Epicure Brewing

When: February 13th, 2025

Where: 40 Franklin St, Norwich, CT 06360

Epicure Brewing is located in the heart of Norwich and offers an inviting atmosphere for all types of beer enthusiasts. When we visited, we were pleasantly surprised by the lively vibe, thanks to a cornhole tournament happening alongside their vast array of board and arcade games. This venue is a perfect spot for casual hangouts and friendly competition with a nice post-industrial feel on the inside. In terms of beer selection, Epicure didn’t disappoint. They offered a great variety that catered to all tastes, from light and crisp to rich and bold. Whether you’re a fan of IPAs, Stouts, or Sours, there’s something for everyone. With These Guys moving to the marina, Epicure has the downtown Norwich area to itself.

Nick: Epicure has a really nice atmosphere, when I worked in the area this was frequent place for coworkers to meetup. I liked several beers but none of them really blew me away. On this visit I got the Rasp Beret which was a Raspberry Porter which had been recommended to me and I thought was good. The Finnegan Dealt it is a malty Red Ale which again was good but isn’t one that really stood out to me. I had high hopes for the Unusual Development, a lime Gose but it was just fine.

Chris: I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the location of Epicure, and they seem to do a ton of events on their calendar. The taproom had a wide selection of brews, with my favorite being the Dunkel kaffeebier which was light with a nice hint of coffee. I was also a fan of the Porter Party which was nice and malty. While there were no bad beers on tap, nothing stuck out as an amazing beer, with most beers being decent.

What we drank:

Nick: Finnegan Dealt it(Red Ale) 5.9%- 3.5 out of 5

Nick: Rasp Beret (Porter) 5.6%- 3.5 out of 5

Nick: Unusual Development (Sour) 4.7% – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Dunkel Kaffeebier (Lager) 5.3%- 4.25 out of 5

Chris: Porter Party (Porter) 5.7% – 3.75 out of 5

Other cool things:

  • Lots of events
  • Cans to go
  • Merch
  • Spiked seltzers

Brewing Persuasion:

Beer: 3.5 out of 5

Location: 4 out of 5

Atmosphere: 4 out of 5

No Worries Brewing Company

When: July 10, 2024

Where: 2520 State Street, Hamden, Ct 06517

No Worries Brewing Company in Hamden is the kind of place where the name truly says it all. The brewery has a laid-back vibe, drinks, and even the occasional dog to complete the welcoming atmosphere. I stopped by on a quiet afternoon, finding myself in the bartender’s company and their friendly pup, which made the experience feel personal.

Though Chris and I visited a few weeks apart, we found things to enjoy. For me, the hard seltzers stole the show. Lee Dee Da Mango Blast was a standout—a mango-flavored hard seltzer that’s bright, tropical, and refreshing. RotoScope, a flavored malt beverage, also impressed with its unique character.

Say It Loud, a smooth and balanced brown ale, was my top pick on the beer side. It’s perfect for those who appreciate malty, darker styles without overwhelming heaviness.

If you want a relaxed spot to enjoy creative drinks in Hamden, this is the only spot in town. It won’t get the attention that its New Haven cousins will.

Nick: Lee Dee Da Mango Blas was my favorite—it’s one of the best seltzers I’ve had in a while. And Say It Loud? It was also very good. The bartender explained it to me, but I am still not clear on what it is precisely because they told me it isn’t malt liquor, but a flavored malt beverage, which Untapped labels this as.

Chris: I’ve been to No Worries brewing a few times by now and its been a mixed bag to say the least. The taproom is your typical garage brewery with some nice art on the walls, but does have a private event space attached. I’ve had quite the assortment of brews during my time at Now Worries, but by far the best one was the Here it Gose Again with Blackberries. It was a sweet sour with a little bit of tart to it, not sure if it is still served as I drank it 5 years ago. Since then, I have had their Cannonball Pilsner and Hakuna Matata Blonde which were both pretty bland.

What We Drank:

Nick: La Dee Da| Mango Blast 5%(Hard Seltzer)- 4.75 out of 5

Nick: RotoScope 6%(Flavored Malt Beverage)- 4 out of 5

Chris: Here it Gose Again (Sour) 4.2% – 4 out of 5

Chris: Cannonball (Pilsner) 5.25.5 – 2.5 out of 5

Other Cool things:

  • Private event space
  • Cans to go
  • Beer and seltzers available

Brewing Persuasion:

Beer: 3 out of 5

Location: 3 out of 5

Atmosphere: 2.5 out of 5

Bad Dog Brewing Company

When: June 28th, 2024

Where: 117 Water Street, Torrington, CT

Bad Dog Brewing is one of those breweries that surprises you, not just with its beer but also its story. Located in an old firehouse, this brewery offers a welcoming atmosphere for both beer enthusiasts and dog lovers alike. Despite the name, Bad Dog Brewing is quite dog-friendly! The name comes from the owner, who jokingly refers to his three mischievous dogs at home. The brewery opened in 2021 and is a relaxed place to enjoy good beer. It is in a very walkable part of downtown Torrington.

One of the most exciting aspects of Bad Dog Brewing is its Flight of 12 option, a unique offering that allows you to explore a wide range of beers in one visit. This is a perfect choice for those who love to delve into different styles. Unfortunately, Bad Dog Brewing does not currently feature many beer options. The brewery does features guest taps, and during my visit, we had the pleasure of trying Spoke and Spy and Alvarium from their guest lineup. If you are in Torrington make sure to drop by. 

Nick: Strawberry Hefe Forever, this was a solid 3.5 out of 5 for me—a refreshing strawberry hefeweizen that had just the right amount of fruity flavor without being too sweet. The Amarillo Bliss was pretty good, a light fruity wheat beer. Honestly, my favorites were all the guest taps.

Chris: The large flight really gave us a chance to sample a bunch of different beers from Bad Dog and others. My favorite beer from Bad Dog was the Amarillo Bliss, a light wheat beer that I could easily imagine crushing on a hot day. Another wheat beer I had from Bad Dog was the Watermelon Tail Wagger which was more flavorful, but wasn’t quite as crisp. Other, I really enjoyed the aesthetic of the taproom more than anything as it was set inside an old firehouse with a full fir engine inside.

What We Drank:

Chris: Watermelon Tail Wagger (Wheat) – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Amarillo Bliss (Wheat) 4.2% – 3.75 out of 5

Nick: Looking for a Lite (Blonde) 5.4%- 3 out of 5

Nick: Strawberry Hefe Forever- 3.5 out of 5

Other cool things:

  • 1st and 2nd floor bar
  • Host private events
  • Wine, Cider, and Seltzer from Sunset Meadow Vineyard

Brewing Persuasion:

Beer: 2.5 out of 5

Location: 4.5 out of 5

Atmosphere: 5 out of 5