15 Connecticut Breweries That Are Totally Worth the Hype
Local breweries are perfect for spending an afternoon with friends. If you’re looking for the best breweries in Connecticut to add to your itinerary, we have you covered. These are our top picks for doing the CT beer trail, for a night out, sampling local food trucks, or exploring some niche locations in the area.
Fox Farm Brewery
Fox Farm Brewery is one of our top breweries in Connecticut for many reasons. One of the most notable reasons is that they have a wide variety of beers that are all very well-crafted. They also have a really cool taproom where you can sample their beers and hang out with friends. Fox Farm Brewery is also family-owned and operated, which gives it a personal touch.
Shunock River Brewery and Village Cafe
Located in North Stonington, CT, the Shunock River Brewery and Village Cafe is a family and friend owned business that offers amazing brews and pizza. The brewery is a must-visit for any beer lover traveling through Southern New England. Whether you drink ales or IPAs, this brewery and cafe will definitely have something on tap for you!
New England Brewing Company
New England Brewing Company (NEBCO) is a Connecticut classic brewery founded in 2001. From their playfully crafted can decals to wide array of beer, there is something for everyone! NEBCO has rotating food trucks that will pair well with any beer that you get there. Their ‘Fuzzy Baby Ducks’ is a New England Hazy IPA. It’s hoppy, smooth, and clean this beer goes down well. While you are at NEBCO, grab some free Fuzzy Baby Ducks stickers to put around your house!
Concentric Brewing Company
The Concentric Brewing Company located in Portland, CT with easy access to Routes 9 and 91. It’s a convenient spot to stop and enjoy a drink or two while enjoying some live music and avoiding the crowds of Middletown. The location has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for all of you and your guests whom may be accompanying you on your visit to enjoy. They also have food available onsite to be purchased and consumed.
NewSylum Brewing Co.
For a unique spot to unwind with friends or try some amazing craft beers, NewSylum Brewing Co. in the historic Fairfield Hills Campus in Newtown, CT, is a must-visit. This inviting brewery combines a rich history with a modern twist, offering a diverse selection of brews that cater to everyone. Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or just curious to explore, I promise you’ll find something special at NewSylum that will have you returning for more.
Alvarium Beer Company
To those visiting New Britain, Alvarium is a must visit! If you are in New Britain on a Wednesday, be sure to get there early to beat the trivia crowd. They also have rotating food trucks if you are looking for some food to pair with your beer. Like many Connecticut breweries, Alvarium has a variety of beers to choose from. One of my favorite beers from Alvarium would be their hazy IPA, ‘Elevated’.
Stony Creek Brewery
Stony Creek Brewery has some of the best craft beer with a beautiful waterfront view. Boasting a large tap room and circulating food trucks, Stony Creek is a must stop on the yearly CT beer trail. To those who enjoy hoppy beers, this brewery has plenty to offer. Some top hoppy beers include the ‘Big Wing Haze’ and ‘Holiday Party’.
Counterweight Brewing Company
To the beer aficionados out there, Counterweight has plenty to offer. For hop heads like myself, Counter Weight has plenty of IPAs. Some of my favorites are their flagship ‘Headway IPA’ and their ‘Inundation’. Both feature notes of hoppy, smooth, and juicy.
Taylor Brooke Brewery
Taylor Brooke has a sizable brewery and a great vineyard! The brewery is right across the parking lot from the winery but also offers wine for you to try without even leaving your table. They offer a wide variety of beers for you to try. They have experimental beers as well as some beers fermented on their estate.
Two Roads Brewing Company
Two Roads Brewing Company offers some of CT’s best beer and is a staple to the CT beer scene. With their two tasting rooms in Stratford, Two Roads offers something for everyone. To those who like a conventional brewery, stop by Two Roads Brewing Company original tasting room. While you are visiting the flagship location, take a short walk across the parking lot to their experimental brewing spin off. To those that like something different Area Two Experimental Brewing is the place to be!
Twelve Percent Beer Project
Twelve Percent Beer Project of New Haven is one of the top breweries for CT beer lovers. You’ll appreciate their collaboration with other breweries. They collaborate with Fat Orange Cat, Evil Twin Brewing, Abomination Brewing Company, Hoof Hearted Brewing, and American Solera Brewery.
New Park Brewing
Nestled on New Park Ave near a number of local bars and brewpubs, this West Hartford brewery is a best brewery of Hartford County. With a sizable tasting room and a number of outdoor seating, kick back and enjoy their dozen beers on tap! Between sours and IPAs, New Park Brewing has a taste for everyone on the beer spectrum!
Little House Brewing Company
Located in the center of historic Chester, Little House Brewing is a must visit for CT breweries in the Connecticut River valley. Between making beer on site and collaborating with other local breweries, they have a selection of beer for everyone. If you are feeling like doing a flight of four, don’t be shy to try around their nine beer tap offering. Between ciders, lagers, IPAs, amber ales, and imperial stouts, there should be enough of a selection to fill your flight!
BAR
Located in downtown New Haven, BAR is a great place to drink craft beer and consume some of the best brick oven pizza around, a New Haven delicacy. Surrounded by Yale University, this quaint elm city brewery serves as a night club in the evenings to those looking to bar crawl the city. This brewery is also a short walk from the New Haven green, the local drop off spot for Quinnipiac University students visiting town on the school shuttle.
Nod Hill Brewery
Nod Hill is favorite stop for its fantastic atmosphere. With good beer, live music, special events, and daily food trucks, I highly recommend visiting Nod Hill Brewery to spice up your weekend plans!
Hi there, fun article! Just a few corrections! WeHa isn’t a brewery anymore they don’t brew any of thier own beer. they have a different brewery make beers. also not as dog friendly as they used to be, dogs are not allowed except on the patio as with almost every other brewery. coffee is decent though. we stopped going after we heard they were awful people to work for, and they raised thousands for a fundraiser and never paid it out
Thanks for the feedback! We replaced it with NewSylum, which is one of our favorites.