19
  • Currently open for limited, socially distanced indoor and outdoor seating!

What We Drank:

Shannon: Pexto Porter (Vanilla Porter) 5.8% – 4 out of 5

Shannon: Nutter Your Business (Chocolate Peanut Butter Red Ale) 6.2% – 4.5 out of 5

Chris: I am Frut (Fruit Beer) 5% – 4 out of 5

Chris: Papa Chocolate’s Malt-Shake (Milk Stout) 6% – 3.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?