Just looking for some advice from central connecticut people. Visiting family in Farmington in the next week and was hoping to get some beer suggestions. Any solid local stuff I should look for, don't really want to "hunt" just looking for stuff that will be readily available and easy to get. Thanks in advance!
Don't live there but I'm in the area regularly. For bottle shops I'd recommend Manchester Wines & Liquors. Jimmy is a good guy and most of the local stuff you should get there. You could check out Thomas Hooker, Black Hog, and Relic breweries which are in the area. I just picked up Black Hog Bourbon Barrel Granola Brown at the brewery on Friday. Local stuff I'd recommend is New England Brewing Co., Two Roads, & Kent Falls Brewing. Plus you can get Clown Shoes and other bottles that may not be available in Jersey.
Breweries: Definitely hit Relic since you will be in that area, Firefly Hollow is close too. Black Hog will be a bit further for you but a good option also. If you don't have time for the brewery thing and just want good beer. I would get growlers/bottles from Relic. Look for Nebco Sea Hag and Kent Falls at stores, I'm not from up there so I don't know which stores are best. You can ask for Gbot and SoS while your there but don't hold your breath. Eli Cannons in Middletown wouldn't be super far either. Never had their food, but they always have a HUGE selection of local stuff on tap. You will also be about an hour from Tree House
Treehouse on Wednesday is a go, already planned that one planned out. Thanks for the suggestions guys
Treehouse def. Harvest Liquors in West Hartford is a great shop. Yeah, Kent Falls & NEBCO, SoS & Gbot (good luck!). Manchester liquors is good and on way to TH. If you're into sours/wild ales u should hit OEC. Lots of great food/beer: Barley Vine in Bristol is great. My favorite burger and good tap list. Max Burger in West Hartford. Plan B in West Hartford J Timothys in Plainville for wings and beer. A lot of places use beermenus.com
Oh, and if u wanna drive a little extra on your TH trip, u could hit Yankee Wine in Sturbridge for Trillium bottles (call to see what they have) and BTs for BBQ.
Pretty sure you can check Yankee Spirits inventory online...Maybe not 100% but probably pretty close.
Max bev and M&R liquors in Farmington have a decent selection too. Between them and Harvest in west hartford you should be able to cover your CT liqour store needs. +1 to relic(bottleshare on thursdays) and firefly(cone flakes can releases have been pretty regular lately). OEC(only open on saturdays) is def worth the trip too. Back East in bloomfield has been really upping their game lately.
I'd highly recommend Camillie's pizza right off 84 on your way back from Tree House. Great pizza and always a solid tap list with local stuff. Kay's package store in EH maybe on the way up to TH. They usually have a nice selection and always post what they get on their fb page so if they get G Bot or SOS it will be up there. Might want to give them a follow. McLadden's in WH can be a bit of a younger bro fest on weekend nights but they have really upped their game of late especially with the local CT offerings. They always get Kent Falls stuff when it's released. A bit overpriced, even for WH Center.
Keep an eye on J Timothy's for beer (obviously the wings are great)...they have been consistently tapping some awesome kegs. They had Maine Lunch and Gbot yesterday and seem to always have something from Beer'd. West Hartford will have some good options for you...Max Burger, McLaddens for beer/food & Harvest and Wise Old Dog for bottles.
