Visiting OEC

Favorite types of beers? I'm assuming there's a reason you're hunting out OEC.

One spot that you need to hit regardless is Counterweight in Hamden. Not my area of the state, so I can't answer the other questions.

Where are you coming from in Massachusetts? Might be some spots on the way you need to stop.

 

Where are you coming from?
If you are going through Hartford, a stop at New Park is a must. Great IPAs and Sours and they have had more traditional stuff on tap lately. Check the hours though, they are fairly limited.

 

Are you European (I am)? I feel like a 4 hour round trip is considered a quick after-work detour by most Americans. Always shocked to see the number of posts along the lines of “living in western PA, Hill Farmstead is a 22 hour round trip for me so I only make a beer run up there around once or twice a month. Wish I could go more”

 

The sours at New Park are blended fruited Berliner Weisses. Just clarifying because OEC sours and New Park sours couldn't be more different. And if you get cans to go at New Park, you gotta keep them cold at all times (bring a cooler or keep them in the trunk), there's been a few can explosions with their fruited sours.

I agree with the 2nd poster, go to Counterweight in Hamden. Mikro Depot is close for food. I would skip Black Hog.

 

There isn’t much around OEC. I would probably start my day there having a couple pours and loading up on bottles and then get a hotel in New Haven where there is a lot more to do. I hate being in a car but I think HF and OEC are the two worth driving to.

 

Fair point. Should I be calling them something different?

 

The OP seemed to be considering a 2 hour drive long. Counter Weight is 40 minutes from OEC. Just saying.
NEBCO is actually closer (under 30 minutes).
I guess it could be a moot point if he gets a hotel room.

 

personally, if i was spending the night, i'd find a way to include Fox Farm. OEC isn't all that close to Fox Farm, but if you're staying the night, it might be possible, depending on where you are coming from in MA.

 

Hey man there is a hotel like 10min from OEC its in Southbury technically,
Wyndham Southbury, not vouching its a great stay but is super close. Black hog will be very near this, theres Woodbury Brewing not great but if you are here. 2 breweries in Waterbury (bout 10-15 away) Lasting Brass and Brass Works. If you make a day/night of it I would for sure say hit Nebco/Counter Weight about 15min from each other about 25 min from said hotel. Mikro in Hamden has cool food and usually sweet tap list. Pies n Pints near hotel in Middlebury is middle of the road food but does flights and tends to have decent tap list. Can recommend more but like others said would depend on where you actually stay and how far you wanna go

 

also coming from where you are seems you'd take 84 mostly the whole way so you'd go right through Hartford/New Hartford and Manchester which has some new breweries. Kinsman, Relic and J Timothys also right off 84. So just hit Treehouse on the way down I'll take a few cans for my advice lol

 

If you go to Hamden hit Counterweight for hops and usually some interesting lagers and dark beers. Also stop at 12% new taproom in North Haven (fifteen minutes from Counterweight) they have a great space with nice on tap offerings (Fat Orange Cat, Decadent, Evil Twin, Hoof Hearted, Marlowe ...) and often have cans to go.

 

Yikes (from a marketing standpoint).
Was brass invented in Waterbury or something?

 

Waterbury is "The Brass City" Hence the names......

 

Makes sense but still...

 

Agree. Side note: Lasting Brass is worth a stop. Brass City, not so much.

 

agree with this but just throwing out places for him if hes in the area