Breweries throughout Connecticut and nearby breweries in Massachusetts & Rhode Island
No surprise here, they never evolved and started brewing craft beers. They also never created a real tasting room.
100 Mechanic Street
Pawcatuck, CT 06379
(860) 599-8213
Signature Beer: Old Yankee Ale
Five second Description: They have a good formula for success and have been in business since 1997.
Why you should go: Free samples and a friendly staff
My Rating
Beer: C
Setting: C+
First visited January 2017
Website: Cottrell Brewing Co.
Pretty good beer, but a strange location that did not feel safe, they also did not keep inventing new beers which are essential for a small brewery.
Signature Beer: YPA
Five second Description: great stop to grab a pint of good beer, they typically have a food truck too. This is a great stop for a quick beer and they have munchies out.
Why you should go: Nice tasting room and they allowed pets!
My Rating
Beer: B
Setting: A-
Website: Hanging Hills Brewing Company
A place like this just could not keep its head above wter in an enviroment where food and events are needed to survive, Not to mention that the beer was nothing to write home about.
59 School Ground Road, Branford, CT 06405
(203) 208-2213
Signature Beer: Cream Ale
Five second Description: Good beer in an odd setting.
Why you should go: The beer is very ordinary and the only improvement over the last 5 years was expanding to picnic tables in the parking lot.
My Rating
Beer: C
Setting: C+
Website: Duvig (Looks like this is lapsed, not a good sign)
First visited Jan 21, 2017
This place just closed one day with no explanation. There might be more to this but no one knows. Good brewery but too far off the beaten path.
36 Industrial Dr, Ellington, CT 06029
(860) 858-1900
Signature Beer: Probably Elynour
Five second Description: Good clean beer in the middle of a pasture/industrial zone. And they have a great logo!
Why you should go: Very generous with their beer with a good size tasting room. What else is there to do in Ellington?
My Rating
Beer: B
Setting: B+
Website: Cold Creek Brewery (Yes it is Facebook)
Reviews
[catlist name=coldwater]
It was cool, but nobody went, likely the location which has a string of closures.
1 Wolcott Rd, Wolcott, CT
(203) 514-2336
Signature Beer: Not one established that I can tell.
Five-second Description: This place used to be Shebeen and it is now Velvet Libations that acts as a collective for their line and three others. There is a bit of an identity crisis here with the website belonging to the collective, but the brewery seems to be Velvet Libations. Very cool tasting room set up like it is in the 60s complete with black and white programming on the TV.
Why you should go: Great if you want to go back to the 60s lounge era. Austin Powers would approve of this place.
My Rating
Beer: B-
Setting: B+
Last visited April 3, Jan 2022
Website: Velvet Libations
They were a local successful brewery before it was a thing in Connecticut. Unfortunately, they did not keep up with the evolving beer market with their product line.
776 Tolland Street, East Hartford, CT 06108
(860) 528-2200
Signature Beer: Ten Penny Ale
Five second Description: There is a beer garden in the back that is open during fair weather months. Very generous with their samples and solid mainstream beer. No tours or indoor facilities.
Why you should go: They know how to throw a backyard party.
My Rating
Beer: B
Setting: B-
Website: Olde Burnside Brewing Company
Reopened as Dead Language Beer Project
1429 Park Street, Hartford CT 06106
(860) 206-2119
Signature Beer: Golden Messenger Kölsch-style Ale (not sure about this one)
Five second Description: popular and great venue with fresh and clean beer. An old 25 foot factory press in the room and almost always a food truck too.
Why you should go: The setting and beer to please everybody, always a food cart!
My Rating
Beer: A-
Setting: A
Website: Hog River Brewery
