CT microbrews

The microbrewery industry in CT has just exploded in the last 5 years, with breweries opening up seemingly in every town. The quality seems uniformly high. At the end of 2010, there were 10 craft breweries in the state. Today there are over 60. Unreal growth. And quality seems quite high at many/most.

The local specialties seem to be New England IPAs and Goses/Sours. A few of the IPAs veer into the “too much OJ style” for me, but many are excellent, including the one made just down the road of me at Steady Habits Brewery (actually they make 4-5 different IPAs, using different hop mixes or singles and doubles, but all are essentially New England style).

Other favorite IPAs from CT include those from Relic (which also has a fabulous vibe), New England Brewing Co, Witchdoctor, Two Roads, and Willimantic. I’ve probably missed many. Also, Hooker, which previously made mediocre brews and is an older brewery, does some really good IPAs now.

But the sours/goses are where CT might be excelling. Gone is the overly salted and harsh sours and goses I’ve previously had, many are complex, citrusy, even elegant and super super refreshing.

I really think CT is catching up to VT, MA and ME and may have equalled them already.

Always great when the local beer scene excels. CT, like the rest of NE, sounds to be putting out great beers. Not personally familiar with any CT beers,but I was really impressed by everything I had during a 2015 trip to Boston and Maine.

As for the goses, I’ve General,y found the US Versions too sour and nothing like the German originals (paging Rick Allen…). As proof, muppets brother in law recently visited and went on about how much he loved goes, especially from Stillwater and few local NY breweries. I bought him a few OG German goses and he hated them! I’ve enjoyed a few US examples for the style.

Peter,
I grew up in CT, my family is all still there including my brother who is a big craft beer guy. Most of his beer-hunting time now is spent driving to Monson, MA to get Treehouse for us, but he’s also shared some good CT beers with me, including a couple you mention. You should add Fox Farm to your list if you’ve not tried.
http://www.foxfarmbeer.com
Good stuff.
In Salem.
Cheers.

Thimble Island Brewing in Branford CT should also be on the list.

My 25th HS reunion will be held there in November. [cheers.gif]

Barley Head Brewing in Mystic, CT is very micro and delicious!

You’re right. And Two Roads (where Sip of Sunshine is actually made).

Thimble’s Coffee Porter is a seasonal favorite of ours.

While I have never considered them near the top tier in CT, I was at Stony Creek brewery this weekend for a bicycling event. Tried a few of their beers on tap, and found the apple-tinged brown ale and golden stouts were really great. They make an experimental IPA line that is more NE style and typically good.

The breweries’ facilities are arguably as impressive as any in the state. This isn’t some little, dark, but cool bar (Relic) or the usual old warehouse thing. I have no idea where they got the funding for their impressive building and tap house!

Trillium is planning a farmhouse brewery in No Stonington. Might be some time, however: Trillium is planning to open its first location outside of Massachusetts

Don’t forget about OEC and Counter Weight.

Just had a Two Roads Persian Lime Gose last night. I had picked up some local CT brews when last I visited my sister in Westport. Last summer beer for a while, and it was delicious. Very limey and just shy of sour, very refreshing and light. Recommended if you like that style.

I’ve also had Thimble Island Stout of some kind (can’t remember which) and it was quite good.

I checked and it was the Russian Imperial Stout.

Also, I had a Kent Falls Equinox Saison which was pretty good. They are evidently a “farm to bottle” brewery so I imagine the quality it variable.