One day brewery tour in CT

Discussion in 'New England' started by beertoro, Mar 22, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    So I'm heading up from NJ to CT on Saturday and I think I only have time for two breweries on Saturday and MAYBE one on Sunday.

    For Saturday, I have:

    • New England Brewing Co (11-4)
    • Two Roads Brewing (12-9)
    I'm a little skeptical about Two Roads because they are pretty available in New Jersey lately, so I'd rather visit something that is pretty good and essentially close and in between NEBC and the Greenwich area (Where I'll be staying). Any other suggestions? Two Roads is my choice solely because it's open later. I'm sure I won't be making it to NEBC any earlier than 2 PM, as well.

    And any suggestions close to Greenwich just in case I have time on Sunday?
     
    #1 beertoro, Mar 22, 2016
  2. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    Close to Greenwich for Sunday - go to Captain Lawrence over in Westchester County NY, on your way home.

    Half Full in Stamford is open Sundays (12-5 I think) but their core beers are not the best. They have a new head of brewing operations (From Brooklyn Brewery) and the couple new beers they've made (that I have had) have been much improved from the older offerings.

    As for Saturday, if you are getting to NEBCO at 2, your best bet is either Two Roads or Aspetuck Brew Labs (1-8 PM this Saturday - on the Bridgeport/Fairfield line). You could probably do all three of those without much problem and NEBCO would be your furthest point from Greenwich. Some might suggest popping over to OEC or Black Hog but those will be very much out of your way heading back to Greenwich.
     
    #2 EDNOSE, Mar 22, 2016
    jhavs and purephase like this.
  3. purephase

    purephase Zealot (731) Feb 23, 2008 Connecticut
    Trader

    Had a post halfway written with most of what @EDNOSE said above, especially on Aspetuck Brew Lab being another choice on the way.

    The only thing I'd add since you were skeptical about Two Roads is that it's a pretty impressive facility and you can get full pours in the tasting room (whereas you're limited to 4 sample pours at NEBCO). Just something to keep in mind depending on what you're looking for when you visit a brewery.
     
    #3 purephase, Mar 22, 2016
    jhavs likes this.
  4. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    When I said I was skeptical - I guess I really worded that incorrectly. I've had experiences in the past where I've been to the brewery and the beers on tap are everything I've had before. So by skeptical, I meant that I hoped I'd go somewhere and try a bunch of new stuff versus going to a place and finding that I've already had everything. Unfortunately, this happened to me at Dogfish Head in DE but the tour was definitely worth the visit.

    Two Roads is my solid #2 unless someone has a better recommendation since I am not from the area. I hope that explains it a lot better!
     
    #4 beertoro, Mar 22, 2016
    jhavs likes this.
  5. xanok

    xanok Savant (1,085) Aug 13, 2009 Connecticut

    You're better off driving farther and going to OEC imo.
     
    #5 xanok, Mar 22, 2016
    WeaponTheyFear and Pisthetaerus like this.
  6. oasisfan35

    oasisfan35 Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2006 Connecticut

    If you like sours/wild ales I would highly suggest OEC, I believe open until 7 on Saturday. A right out of NEBCO has you on 63 and then a left on 67 which is practically a straight shot to Oxford until you turn off on Riggs St for OEC. Maybe a sub-hour additional travel time in regard to heading straight to TR but I'd wager well worth it; again if you like the styles. It's als
     
    #6 oasisfan35, Mar 22, 2016
    jhavs and Pisthetaerus like this.
  7. Shyla987

    Shyla987 Zealot (599) Jul 18, 2013 Connecticut

    If you want to make a game day decision, Two Roads is good at keeping their brewery tap list updated online here:

    http://tworoadsbrewing.com/brewery

    They will definitely have stuff on tap you can't get in New Jersey. For Sunday Half Full in Stamford is open, but you may want to check directly with them since it's Easter and some breweries that are typically open on Sunday, like Two Roads, will be closed.
     
    #7 Shyla987, Mar 22, 2016
    jhavs likes this.
  8. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    Wow, I completely forgot about Easter. Thanks for the heads up, I need to make sure my Sunday plans check those out!

    And about the sours/wilds... unfortunately we pass on those. Just can't really get into them.
     
    #8 beertoro, Mar 23, 2016
  9. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    Then no point in OEC.

    If you want new (i.e. can't get in NJ) and want something on the way home from NEBCO to Greenwich, then as I said above ... Aspetuck is probably your best bet. They post on fb what is on tap (their website has it also).
     
    #9 EDNOSE, Mar 23, 2016
  10. CayseyW

    CayseyW Savant (1,200) Mar 7, 2013 Connecticut

    There is also Veracious in Monroe and Apsetuck Brew Labs in Fairfield. Neither are mind blowing, but both produce decent beers.
     
    #10 CayseyW, Mar 23, 2016
  11. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    I guess I got my top 3 then for this weekend! I'm good with decent versus absolutely terrible.

    I was reading about Stony Creek and the best opinion I got out of that place was "Cool place to be, not to drink." So I'll stick with NEBC, Two Roads, and Apsetuck.
     
    #11 beertoro, Mar 23, 2016
    jhavs likes this.
  12. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    Also, I should have asked, but is there any good beer stores around there where maybe I can get stuff I wouldn't normally find? Maybe Greenwich or around the areas where I'd be visiting?
     
    #12 beertoro, Mar 23, 2016
  13. MichaelHatter

    MichaelHatter Initiate (0) Jun 29, 2015 Virginia

    Mo's or Fairfield Wine & Spirits are probably your best bets for bottles and they are very near Apsetuck. Also, if you just want to drink some good beers the bar Craft 260 is down the street from Apsetuck and they usually have good CT brews on tap from NEBC, Beer'd, Stony Creek, Stubborn Beauty, etc.
     
    #13 MichaelHatter, Mar 23, 2016
  14. eajb24

    eajb24 Initiate (0) May 26, 2005 Connecticut

    Amity Wines right next to NEBCO.
     
    #14 eajb24, Mar 23, 2016
    Pisthetaerus likes this.
  15. codytwo

    codytwo Zealot (610) Aug 19, 2015 Connecticut

    Stay away from Half Full. Two Roads has a decent atmosphere but I'd never go out of my way for their brews.
     
    #15 codytwo, Mar 23, 2016
  16. darkandhoppy

    darkandhoppy Savant (1,099) Dec 26, 2008 Connecticut

    no reason to say "unfortunately". absolutely no reason. I'll just leave it at that
     
    #16 darkandhoppy, Mar 23, 2016
  17. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,776) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut

    Two Roads is a good time and they have food and places to sit. It is a very relaxed atmosphere and they have all their staple beers and special releases on tap and available for growler fills. NEBCO has good beer but you can only get a few samples and growler fills. About 45 minutes away you have Black Hog in Oxford which is in the same town as O.E.C. if you wanted to pick up bottles.
    About 15 minutes from Greenwich you could drive to either Stamford or Norwalk and go to Cask Republic. Exits 8 and 15, respectively. I haven't been to the Stamford one in a while but the Norwalk Cask Republic always has a decent selection of NEBCO on tap, (last week they had Supernaut, FBDs, Sea Hag and Gandhi Bot)as well as my favorite CT brewery, Kent Falls. If you stop in Norwalk, give me a shout. Cheers!
     
    #17 PatrickCT, Mar 24, 2016
    jhavs likes this.
  18. beertoro

    beertoro Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2015 New Jersey

    Thanks guys for the input so far! We've narrowed down the plans so far and from what I see... worst case scenario I can hit up Captain Lawrence or a North Jersey brewery on the way back on Sunday. A few places seem like they might be open.

    As of right now, I would rather do NEBC and Apsetuck on Saturday. Two Roads was more of a safety net in case I couldn't find another. Can't wait to break in my new DSLR and take some pictures of this weekend!
     
    #18 beertoro, Mar 24, 2016
    PatrickCT likes this.
  19. Evmo31

    Evmo31 Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2015 Connecticut

    #19 Evmo31, Mar 25, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2016
    skleice likes this.
  20. darkandhoppy

    darkandhoppy Savant (1,099) Dec 26, 2008 Connecticut

    indeed, that's a pretty awesome list!
     
    #20 darkandhoppy, Mar 25, 2016
    skleice likes this.
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.