Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

Thomas Hooker Brewing CompanyThomas Hooker Brewing Company
Thomas Hooker Brewing CompanyThomas Hooker Brewing Company
Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

16 Tobey Rd
Bloomfield, Connecticut, 06002-3522
United States

(860) 242-3111 | map
hookerbeer.com

Formerly known as Troutbrook Brewing Company.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.8
Beers:
56
Ratings:
3,114
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.82
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
46
pDev:
15.97%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AGust82:
Photo of AGust82
Reviewed by AGust82 from Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
As I'm sure most have read the beers are average to poor except for a few. The brewery is very large with two bars and room for hundreds of people in the gift shop/tasting area. They are very generous with the samples. You get a bracelet with 10 little tabs you are supposed to tear off and exchange for 3-4oz pours. Your choice, 10 of the same if you'd like. This seems loosely enforced, evidenced by the hundred or so free loaders pounding little beers and eating chips like it was a barbeque. This place appears to be a free beer pre-gaming stop for bar goers. Not passing judgement, just letting you know what to expect.
Mar 03, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5
Had an hour to kill, and this was the only place open on a Monday afternoon. A handful of other customers were there . Prompt, friendly service I ordered the pretzel bites, fresh baked, amazing. Beer was hit and miss. The Tom lager was my favorite
Jan 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Feb 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.15 by HobbitHops from South Carolina

Feb 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.42 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

Nov 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Aug 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.03 by Griffith from Connecticut

Mar 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.44 by RickyBfromCT from Connecticut

Jan 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by Ronl12 from Massachusetts

Oct 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by Murph106157 from Connecticut

Oct 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by Darren53 from Connecticut

Sep 12, 2017
Photo of DR_Kman
Reviewed by DR_Kman from Connecticut

4.93/5  rDev +29.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Wow, just had this. Hate to say it, but this beats Julius from Treehouse. Amazing start, finishes strong, citra explodes in mouth. #1 beer is Focal, #2 is #NOFILTER (damm its good!), Lights On (Treehouse).

Finially a great beer from Connecticut!
Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by mkyer from Connecticut

Dec 03, 2016
Photo of coljesep
Rated by coljesep from Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -15.4%
vibe: 1 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
There's one thing I cannot stand - the smell of old stale beer. This brewery has it.
Jun 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.14 by crossfit_lunatic from Massachusetts

Feb 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by bcm75 from Illinois

Aug 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by TBonez477 from Vermont

May 15, 2015
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.02/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75
Ample tasting room with 2 service bars and a patio out front; cheerful, knowledgeable bartenders. Draws a pretty good crowd...selection could be deeper.
May 10, 2015
Photo of Gottatryemall
Rated by Gottatryemall

4.73/5  rDev +23.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
I've been here twice .. Always crowded but you never wait long for a beer .. Lots of beer for the price and always a great selection.
Jan 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Rideguy64 from New Hampshire

Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 1.16 by BruinsDude325 from Connecticut

Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.44 by Kalbie

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JKV96 from Massachusetts

Sep 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Wyatt_Sasser from Connecticut

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Kcman91 from Connecticut

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Bjorn2bWild from Connecticut

Aug 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SuomiHobbit from Connecticut

Jul 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by NJBeer265 from New Jersey

Jun 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by ChrisChagnon from Connecticut

Apr 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.14 by grahuba from Connecticut

Mar 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by brewcifix from Connecticut

Feb 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by raythealeman from Connecticut

Jan 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by hoppymcgee from Maine

Jan 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by johnhkelm from California

Jan 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by dlindsay79 from Connecticut

Dec 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by pjs234 from Connecticut

Dec 14, 2013
Photo of oriolesfan4
Reviewed by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

4.34/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
Visited this brewery in early October after visiting Back East Brewery down the street. Easy to get to with plenty of signs and parking.

As you walk in, you pay $5 and get a bracelet with 10 pull tabs and a 4 oz. plastic cup. Would have been nice to have a nice branded, glass tasting glass like the other brew tours I've done... but beggars can't be choosers.

I believe they had 10 beers on tap, including Liberator (which at 9% is a steal), and you can use your 10 pull tabs for any of the beers, hell you could use all 10 on the liberator if you please. As a note, it's pretty laid back and they just fill your cups when you get to the bar, there were a few times I forgot to even throw a tab in the bucket to 'pay' for the sample. Also a plus, they had 2 bars and 2 servers at each bar, which greatly helped the ease of getting a quick refill.

Nice, large open space with TONS of memorabilia and swag and cool articles and history things on the walls (almost museum like). A tour was offered, but it was only about 15 minutes and didn't offer too much you didn't know already, although getting to taste a sample straight from the fermenter was kind of cool.

There was a big crowd there but it was handled well and there was plenty of staff on hand. I think we were supposed to get pint glasses on the way out but kind of snuck out and didn't get them, but not a big deal. Through and through, it was a really good tasting room with so-so brew tour and definitely worth the $5.
Oct 13, 2013
Photo of rorjets
Reviewed by rorjets from Connecticut

4.89/5  rDev +28%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Went to the Friday Night Open House, which goes from 5 -8 pm on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month. For $10 you get a tour, endless samples of almost all the beers they brew, and a Hooker beer glass to boot (which had a coupon stuck in it for a free drink at a local restaurant that has their beer on tap). This is just an OUTSTANDING deal! We arrived around 5 pm, and quite a few people were already there. By 6 pm the place was packed - obviously it's a local hangout. The tour was informative, and just the right length of time. I tried every beer offered, from the 3 oz sampler plastic cup you get upon arrival. They had at least 8 on tap. I ended up purchasing a t-shirt, and a growler, which is another awesome deal at $11.00 filled with any beer you want (I chose the Irish Red)! As you leave they hand you your Hooker glass.

Even though I live more than an hour away I plan on getting to this party as often as possible. The people at Thomas Hooker Brewery really do it right!
Aug 03, 2013
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5
Thomas Hooker is a fabulous beer destination for CT. Not much more than a factory brewery with a tasting area and a merch area, two fridays a month it transforms. On these days, it fills up withcraft beer lovers (and their friends) for tastings. For $10 you get a sample cup and unlimited refills at whatever taps they have lined up, usually 4-6 beers in two stations to relieve pressure at one spot. Then as you leave for the night, you trade in your sample cup for a Hooker Logo pint glass. Win!

The service there is wonderful, simply by asking, we managed to convince the employees to give us an impromptu tour. Very informative and appreciated. They even let us taste beer right out of the tank.

The one downside is the crowd, unlimited beer for $10 attracts a lot of buzz seekers who don't care about the beer.

They dont offer food. While I was there there was delivered pizza for $2 a slice, but that may have been anoutside organization for charity, I cannot recall.

If you live in CT you must do this at least once, quite an experience.
Jul 17, 2012
Photo of OldCrustacean79
Reviewed by OldCrustacean79 from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Went for a tour last Saturday, and it was very crowded. I guess they had some promotion on living social and everyone and their mom was packed inside. Little crowded but the lines for beer samples/growlers moved pretty quick.

The facility was very spacious and wide open. They have done some remodeling in the last few months according to the tour guide.

The location of the brewery is safe and is in no-way a bad section of town (per other peoples reviews)

I ended up spending $5 for a tour and was able to try their (American Pale Ale, Hop Meadow IPA, Blonde Ale, Irish Style Red Ale, Liberator Dopplebock, Nor'easter Lager, and some new Chocolate Stout). The only thing that stood out was the Liberartor and the IPA. The rest were just average and nothing to rave about. I ended up getting two growlers of the IPA which I have already consumed!

I would def head back there in the future!

I also found out the TH brews the Blonde on Blonde Ale for City Steam Brewery!!!
Jan 23, 2012
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT
Brewery rating: 3.8 out of 5 with 3114 ratings