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Known for its rich history, Connecticut is one of the most established and famous states in the US. The state is also renowned for its outstanding beers, as it is crowded with world-class and award-winning beers.
To give you an overview of its premium beers, here are the six best breweries in Connecticut, which you may want to visit with your friends and family.
1. Two Roads Brewing Company
Established in 2012, Two Roads was founded by four friends and now flourishes as one of the top breweries in America. Thanks to its award-winning Brewmaster and 27 years of craft beer experience, Phil Markowski’s line-up of classic beers with a unique twist has always been exceptional.
Aside from its talented Brewmaster, Two Roads also invested in an innovation hub where it experiments with new flavors of beers. The 25,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility focuses on discovering more about barrel-aged and lambic-style sour beers. Area Two welcomes guests and accepts anyone of any age, unlike Two Roads’Roads’ main taproom, just a few walks away.
- Crowd Favorite: Road 2 Ruin Double IPA. A hop-centric Double IPA with 8% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Two Juicy
- Hop-py Note: Non-alcoholic options. Sells growler refills and beer to-go. Food trucks.
- Fun Fact: Two Roads garnered numerous awards, including its gold medal for Belgian lambic-style ale in GABF 2016.
Hours: Open Tue-Thur 12pm-9pm, Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
Address: 1700 Stratford Ave, Stratford, CT 06615
Contact: (203)335-2010 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
2. Stony Creek Brewery
Come and visit Stony Creek if what you’re looking for is a brewery offering the best sunset in town. It is located in a spacious land, in front of Branford River, so you can also see a stunning waterfront view. Enjoy aggressively laid-back IPAs, ales, lagers, and stouts as you drink in pints and flights of four drafts of your choice. And you can enjoy these beers with fun games like cornholes and pinballs outside.
Stony Creek offers brewery tours every weekend for beer enthusiasts to learn more about the brewery’s facility and production process. Moreover, Stony Creek has a private celebration room you can book for your events.
- Crowd Favorite: Big Cranky (Double IPA). A complex and juicy Double IPA with 9.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Cranky IPA
- Hop-py Note: Family-friendly. Live music. Trivia nights. Private parking lots are available.
- Fun Fact: Stony Creek recently crafted a beer called Area of Operations Lager to tribute the brave people who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Hours: Open Mon-Thur 3pm-8pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pm
Address: 5 Indian Neck Ave, Branford, CT 06405
Contact: (203)433-4545 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Fox Farm Brewery
If the waterfront view is not your cup of tea, maybe try going to Fox Farm. From its name, you can already picture the greenery surrounding you; true enough, it offers a magnificent view of gardens and trees. Thanks to its location being in a farm in Connecticut woods, whether occupying its indoor or outdoor seating, you can always feel the relaxing, warm, and inviting ambiance.
Order its famous drinks like New England IPA, Ashland Coffee Stout, and Brown Ale to make your stay here memorable. You can also order them from home on the days you feel like drinking one and pick them up on Fox Farm’sFarm’s curbside.
- Crowd Favorite: Burst. A bright-fruited American IPA with 7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Allora
- Hop-py Note: Non-beer options. Sells merchandise and gift cards. Family-friendly.
- Fun Fact: Fox Farm was named by Connecticut Magazine as the Best Brewery in its Best of CT 2022.
Hours: Open Thur & Fri 12pm-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm, Mon-Wed Closed
Address: 62 Music Vale Rd, Salem, CT 06420
Contact: Facebook | Instagram | Website
4. New England Brewing Co.
New England Brewing already existed in South Norwalk, Connecticut, until it closed down in 2001. Rob Leonard purchased the company name, studied the craft beer market, and established a thriving company into what it is today. His hard work paid off in 20 one-of-a-kind beers you can drink on-site or take home in growlers, cans, and bottles. Wines, ciders, and soft drinks are available as a more comprehensive option.
Although small, New England offers a laid-back atmosphere you can enjoy with your friends and family. Acoustic music, vintage arcade games, and other fun activities are often featured in the taproom to keep beer drinkers entertained.
- Crowd Favorite: Sea Hag IPA. A citrusy American IPA with a crisp floral finish and 6.2% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: G-Bot
- Hop-py Note: Curbside pickup. Sells merchandise. Food truck.
- Fun Fact: New England conducts many community outreaches, such as its most recent CT Brewers Guild American Brewing Scholarship.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 12pm-9pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Address: 175 Amity Rd, Woodbridge, CT 06525
Contact: (203)387-2222 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. New Park Brewing
If you have an upcoming event and are searching for a place to hold it, consider including New Park from your list. Its Barrel Room can accommodate 94 guests, and the good news is, it doesn’tdoesn’t have a room rate and only requires a minimum spend. It also offers catering services partnered with Chefs Sean Farrell and Power Minor for the highest quality food for your event.
Beer-wise, New Park will surely entice you with its 8-draft line of excellent beers available in different ounces. You can purchase these beers online and have them delivered to your home or pick them up from the taproom.
- Crowd Favorite: Cloudscape. A generously hopped IPA – American with 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Double Cloud
- Hop-py Note: Live music. Trivia nights. Sells merchandise and gift cards. Dog-friendly patio.
- Fun Fact: New Park partners with Can’dCan’d Aid foundation to sponsor Bike Build, a program to build bikes for kids in WISH Elementary School.
Hours: Open Tue & Wed 5pm-9pm, Thur 12pm-9pm, Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Address: 485 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT 06110
Contact: (860)232-2033 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
6. Connecticut Valley Brewing Company
Owned by two locals, Connecticut Valley has been making great beers since 2017. With its brewing facility in South Windsor, Connecticut Valley has crafted over 150 noteworthy beers, several of which have received awards and recognition. And the brewery is also famous for its spiked smoothies and Northstar seltzers which come in colorful cans.
In 2019, Connecticut Valley launched Birdhouse Coffee, its own coffee shop offering farm-to-cup coffees. Here, you can purchase ground or whole coffee beans for takeout or sit down and drink freshly brewed coffee. Furthermore, Connecticut Valley’s taproom offers delicious food items and 12 taps of distinct beer styles.
- Crowd Favorite: Trailblazer NEIPA. A citrusy Double New England IPA with 8% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Ace of Aces
- Hop-py Note: Dog-friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Free Wi-FI.
- Fun Fact: Connecticut Valley earned “Best of Hartford 2021 Craft Brewery”.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
Address: 765 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor, CT 06074
Contact: (860)644-2707 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
