Arrigoni Winery & Cider Company

When: May 10th, 2025

Where: 1287 Portland-Cobalt Rd, Portland, CT

Named after the Arrigoni Bridge, connecting Middletown and Portland, Arrigoni Winery & Cider Company is located in Portland, Connecticut and offers a wide range of wine and cider. Nick and I made our trips to Arrigoni specifically for their self described “New England Ciders.” Walking into their location you will see their store selling a large assortment of wine merch with glasses, bottle openers, tote bags, and more. They have a large indoor and outdoor seating area that makes it perfect for warm weather events. The tasting room offers a large number of options and specially catered cider flights with low and high percentage ciders and apple wines.

Chris: I was excited to try all the different ciders that Arrigoni had to offer as I am a cider fanatic. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of wine and most of the ciders offered at Arrigoni tasted just like wine. My preference on ciders is sweet and semi-sweet varieties, and pretty much all of the offerings at Arrigoni were dry and semi-dry. That being said, the Great Pumpkin wasn’t bad although I wish the pumpkin flavor was stronger, and Maple Madness was a little sweeter than the others. The rest of the bunch was very very dry with not much flavor. Considering that Arrigoni does not change out their ciders, I don’t see a reason to go back.

Nick: I visited Arigoni Winery with some friends who are all big cider fans, and unfortunately, we were disappointed with the selection. While the venue itself is lovely—especially the outdoor seating—it’s clear that the focus is still very much on wine. None of the ciders we tried hit the mark. The Plain Jane, a vanilla cider, was especially overpowering, and while the Blue G was probably the best of the bunch, it still wasn’t something I’d go back for. I wanted to love these ciders, but the Arigoni offerings fell flat overall.

What we drank:

Chris: Signature (Cider) 6.2% – 2 out of 5

Chris: Great Pumpkin (Cider) 6.4% – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Maple Madness (Cider) 6.1% – 3.5 out of 5

Nick: Plain Jane (Cider) 6.7% – 2 out of 5

Nick: Blue G (Cider) 6.7% – 3 out of 5

Other cool things:

  • Host weddings and other events
  • Lots of events
  • Wine and craft beer available
  • Large store

Brewing Persuasion:

Cider: 2.5 out of 5

Location: 3.5 out of 5

Atmosphere: 4 out of 5

Haven Beer Company

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

These Guys Brewing

When: February 13th, 2025

Where: 1 American Wharf Road, Norwich, CT

These Guys Brewing has been a staple of the Norwich craft brewing scene for quite some time. It has recently relocated just down the street and is now situated in the Norwich Marina. We had both visited the old location on Franklin street many times, but this was our first visit to their new location. The setting feels transitional, still retaining much of the marina theme while not feeling too different from their previous downtown location. While it may feel somewhat off at the moment, I am especially curious to see how it transforms in the summer, as the venue strongly favors outdoor seating. The potential for a vibrant, waterfront atmosphere is high, and it will be interesting to see how they evolve in the coming months.

The current beer selection was smaller than I am used to from them, and while they continue to serve food, it was expensive, and our food was not very good.  It will be worth revisiting in the future to see if their menu offerings expand or adjust over time.

Overall, while the new location still seems to be finding its footing, there is plenty of potential, especially as the warmer months approach. I look forward to seeing how it develops over time.

Nick: One of my favorite series from These Guys Brewing has always been the “Make Me Blush” line, and on this visit, I had the chance to try both the Make Me Blush P.O.G. and the Make Me Blush Raspberry. As expected, they were excellent. I also tried The Granted, a decent Mexican lager, which didn’t stand out as much as the others. The beer selection overall was relatively small, which I assume is due to their recent move. Hopefully, as they settle into the new space, they will expand their offerings again.

Chris: I have had quite a few beers from These Guys Brewing, but I have never been wowed by any of their brews. My favorite of the bunch was Lil Willy, a stout with a slight chocolate flavor and the lower percentage version of Kaiser Willy Imperial Stout. Like Nick, I was also a fan of the Make Me Blush – P.O.G which had a nice fruity flavor with passion fruit, orange, and guava. When it came to their food, I was very disappointed by our undercooked and cold flatbread pizza. I didn’t see any way to get cans of the beer or any merchandise of the brewery. It is difficult for me to say that this move was a positive thing for These Guys, as the brewery now feels like a generic bar, but maybe the warm weather will allow the brewery to stand out with the large amounts of outdoor space available.

What we drank:

Nick: Make Me Blush – Raspberry 4.5% (Sour) – 4 out of 5

Nick: Granted 4.7% (Mexican Lager) – 3 out of 5

Chris: Make Me Blush – P.O.G 4.5% (Sour) – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Lily Willy 5% (Stout) – 4 out of 5

Chris: Local 892 Sup-porter 5.4% (Porter) – 3 out of 5

Other cool things:

  • Full restaurant
  • Full bar

Brewing Persuasion:

Beer: 3 out of 5

Location: 3 out of 5

Atmosphere: 3 out of 5