Best Craft Breweries in Connecticut
Is there anything more American than beer? Over 40 percent of alcohol drinkers in the U.S. list it as their preferred alcoholic beverage. But in recent years, well-known beers from large brewers have fallen out of favor.
Many American beer consumers want to try new taste profiles, which has led to a rise in craft beer sales and a boom in craft breweries across the county, including right here in Connecticut. And Delamar hotels across Connecticut provide a good home base from which to explore the best craft breweries in the state.
History of Craft Beer in Connecticut
Beer has been brewed in Connecticut since pre-colonial times. Settlers from the old world drank beer because it was often safer than drinking the local water. Beer wasn’t considered a special product; it was drunk by people of all ages, at all times of the day. But this changed by the mid-19th century.
With a large influx of immigrants from Germany, brewing became a professional industry in America. There were about 12 breweries in Connecticut around the turn of the 20th century, but when prohibition hit, many of the local breweries closed down until the 1990s. With the recent rise in craft brewing, Connecticut is now home to some of the best local breweries in the US.
Best Breweries in Connecticut
While Connecticut craft breweries are relatively new, they dedicate themselves to quality over quantity. Here is our list of the best breweries across Connecticut.
Willimantic Brewing Company
Started in a former 1909 post office building which was abandoned by the federal government in 1967, Willibrew has been serving craft brews for over two decades. Despite extensive renovations, the owners kept the early 20th-century architecture and preserved the post office memorabilia in the brewery.
This Seven Barrel brewery produces 13 freshly made handcrafted beers, including IPAs, stouts, and several wheats and ales.
New England Brewing Company
This small craft brewery in Woodbridge, CT has been in business since 2003. They pride themselves in being one of the first brewers in the country to distribute craft beer in cans. The ever-growing lineup offers ales and lagers, as well more unique takes on existing beer styles.
Some of their best beers include Sea Hag IPA, 668 Neighbor of the Beast Belgian Ale, and Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA.
Hog River Brewing Company
This mom & pop craft brewery and taproom is located inside a former tire factory in a vibrant Hartford neighborhood. The walls are covered in pieces of Hartford history, and large machinery sits side by side with barstools and picnic tables.
During the summer, you can find games at tables and food trucks outside. Their latest releases include the beloved Princess Buttercup Stout with peanut butter, and Jellypopper Sour with blackberry, blueberry, raspberry & plum.
New Park Brewing
Opened in March 2017 in West Hartford, this brand-new brewery is set in a late 19th-century industrial building that features the building’s original concrete floor, a 23-foot L-shaped bar made from a single piece of rare American Chestnut, and vintage artwork throughout. A 400-square-foot patio surrounded by plants and greenery regularly features food trucks and live music.
The brewery was nominated for USA Today’s top 10 best new craft breweries in 2018. Their beer menu emphasizes IPAs and DIPAS, as well as their fruity Berliner Weisses. They even offer home delivery services around the state!
Two Roads Brewing Company
Founded in 2012 by four friends who dreamed of starting a craft brewery, Two Roads has been named one of the ten best breweries in America by Paste Magazine and has won many awards including gold for Belgian Lambic style Ale in 2016 at the Great American Beer Festival.
The brewery is located in an old factory with the original wood floors still intact and restored. They are one of the few CT breweries that offer private brewery tours.
Discover CT Breweries
Book a weekend getaway to Connecticut to explore all our up-and-coming breweries. When you’re discovering the tastiest craft beer, be sure to book your stay at a hotel that offers a convenient home base but doesn’t compromise on luxurious details, comfort, and is COVID safe.
With three convenient and dog-friendly locations throughout Connecticut (Greenwich, Southport, and West Hartford), DELAMAR offers the best in luxury living and convenience.
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