Explore The Connecticut Beer Trail

The Connecticut Beer Trail is home to an array of award-winning craft breweries, each with something different to offer. If you can’t set aside time to explore the entire trail, stop by one of the below brewpubs for a taste of the local flavor.

Two Roads Brewing Company, in Stratford, Conn., opened for business four years ago. Stop by for one of their seven year-round beers and a bite. Food trucks operate on the premises every day of the week except Mondays.

New England Brewing Company is open Wednesday–Saturday in Woodbridge. Named a Top 20 brewery in the country, it was one of the first to offer craft brews in a can.

A photo posted by Thimble Island Brewing Co (@thimblebeer) on Sep 14, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT

Head to Thimble Island Brewing Company for 11 different and original ales, lagers and more on tap. You’ll additionally find the brews in bars, restaurants and grocery stores all over the state.   Offering what they call “aggressively laid-back beer,” Stony Creek Brewery is a great place to enjoy the spacious indoor/outdoor bar and taproom space. Food trucks are nearly always around for a bite to eat, and you’ll also find the occasional yoga class, which comes with a beer or glass of wine.   Pawkatuck is home to Cottrell Brewing, operating since 1997. The Cottrell family running the place takes great pride in their longstanding Yankee history, tracing their lineage all the way back to the 1600s. The flagship brew is, appropriately, named Old Yankee Ale.  

A photo posted by Cottrell Brewing Co. (@cottrellbrewing) on Aug 18, 2016 at 11:14am PDT

In Plainville, Relic Brewing is open for tastings Thursday–Saturday. It’s been named the best small brewery and most underrated brewery in the state, and its Tropicale IPA is called the top essential New England beer. Find a handful of beers on tap any time you stop by.

Willimantic Brewing Co. operates in tandem with Main Street Café, so you can enjoy both a bite and a brew. The building itself is worth a look — it’s the town’s 1909 U.S. Post Office, which closed in 1967 before being reclaimed by the brewing company and restaurant in the 1990s.

Olde Burnside Brewing Company offers traditional ales created with a Scottish flair. The specialty malt is imported from England and the six available beers each offer a distinctive and unique character.

A photo posted by Thomas Hooker Brewery (@hookerbeer) on Sep 16, 2016 at 1:50pm PDT

While it takes pride in its Connecticut heritage, Thomas Hooker Brewery operates on a national scale. Just because it’s not a small operation, though, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t earn a spot on your beer trail excursion. Every first and third Friday night during the month, the brewery hosts an open house event, where guests can take a tour and enjoy happy hour for only $10.

Located in an architectural landmark in Hartford, City Steam Brewery has been serving up the flagship Naughty Nurse amber ale since 1997. The brewery offers a hefty menu, as well as a Sunday brunch.