Connecticut Trip Suggestions

Beer'd Brewing in Stonington, CT, about 22 min away. They are open Friday through Sunday, though not sure if you are there late enough on Friday to go, as they open at 5. Like them on FB for the latest updates, but any type of APA, IPA or DIPA from them is fantastic. That and NEBCO are your two best bets for breweries.

For beer bars, Prime 16 in New Haven is great, as is Mikro in Hamden. Websites below. Both update the draft lists daily.

http://www.prime16.com/
http://mikrobeerbar.com/

 

Beer'd if you can make it friday. Malted Barley in Westerly typically has some good things on tap too.

 

First off - HATE posting from the app haha.

Ok so you know about NEBCo. It's about an hour away. I would get there right about 3:00, shouldn't be anyone waiting. I wouldn't linger long cause you might catch traffic on I91 heading back if you do. Also, check out Amity Wine and Spirit next door, pretty nice selection. If you went early and made a whole day of it, Prime 16 for lunch for sure or head down to Two Roads Brewing (Stratford), maybe another 25 minutes south, I think they open much earlier then 3:00 but I am not 100%.
The real treat is about an hour (hour and 15) the other way. Treehouse Brewing Co. What a cool place (similar feel to Hill Farmstead) and their beers are incredible and always so fresh. Hopefully they have Julius for you, I saw Tornado (Pale Ale) and Eureka w/ Galaxy on tap but not sure what else. Note, they only fill tier own growlers, so you'll be buying new ones.
Beer'd is also cool to check
out locally and also Mohegan Sun just put in Thomas Hooker Test Kitchen in their casino. Supposed to be pretty cool as they brew at least one "Casino Exclusive" which you can only get there. I'll actually be there Wed-Fri as well and plan on checking it out myself for the first time, after a couple rounds of golf... Haha. Anyway, hope this helps and hope you enjoy yourself.

 

You might get lucky at NEBCo too... Not Fuzzy Baby Duck lucky but I think they might put Gold Stock Ale on this weekend. It's their #1 Rated English IPA and goooood. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter and they post what they have available.

 

They did an announced brew of FBD about Christmas time and they just did a surprise one last week but it sold out at the brewery in a day. Keep your eyes open while in CT, supposedly it's still around at local restaurants. Total speculation but my guess is most of the kegs stayed in the New Haven area.

 

If you're planning to drive all the way to New Haven for NEBCO (which is a fantastic idea!), you should go ahead and make a day of it. Prime 16 and Mikro have already been mentioned, but you should also be sure to get some Apizza while you're here. I'd recommend Modern, both because it's absolutely delicious and because they always have several NEBCO beers on taps - typically Elm City, Sea Hag, and one rotating specialty.

Other places worth mentioning are Cask Republic, Delaney's, BAR (mediocre brewpub but great apizza - some rank it above Modern and the Wooster St classics; I do not), and Amity Wine and Spirits for one of the better retail selections in the state.

If I were you, I'd get Modern for lunch, head downtown to Prime and/or Cask for a couple hours, then head out to NEBCO around opening. If you have extra time, stop by Delaney's and Amity either before or after hitting the brewery.

Cheers!

 

mmmmmm BAR mashed potato pizza. mmmmmmm
not to start the age old 'whos apizza is better?' war, but Id recommend mashed potato pizza from BAR. Its something you just gotta try.

Also, Overshores supposedly opened recently, in 'staven. I've been looking forward to checking that place out for a good 2 years, and I'm happy they finally opened. I just checked their website, and it says they will be open to the public on May 1st, so that probably doesnt help you. Next time!

If you venture as far as Mikro in Hamden (which is my favorite but I live close), don't overlook the Outer Space. Always excellent taplists, and live music all the time (sometimes free, sometimes small cover, but usually not starting until 7/8PM).

Otherwise, pretty much everything that has been mentioned is good. Definitely hit NEBCO!

 

my trip would be a little bit different.

1. start at two roads. I'm not a big fan of them but they do a good job at hat they do. food trucks, full pours, virtually a full-on brewery beer bar.

2. NEBCO. obvious.

3. relic/ firefly/ stubborn beauty. all solid.

4. Beer'd. very underrated. hop heads heaven.

 

Definitely check Beer'd out. Very close to you. Also near a bunch of scenic stuff to do if you have extra time.

I hear Tree House is awesome and isn't too far from Foxwoods.

If you find yourself in RI, Grey Sail in Westerly is a nice little place to visit. Not the most spectacular beers, but in no way a let down.

 

Looks like potential for surf in RI for Tuesday-Thursday. If you are around, send me a message and I will show you some spots and then places to get good beer/food in the area.

 

agree with all new haven suggestions. love modern apizza.

maybe consider willibrew if it's not too out of the way. good food, and reasonably good, unique beer. roadenzok is on right now, which i quite like. the IPAs have never been to my taste, but they occasionally brew some real winners. they do it right with guest beers too.

not really the destination that new haven is (NEBCO is indeed the best brewery in CT, if not in new england, the pizza is world renowned--undeservedly; brooklyn, new jersey, and even manhattan do it as good or better--amity is a great bottle shop, prime 16 is my favorite place for beer+food besides cambridge brewing company, easily whipping every bar in NYC, etc), but maybe willibrew has more unique character than new haven.

that said, if you only did 1, i can't recommend willibrew over NEBCO. if you have some time though, willibrew is worth a visit.

 

I would second Willimantic Brewing Co. They should be on your list....and depending on where you're coming from in Mass, would be easy to hit on your way in/out of town.

http://willimanticbrewingcompany.com/

 

I beg to differ on new haven pizza being "undeservedly" world renowned. new jersey? lol.

 

world-renowned, sure. "best in the world?" not even the best in the northeast, IMO. and yes, you can get great pizza in jersey. edit: it would be renowned if it didn't have to compete with the best pizza in the world, ie NYC . new haven competes with what, local casual dining restaurants around CT?

i mean, you can't get gandhi bot at any pizza place in NYC, so there's that. but the thin, delectable pizza is The Way if you ask me. some great sicilian slices too.

edit: CT dominates NYC beerwise though. we have a couple good bars down here, but the curating is never as good as prime 16, and even nowhere places like glastonbury have awesome selections and great bottle shops. NYC has like 3 places of note, and they're overpriced with shitty food.

 

The best brewery in New England? May be a great brewery, but best in New England? Like your pizza comments though.