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

Armada Brewing

When: June 21st, 2024

Where: 190 River Street, New Haven, CT

In June, Chris and I enjoyed visiting Armada Brewing in New Haven. Opened in 2017, this brewery is an excellent example of how a former industrial space can be transformed into a vibrant, creative hub for craft beer enthusiasts. With its bold murals and fun atmosphere, Armada Brewing has quickly become a favorite spot in the city. Like many breweries, Armada Brewing occupies a reclaimed industrial building, but they’ve given it a fresh, artistic feel. The walls are adorned with colorful murals, creating a lively backdrop while you enjoy your beer. Inside, there’s a laid-back vibe, complete with games to keep you entertained between rounds of beer. Armada offers a wide variety of beers, from IPAs to rich stouts, along with more experimental brews.

Nick: While Armada has an extensive list of beers, two of my personal favorites stood out during our visit: Notorious Gypsy: This tart sour is packed with pink guava, passion fruit, and peach, offering a bright and fruity punch that’s both refreshing and complex. Rey’s Temptation: A perfect balance of sweet and tart, this raspberry sour stood out with its bold berry flavors and smooth finish. Both beers had that perfect combination of tartness and sweetness that I love in a sour, making them the highlight of my experience.

Chris: As a fellow lover of sours, I was also enamored with Rey’s Temptation as it had a nice creamy raspberry flavor without being too sweet. There were plenty of options at Armada, but I decided to go for my tried and true stouts and porters. The best of the dark beers was the Lord Chancellor, a creamy oatmeal stout that came in at a whopping 7%. Needless to say, I was glad that I wasn’t the one driving.

What we drank:

Chris: Lord Chancellor (Stout) 7% – 4.25 out of 5

Chris: Rey’s Temptation (Sour) 4.5% – 4.75 out of 5

Nick: Notorius Gypsy (Sour) 5%- 4.25 out of 5

Nick: Rey’s Temptation (Sour) 4.5%- 4.25 out of 5

Other cool things:

  • Plenty of merch
  • Lots of events including trivia, night markets, and wresting
  • Cans to go
  • Private event booking

Brewing Persuasion:

Beer: 4.5 out of 5

Location: 3 out of 5

Atmosphere: 4 out of 5