Visiting Danbury CT (Beer Advice and/or IP Trade)

Discussion in 'New England' started by jakethesnake9z9z, Oct 31, 2012.

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  1. jakethesnake9z9z

    jakethesnake9z9z Crusader (464) Mar 5, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Hey guys - I'm visiting Danbury CT in December to spend a week with my wife's family. I know it's a little early, but I was wondering if any CT/NY/etc. BA's have any advice for a good bottle shop or bar within ~30min drive? I know there's resources out there to find places, but from the sites I've looked at it seems like the Danbury area is kind of a dead zone for good beer - let me know if I'm wrong!

    Also, if anyone is from anywhere near Danbury, let me know if you'd be interested in an IP trade! I have some good beers available for trade (message me if interested), and I can also bring anything local or distributed here: New Glarus, Three Floyds, Tyranena, Jolly Pumpkin, Bruery, Bell's, etc. Thanks!
     
  2. xanok

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

    Fairgrounds Wine and Spirits is a solid store and in Danbury. You probably won't find anything too out of the ordinary there, but the selection is pretty big and the prices are fair.

    The only craft beer bar that I can think of that's close to Danbury is My Place, which is in Newtown, CT. They only have a few taps there (seven?) but they are all put to great use. The food there is also quite good. I highly recommend it.
     
  3. seplo

    seplo Pundit (947) Sep 8, 2009 Connecticut

    yeah, youre kinda in a dead area over there, if i were you i would try to hit up a DeCicco's in NY either on your way up or back, they wont have any NEBCO i think, but they have a better selection than we do and they have growler fills...CHEERS
     
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  4. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    beer advice: DRIVE TO DECICCOS in brewster. Drive to New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge.
     
    averagjoe3 and seplo like this.
  5. TRFD803

    TRFD803 Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2012 Connecticut

    If you're willing to travel a little, visit Coal House Pizza in Stamford or Gingerman in Norwalk for huge selections of craft beers on tap and bottles. Also Nutmeg Wine and Spirits in Bethel which is just past Danbury, has some pretty good finds.
     
  6. Atomicskis5

    Atomicskis5 Zealot (723) Aug 4, 2011 Connecticut

    Just do Deciccos and you will be thoroughly happy, 15 mins from danbury max, twice the beer ct gets, 12 taps of great stuff for growlers, and a great staff.
     
  7. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    Agreed on DeCicco's for your best bet. Bar in the grocery store where you can drink while eating something from the excellent deli counter and then get growlers to go.

    Also recommend Coalhouse in Stamford (45 minutes), Gingerman in Norwalk (30 minutes) and Little Pub in Ridgefield (15 minutes). Little Pub is worth a visit for great food and above average beer selection. Certainly very good selection for the area.

    Fairgrounds and Anconas (Ridgefield) are your best CT beer stores in the area.
     
  8. jakethesnake9z9z

    jakethesnake9z9z Crusader (464) Mar 5, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Thanks for the advice! I'll make sure to hit up those places, since I'll have a good amount of free time over the week I'm there.

    As one follow-up question: if you had to choose between visiting Captain Lawrence or NEBCO (they seem about equal distance), which would you choose?
     
  9. smutty33

    smutty33 Pooh-Bah (2,172) Jun 12, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My advice.......send a message to sandman3479.

    He is in Danbury,and always seems to be down for an in person trade.Cool cat too!

    As others have said already,make sure you stop at DeCicco's in Brewster.........:wink:
    I'd really try to get to NEBCo. though,dem boys are killin it.

    Cheers,Enjoy.
     
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  10. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    Two totally different experiences.

    The experience at Captain Lawrence is top notch as far as I'm concerned. Good sized tasting room, outdoor area, a much larger brewery operation. Anywhere from 8-12 beers on tap most days. Can do a real legitimate tasting there. Their beers are good. The stuff they are more noted for is rarely available for tasting though. Can buy full beers there now too, they have food and food trucks many/most days. Hours are on their website (note that they have times where they do retail only).

    NEBCO produces great beers but with the operation being so small, it's inconsistent what's on tap. The operation is basically in an industrial garage so it's super small. Small is good for talking shop with the guys but you will often find only 2 beers on tap and rarely more than 3. NEBCO will generally welcome you in, if they are there.
     
  11. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    Agreed on all of this! This is my turff as well and I requent all of these places.

    If I had to choose an actual brewery to visit, id choose NEBCO just because its harder to find their stuff in stores and on tap. While NEBCO is just a small tasting bar in the corner of the brewery; CL brews can be found all over Putnam and westchester county and especially at DeCicco's (speaking of which, try the limone lupolo brew at DeCiccos) - its a collab with CL and the supermarket and its like $10/growler. Well worth it. The upsid eto CL is that they have food, a larger tasting bar ($), and bocce court.
    If you go to NEBCO - stop by Amity wines down the street. They apparently get first dibs on all NEBCO brews that get distributed - so you can sometimes get stuff at Amity that they are sold out of at the brewery - plus its a cool bottle shop.
     
  12. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    *Frequent (requent sounds like a Shakespeare word)
     
  13. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    My point was more that ... you are hit or miss to even find NEBCO rarities at their brewery whereas Captain Lawrence will always have a full line available plus some goodies.
     
  14. jakethesnake9z9z

    jakethesnake9z9z Crusader (464) Mar 5, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Thank you all for the advice - New England BA's are awesome! I'll let you know how the trip was / favorite places afterward. Have a good weekend, everyone!
     
    smutty33 likes this.
  15. sandman3479

    sandman3479 Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2006 Connecticut

    Message me, and I can fill you in on all the bars/breweries/liquor stores in the area. Danbury beer scene isn't nearly as dead as it used to be
     
  16. jakethesnake9z9z

    jakethesnake9z9z Crusader (464) Mar 5, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Thanks again everyone for the advice. With my limited time (and without a vehicle of my own to drive), made it out to NEBCO and DeCicco's in Brewster. Both were AWESOME places to visit!
     
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