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Beer

So, what am I drinking?

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I took a trip to Treehouse last Friday. The brewery is stunning from the outside, and from the looks of the size of the parking lot, they must be able to accommodate lots of people inside. Currently not open.

I've taken a trip to Lawson's recently as well. Went for some Little Sip and Double Sunshine. Much farther, but a nice ride as well, and no line whatsoever.

Treehouse's drive-through operation was top notch. There was a line of cars over an hour long wrapping through the lot there, but it was well worth it. Cars from all over - CT, VT, NH, RI, Penn, NJ, NY. You must order at least 24 beers, and they have set up lots of different mix packs on their site to choose from. I also scooped up some of their apple cider. Drinking some Green as I type right now.
 
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It could probably have a thread of its own, but what's everyone's favorite CT beers? My absolute go to is Lil' Heaven - I have it in the fridge always. I'm only an IPA, DIPA, NEIPA drinker at this point. I like all of Two Roads stuff, Hooker, Back East, Hog River, Hanging Hills, Counter Weight, NEBCO. Even City Steam has come through with the Jungle Crush. I've been to some breweries, but not many - Hooker (at Colt building), Stony Creek, Hanging Hills, Hog River, Five Churches, New Park. I'd go back to all of them, but also looking to try others first.
 
XLCenterFan said:
It could probably have a thread of its own, but what's everyone's favorite CT beers? My absolute go to is Lil' Heaven - I have it in the fridge always. I'm only an IPA, DIPA, NEIPA drinker at this point. I like all of Two Roads stuff, Hooker, Back East, Hog River, Hanging Hills, Counter Weight, NEBCO. Even City Steam has come through with the Jungle Crush. I've been to some breweries, but not many - Hooker (at Colt building), Stony Creek, Hanging Hills, Hog River, Five Churches, New Park. I'd go back to all of them, but also looking to try others first.
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Of the breweries you mentioned, I've tried beer from all except Five Churches and New Park. My two favorite are NEBCO and Tribus, which if you haven't been to makes really good stuff.
 
XLCenterFan said:
It could probably have a thread of its own, but what's everyone's favorite CT beers? My absolute go to is Lil' Heaven - I have it in the fridge always. I'm only an IPA, DIPA, NEIPA drinker at this point. I like all of Two Roads stuff, Hooker, Back East, Hog River, Hanging Hills, Counter Weight, NEBCO. Even City Steam has come through with the Jungle Crush. I've been to some breweries, but not many - Hooker (at Colt building), Stony Creek, Hanging Hills, Hog River, Five Churches, New Park. I'd go back to all of them, but also looking to try others first.
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New Park is fantastic.

Not on your list - but absolutely needs to be - Kent Falls. Not a ton of juicy IPAs, but i would put Buddy Sprinkles up against anything.
 
pepband99 said:
New Park is fantastic.

Not on your list - but absolutely needs to be - Kent Falls. Not a ton of juicy IPAs, but i would put Buddy Sprinkles up against anything.
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Kent Falls is great, All Alone with Nowhere To Go is an awesome beer of theirs too. If you ever get the chance to go up there they have a cool little tasting room on a farm. All the beers are $5.

Alvarium is another one that should be on this list. Great beers.
 
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Rico444 said:
Of the breweries you mentioned, I've tried beer from all except Five Churches and New Park. My two favorite are NEBCO and Tribus, which if you haven't been to makes really good stuff.
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I have never managed to get the best stuff from NEBCO. Tribus makes very nice stuff. Was lucky to stumble upon it this time last year. A friend in W Mass has been getting me some Back East beers and those are pretty solid, if a notch below the best.
 
Very little love for NE at Great American Beer fest this year, I'd assume its a west coast bias (up & down style, they prefer beers that don't play defense).

Nothing for VT which is sacrilege in my book although maybe all the breweries we've recently discussed have already received their accolades & they spread it around. In MA Springdale got an award for Kolsch - I've tried their IPA which is basic, very clean but not remarkable (Springdale an offshoot of Jack Abbey) and Lamplighter got an IPA award (Lazy Tiger) so I'm looking on where to buy that one. Two CT beers:
  • “Counter Weight Fest Bier,” Counter Weight Brewing Co., Hamden, Conn. Gold, Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest.
  • “Vienna Lager,” East Rock Brewing Co., New Haven, Conn. Silver, Vienna-Style Lager.
 
Looks like I have to get to Kent Falls.

I have also heard that the Manchester breweries are good - there's like 4 now, I believe?

Anyone try Phantom in Hartford yet?
 
Dogdeacon said:
Very little love for NE at Great American Beer fest this year, I'd assume its a west coast bias (up & down style, they prefer beers that don't play defense).

Nothing for VT which is sacrilege in my book although maybe all the breweries we've recently discussed have already received their accolades & they spread it around. In MA Springdale got an award for Kolsch - I've tried their IPA which is basic, very clean but not remarkable (Springdale an offshoot of Jack Abbey) and Lamplighter got an IPA award (Lazy Tiger) so I'm looking on where to buy that one. Two CT beers:
  • “Counter Weight Fest Bier,” Counter Weight Brewing Co., Hamden, Conn. Gold, Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest.
  • “Vienna Lager,” East Rock Brewing Co., New Haven, Conn. Silver, Vienna-Style Lager.
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I also saw that list and immediately dismissed it when there were no VT, MA, or CT beers on it. I share your sentiments.
 
I went to Problem Solved (East Windsor) on their opening day. Tap room was cool but the beer left something to be desired. I heard they would be tinkering with their recipes though, and would surely be willing to give them a second try.
 
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XLCenterFan said:
Looks like I have to get to Kent Falls.

I have also heard that the Manchester breweries are good - there's like 4 now, I believe?

Anyone try Phantom in Hartford yet?
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FYI their tasting room is closed right now but they are doing pickup. It’s a nice drive foliage wise right now so might be worth it anyway. A lot to do out that way. You can stop at Sunset Meadows Vineyard in Goshen on the way of you go with your wife.
 
XLCenterFan said:
I went to Problem Solved (East Windsor) on their opening day. Tap room was cool but the beer left something to be desired. I heard they would be tinkering with their recipes though, and would surely be willing to give them a second try.
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Sounds like a very inapt name at the moment.


I just popped in to my local packy to grab some cider and took a gander at their beer selection. Good Lord, the full line of Frost beers are in the state now, too? And I know Maine Beer Company has been here for years but there was a whole row of Lunch, which used to be rarer than hen's teeth. Oh and a full row of SoS.

And there were like 30 other beers with funky labels that I'm sure are all the rage now; I didn't have time to inspect, but it sure looks like great beer is in great supply in CT these days.
 
XLCenterFan said:
I also saw that list and immediately dismissed it when there were no VT, MA, or CT beers on it. I share your sentiments.
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Maybe there were few entries. I mean...Foam isn't winning if they don't enter.
 
XLCenterFan said:
It could probably have a thread of its own, but what's everyone's favorite CT beers? My absolute go to is Lil' Heaven - I have it in the fridge always. I'm only an IPA, DIPA, NEIPA drinker at this point. I like all of Two Roads stuff, Hooker, Back East, Hog River, Hanging Hills, Counter Weight, NEBCO. Even City Steam has come through with the Jungle Crush. I've been to some breweries, but not many - Hooker (at Colt building), Stony Creek, Hanging Hills, Hog River, Five Churches, New Park. I'd go back to all of them, but also looking to try others first.
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If you're all about IPA's try Relic in Plainville. It's almost all IPA's and really good. They also have a bunch of bourbon and tequila, you can do flights. Chill atmosphere to hang out in.
 
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Dogdeacon said:
Very little love for NE at Great American Beer fest this year, I'd assume its a west coast bias (up & down style, they prefer beers that don't play defense).

Nothing for VT which is sacrilege in my book although maybe all the breweries we've recently discussed have already received their accolades & they spread it around. In MA Springdale got an award for Kolsch - I've tried their IPA which is basic, very clean but not remarkable (Springdale an offshoot of Jack Abbey) and Lamplighter got an IPA award (Lazy Tiger) so I'm looking on where to buy that one. Two CT beers:
  • “Counter Weight Fest Bier,” Counter Weight Brewing Co., Hamden, Conn. Gold, Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest.
  • “Vienna Lager,” East Rock Brewing Co., New Haven, Conn. Silver, Vienna-Style Lager.
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Most of our breweries around here don’t submit beers. It’s mostly for shelf stable beers, not unpasteurized stuff that has to be refrigerated and consumed fresh. Plus the judges are essentially judging to the official style and many of the best beers don’t fit. For example, until they finally created the NE IPA category, “clarity” was a key requirement of the IPA style. So even 7-8 years ago, Focal Banger couldn’t compete.

So you see the results, including Springdale, 3 awards, all for German Style lagers.
 
I picked up a 4-pack of Nod Hill "Evening Routine" Coffee Stout last night. Very excited to crack one open.

For those in the Ridgefield area, their outdoor seating closes today. Seize the [warm] day!
 
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Not sure if this has been brought up in the thread, but I’m going deeeeep down the hazy ipa trail. Unfortunately I live in Los Angeles. Any west coast brewers making stuff that might be comparable to the tree houses and trilliums back east?
Monkish here is good and they do a lot of collabs with Other Half out of NYC
 
LIuconn said:
Not sure if this has been brought up in the thread, but I’m going deeeeep down the hazy ipa trail. Unfortunately I live in Los Angeles. Any west coast brewers making stuff that might be comparable to the tree houses and trilliums back east?
Monkish here is good and they do a lot of collabs with Other Half out of NYC
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I hit up Monkish in Nov 2018 as I'd read good things. Timing must've been bad since their menu was primarily sours - Gose, Gueuze, Lambic interpretations - and stouts/porters with nary a hazy or NEIPA when I visited.
 
LIuconn said:
Not sure if this has been brought up in the thread, but I’m going deeeeep down the hazy ipa trail. Unfortunately I live in Los Angeles. Any west coast brewers making stuff that might be comparable to the tree houses and trilliums back east?
Monkish here is good and they do a lot of collabs with Other Half out of NYC
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In addition to Monkish, I've heard great things about Modern Times.

Can you get Russian River beers, from Santa Rosa, down there? Pliny and Blind Pig are not necessarily hazy IPAs, but still damn good imo.

Naja's in Redondo Beach is one of my favorite beer bars on the planet. I had a couple cases in LA for a couple years and it got to the point where the regulars there knew me. Made a point of stopping in again when I brought my family out there on vacation. Awesome spot and great taps.
 
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Dove said:
Ed Daigneault is a brewer and part owner.
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Highly recommend Ed’s place. Really nice. Went there last night. Full service and guest taps and has a menu and a pizza oven.
It isn’t a hole in the wall place.
 
Thanks for the rec’s, guys. Will have to check out Najas next

So cool regarding Ed
 
The Mrs. has taken to IPAs and between the two of us, managing cans in and out of the house was becoming overwhelming. Daughter was giving me a ration for the environmental impact. So I built a keg cooler/tap.

I was going to use an under counter fridge that I figured I could get two 1/6 barrels into. But package stores are telling me craft brewers aren’t filling 1/6 logs because no one is having parties these days. So I joined a dorm fridge to an insulated box that can fit a half barrel.

Have the first one going. Counterweight Headway. Awesome on tap. Such a pillowy mouth feel. I would be interested in suggestions for other varieties, especially if people had an inside track on local breweries offering half barrels that were recently kegged.
 
tdrink said:
The Mrs. has taken to IPAs and between the two of us, managing cans in and out of the house was becoming overwhelming. Daughter was giving me a ration for the environmental impact. So I built a keg cooler/tap.

I was going to use an under counter fridge that I figured I could get two 1/6 barrels into. But package stores are telling me craft brewers aren’t filling 1/6 logs because no one is having parties these days. So I joined a dorm fridge to an insulated box that can fit a half barrel.

Have the first one going. Counterweight Headway. Awesome on tap. Such a pillowy mouth feel. I would be interested in suggestions for other varieties, especially if people had an inside track on local breweries offering half barrels that were recently kegged.
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If you don't want to get kegs all the time you could always get growlers so you can enjoy more variety. That's environmentally friendly. Most breweries will fill growlers although then you need to visit the brewery to do that. Probably nothing you don't already know. I just couldn't imagine getting kegs all the time. I like beer but it would take me forever to get through a keg.
 
HooperScooper said:
If you don't want to get kegs all the time you could always get growlers so you can enjoy more variety. That's environmentally friendly. Most breweries will fill growlers although then you need to visit the brewery to do that. Probably nothing you don't already know. I just couldn't imagine getting kegs all the time. I like beer but it would take me forever to get through a keg.
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Growler fills would take a lot of time and gas money. I live in the brewery black hole known as Storrs, CT.

Two beer drinkers in the house. We wIll drain a half barrel in about a month.
 
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