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?

Spoke + Spy Ciderworks

When we went: June 6th, 2020

Where: 180 Johnson Street, Middletown, CT 06457

Spoke + Spy Ciderworks opened in Middletown in 2018 but the idea was hatched when owners Ron and Kim were living in England drinking cider in pubs and bars. They decided to start brewing at home and it eventually led them to open up their very own taproom in the R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park. This is the same building where Forest City Brewing and Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company are located. You can stop by all three without having to go outside, talk about convenient. Spoke + Spy’s name comes from a combination of the building, which was an old wheel factory, and the northern spy apple which is a favorite of the owners. The taproom itself is quite small but well decorated with thick wooden tables. Plus, no cidery is complete without plenty of apple inspired artwork.

Chris: I first came across Spoke + Spy when I went to Forest City and Stubborn Beauty and saw a cidery sandwiched between them. I have always been a big fan of hard cider so I made sure to check this place out, and let me say, their cider is GREAT! Spoke + Spy is a place that knows what they are doing with not only their cider but also their non-alcoholic brews. The first time I went they had an amazing root beer on tap, and yeah I know root beer doesn’t have any alcohol in it, but if you have never had root beer on tap you are missing out. They seem to have expanded their variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic brews since they are currently rocking 8 ciders and 2 Kombuchas on tap. Last time I went, I had their Middle of the Blueberry which was semi-sweet with a nice refreshing blueberry flavor that did not overpower the drink. I would go here all the time, but unfortunately their hours are pretty limited so make sure to plan out your trip.

Shannon: To me, Spoke + Spy is the definition of a hidden gem. You might have to throw an elbow or two to find a seat since their taproom is pretty small, but with a little luck, you’ll manage to find a space to sit and sip. Whenever I’m at the taproom, I often opt for the flight, that way I get to try everything they have. It’s just so hard to pass up. I’ve come to love every single one of their ciders (with the exception of an 11.1% cider aged in a malt rye barrel for 20 months.) My all time favorite cider made by them is their Pomme L’Orange. This 5.1% sweet, orange and vanilla cider will 100% make you think you’re crushing a bottle of orange Fanta. Go get it. You know you want it.

Other cool things:

  • They brew their own root beer and kombucha
  • Currently filling growlers of cider-to-go from their take-out window!
  • Cider infused chocolates and Kettle Corn!
  • They often have some pretty cool events in the taproom
  • Flights of 6! Yum!
  • Grab an embroidered baseball hat with their logo on it

What we drank:

Chris: Middle of the Blueberry (Semi-sweet) 5.1% – 4.5 out of 5

Chris: Pomme L’Orange (Sweet) 5.1% – 4 out of 5

Shannon: Pomme L’Orange (Sweet) 5.1% – 5 out of 5

Shannon: Tepache Mode (Semi-sweet) 5.4% – 3 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?