Summer is the perfect time to explore the storied history of alcohol in Connecticut. As one of the birthplaces of brewing, distilling, and winemaking in America, the state has so much for you to discover. To help you plan your tasting weekends, we’re highlighting some of the best ways to taste and some of the best places to taste at along the beautiful CT Beverage Trail.
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Shebeen Brewing Company
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1 Wolcott Rd. Wolcott, CT 06716 (203) 514-2336 www.shebeenbrewing.com
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Kent Falls Brewing Company
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2nd Bridge Brewing 30 Mile Brewing Alvarium Beer Co. Aspetuck Brew Lab Back East Brewing Bad Dream Brewing Bad Sons Barley Head Brewery Beer'd Brewing Berlinetta Brewing Better Half Brewing Black Pond Brews Brass Works Brewing Brewery Legitimus Broken Symmetry Cambridge House Brew Pub Center Street Brewing Charter Oak Brewing City Steam Brewery Cliffside Brewing Clyde's Cider Mill Cold Creek Brewery Connecticut Valley Brewing Cottrell Brewing Counterweight Brewing Crossings Restaurant & Brew Pub Duvig Brewing Elicit Brewing
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Epicure Brewing Fairfield Craft Ales Firefly Hollow Brewing Five Churches Brewing Forest City Brewing Front Porch Brewing Great Falls Brewing Hanging Hills Brewing High Nine Brewing Hog River Brewing Hop Culture Brewing Hops on the Hill Brewery Housatonic River Brewing Iron Brewing Kent Falls Brewing Kinsmen Brewing Labyrinth Brewing Little House Brewing Little Red Barn Brewers Lock City Brewing Luppoleto Brewing Milford Point Brewing New England Brewing Co. New Park Brewing Niantic Public House No Worries Brewing Company Noble Jay Brewing
Nod Hill Brewery NOLO Norbrook Farm Brewery OEC Brewing Outer Light Brewing Overshores Brewing Powder Hollow Brewery Problem Solved Brewing Company Relic Brewing Reverie Brewing Shebeen Brewing Shunock River Brewery Stafford Cidery Still Hill Brewery Stony Creek Brewery Stubborn Beauty Brewing These Guys Brewing Thimble Island Brewing Thomas Hooker Brewing Tox Brewing Tribus Beer Co. Twelve Percent Two Roads Brewery Urban Lodge Brewing Veracious Brewing Company Witchdoctor Brewing Woodbury Brewing Company
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Remember to drink responsibly and always plan your ride! Getaway Limousine is here to help. Visit www.getawaylimos.com to start planning!
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Brignole Vineyards
Westford Hill Distillers
103 Hartford Ave, East Granby, CT 06026 (860) 653-9463 www.brignolevineyards.com
196 Chatey Rd, Ashford, CT 06278 (860) 429-0464 www.westfordhill.com
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The Connecticut Wine Trail is one of the most exciting and fastest growing wine regions in the United States. Made up of 26 participating world-class wineries and vineyards, the CT Wine Trail offers a tremendous variety of wine styles and stunning scenery—enjoyable in every season.
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SUPPORTING CT BREWERS SINCE 2012
The Connecticut Brewers Guild was founded in June 2012 to promote the interests of the fledgling craft beer scene in Connecticut. As of January 2020, the Connecticut beer scene boasts more than 110 operational breweries, with many more in planning. The goal of this Guild is to further promote our local breweries, move forward on Guild Member initiatives that foster profitability, and increase public awareness of all in-state breweries and legislative actions.
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33 Camps Rd, Kent, CT 06757 (860) 398-9645 kentfallsbrewing.com
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Tricks of the Trade: How to Taste Beer Like a Pro
Three Must-Visit Breweries to Put on Your Summer To-Do List
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2nd Bridge Brewing Co.
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Beers to Try
People Power Helles
The Hollow Lager
Doubly Awkward Hug IPA
De La American Farmhouse Ale
Patience Like A Buffalo Brett Lager
Orchard & Vine American Farmhouse Ale
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These Are a Few of My Favorite Things Helles
Driven New England Sparkling Ale
Puffin Puffin Pass IPA
Stuck in a Roundabout London Style Sweet Milk Stout
Smoothie Shop Milkshake IPA
John Beer IPA
349 Elm St. Stonington, CT 06378 (860) 415-9072 www.saltwaterfarmvineyard.com
Saltwater Farm Vineyard
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Now’s the Time to Enjoy a Day at a Winery
Tasting Tips on How to Get the Most out of Your Day at the Winery
Jerram Winery
Miranda Vineyard
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Arrigoni Winery Arrowhead Acres Bethlehem Vineyard Bishop’s Orchard Winery Brignole Vineyards Cassidy Hill Vineyard Chamard Vineyard Chateau Le’ Gari’ Cidery at Averill Farm Connecticut Valley Winery Crystal Ridge Winery CT Wine Trail Dalice Elizabeth Winery Digrazia Vineyards Dragonfire Meadery Gouveia Vineyards
Haight-Brown Vineyard Hawk Ridge Winery Heartstone Farm & Winery Holmberg Orchards Hopkins Vineyard Jerram Winery Jonathan Edwards Winery Jones Family Farms Winery Joseph Preli Farm Winery Land of Nod Winery Lebanon Green Vineyards Lost Acres Vineyard Maugle Sierra Vineyards Miranda Vineyard Paradise Hills Vineyard Priam Vineyards
Rosabianca Vineyards Rose Vineyard and Winery Rosedale Vineyard Saltwater Farm Vineyard Savino Vineyards Sharpe Hill Vineyards Spring Hill Staehly Farm Vineyard Stonington Vineyards Sunset Hill Vineyard Sunset Meadow Vineyards Taylor Brooke Winery The Vineyard at Hillyland Walker Road Vineyards White Silo Farm
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Wines to Try
2014 Merlot Aged in French Oak Barrels
Runway Red NV Aged in French Oak Barrels
2018 Cabernet Rosé Aged in Stainless Steel Tanks
2018 Estate “GOLD ARC” Chardonnay Aged in French Oak Barrels
2018 Estate Chardonnay Aged in Stainless Steel Tanks
2018 Sauvignon Blanc Aged in Stainless Steel Tanks
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Red Dragon Marquette & Baco Blend
Cancello Sangiovese Merlot & Cabernet Blend
Eclypse Sangiovese & Barbera Blend
Guardian Paso Robles Merlot
Crossbred Red Blend
Red Tail Estate Chambourgin
410 Woodland Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 858-1446 www.drinkwaypoint.com
Waypoint Spirits
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AppStrawbrandies Distillery Continuum Distilling Fifth State Distillery Full Moonshine Hartford Flavor Company
John Fitch Distilling Litchfield Distillery Mine Hill Distillery Waypoint Spirits Westford Hill Distillers
3 Perfect Cocktails for Your Summer, Inspired by Local Distilleries
How to Truly Taste Spirits: Secrets from a Pro “Noser”
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Spirits to Try
Wintonbury Gin 46.5% Alc/Vol
Special Batch Whiskey 47.5% Alc/Vol
Man Overboard Spiced Flavored Rum 35% Alc/Vol
Labrador Noon Vodka 40% Alc/Vol
Goodman Coffee Liqueur 30% Alc/Vol
Labrador Noon Spicy XIII 40% Alc/Vol
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Aged Apple Brandy Aged in French Oak Barrels
Framboise Eau-de-vie Made from Raspberries
Poire Prisonniere Eau-de-vie Made from Bartlett Pears
Kirsch Eau-de-vie Made from Cherries
Fraise Eau-de-vie Made from Strawberries
Pear William Produced from Bartlett Pears
For Connecticut’s settlers, alcohol was an integral part of daily life. They washed down breakfast with hard cider, drank beer with lunch, and sipped wine and liquor late into the evening. They did so out of necessity — water wasn’t safe to consume back then — but the practice of crafting alcoholic beverages with local ingredients like apples, berries, pumpkins, and honey created strong brewing, winemaking, and distilling traditions that endure here to this day. Now there are more than 100 breweries, 40-plus wineries, and dozens of distilleries throughout the Constitution State preserving old methods and experimenting with exciting new ingredients and recipes to quench your thirst. There has never been a better time to take a daylong road trip, hop from spot to scenic spot, and get a taste of vintage Connecticut. On your personal Connecticut drinking tour, you can pay homage to your epicurean forebearers and raise a glass to your health. And then you can raise a few more just for fun.
Party Planner
With so many possible drinking destinations across the state, the best bet for a successful tour is to plan ahead. Researching these places and their unique offerings and then mapping out the perfect day is half the fun of any trip. Here are some tips to getting every last drop out of the experience:
Pick your team: Find friends who share your passion for revelry, and pick out a day that works for everyone — and a day after that’s clear for recovery. Safety first!: Pick out a designated driver, or hire a shuttle service that can ferry you safely from place to place. Call ahead: Find out which places have tours, which places have food, and which places take reservations so you’re not surprised upon arrival. Don’t overdo it: Not just good drinking advice, but you also don’t want too many stops crammed into one day. Leave yourselves time to relax and not feel rushed. Spice it up: If you want to branch out beyond just conversation, set up some extracurricular activities like a fun scavenger hunt, board games, or drinking games. Provide disposable cameras so everyone can document the day.
Once you’ve done your research, you can start laying out the big day. There are plenty of conveniently located Connecticut breweries, wineries, and distilleries to fill a day with just one type of libation for specialists. But if you’re more of a generalist drinker or are traveling with a group that has diverse tastes, there’s no reason you can’t get a taste of everything the state has to offer. Just remember to be flexible and responsible. Here’s a sample itinerary to build on:
Itinerary
The Night Before: Like any race or vacation, preparation is key. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and get plenty of sleep. This is a marathon, not a sprint. And you want to be sure you can make it to the finish line.
8 a.m.: Stick to your morning routine. Eat a big breakfast with coffee or tea for an extra boost. Drink plenty of water.
10 a.m.: Game time. Stock the van or party bus with water and snacks to keep you going throughout the day. Load up the party playlist to provide the soundtrack. Then meet up or pick up your friends, and get the trip rolling.
11:30 a.m.: First stop. Because wineries tend to be largely rural outdoor affairs, with patio tables overlooking lush, vast vineyards, they can be the perfect place to start a beautiful day. You can also get a walk in with a tour of the grounds. Then dive into the tastings.
*Pro tip: Arranging to pick everyone up at home or stay over in one location limits the possibility of someone having to drive themselves somewhere at the end of the day. Just in case, it’s always good to have a ride-share app or the phone number of a local cab company handy.
*Pro tip: Don’t overload your palate, but try as many styles as you can instead of diving into a full glass. Remember, you can take home a bottle of any vintage you want to spend more time with.
1 p.m.: Second stop. With their robust and hardy menus or on-site food trucks, brewpubs and taprooms tend to be great spots for lunch. Try a flight (a sampling of four-ounce pours) of ales, lagers, sours, or stouts to pace yourself and get a real sense of the brewmaster’s entire menu.
*Pro tip: Many breweries resemble a bar and grill, where wall-mounted TVs are tuned to the day’s big sporting events. So if you want to catch (or avoid) the big game and the accompanying crowds of fanatics, plan accordingly.
2:30 p.m.: Third stop. This one is dealer’s choice. If the weather is too good to resist, you can find another winery with outdoor seating. If you want to catch the end of the game, you can race to another brewpub. Or if you’re finally ready for something stronger, a distillery is never far away.
*Pro tip: Many places, particularly breweries, also offer drinks other than beer, including local wines and spirits, so if you plan ahead, everyone can follow their own tastes.
*Pro tip: Consider sneaking in a workout. In addition to giving you energy, it’ll make you feel like you’ve earned the extra calories that are coming.
4 p.m.: Fourth stop. If you haven’t already (or even if you have), the onset of evening is the perfect time to take a cool indoor tour of a distillery and partake in a pre-dinner cocktail (or two).
*Pro tip: Many distilleries offer several kinds of spirits — from rum to gin to vodka to whiskey. Be careful mixing it up. And remember: Just like at the winery, you can take a bottle or more home for further research.
5:30 p.m.: Last stop. Dinnertime. Spend a beautiful night under the stars at a winery with a full farm menu. Find a brewpub with a slightly upscale board of fare. Or pop into one last distillery for a Connecticut-made nightcap. You can’t go wrong.
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Wine tasting as a way to enhance one’s appreciation of a vintage is a centuries-old practice. As viniculture expanded in Connecticut in the nineteenth century, two distinct wine terroirs developed: Western Connecticut Highlands and greater Southeastern New England. These two appellations boast some of the finest winemaking conditions on the East Coast, yielding delicious, unique wines that beg to be enjoyed. Sure, your day of wine tasting can be as simple as showing up at one of Connecticut’s 24 wineries, buying a bottle and some charcuterie at the gift shop, and enjoying a picnic in the splendid summer weather. But if you’re like us, a visit to the tasting room at your winery of choice can produce an experience that titillates the senses. Here are some simple tips on how to get the most out of your tasting experience.
1. Come Prepared
Although wine tasting involves only small amounts of each varietal, the alcohol intake can add up before you know it. Eat beforehand, and bring your reusable water bottle along with you to help avoid getting tipsy at the tasting. It’s best to avoid sipping a latte or chewing gum before you taste, as bold flavors flatten your palette. And avoid anything disruptive to your sense of smell, such as wearing heavy cologne or perfume. Smell and taste are two grapes on the same vine.
Any good tasting will have an expert present to help guide your experience. The sommelier or winemaker is a fantastic resource and is there to enhance your enjoyment of the wine. So definitely follow their lead. Most likely, you’ll start by visually assessing the wine. Swirl it in the glass and then note the viscosity—often called “legs”—of the wine as it slides down the crystal. Next, you’ll smell the wine. Smelling will give off notes that are different than the taste and is often meant to prepare your palette for what’s to come. Lastly, taste. Let the wine swish in your mouth for a moment, get the mouth feel. After swallowing, note the sensations on your teeth and tongue—these are clues to the wine’s alcohol content and tannins. If your tasting is different, that’s okay! Any diversion from this general tasting outline is most likely purposeful on the part of your sommelier.
2. Follow the Leader
Winemakers are aesthetes. You have to be a lover of art and nature to truly craft great wine. Because of this, wineries are often calming and beatific places to be. If your winery of choice has a tour or gardens or other indoor/outdoor features, take advantage of being somewhere pleasing to the eye and relaxing to the spirit.
3. Take the Tour
Designate a driver, take advantage of public transport or shuttles, or utilize a car service. Don’t let one afternoon blur your sense of safety!
4. Drink Responsibly
Follow these tips and your tasting experience is guaranteed to be a lovely, memorable way to spend a summer day on the CT Beverage Trail!
In 1988, the State of Connecticut was looking for a way to get the word out. Wine enthusiasts were growing hip to regions like Napa as wine country destinations, yet Connecticut—despite being one of the earliest wine appellations in the United States—was under-recognized. Because of New England’s breathtaking summer beauty and its up-and-coming viniculture, the state created the CT Wine Trail, a loose patchwork of wineries across the Housatonic and Connecticut River Valleys.
Thirty years later, Connecticut wineries boast some of the best-tasting wines grown in all of New England, due to CT’s unique terroir and micro-climates. Because most CT wineries are in the process of reopening in some fashion, now’s the time to take those summer plans off hold and go spend a weekend tasting wine and enjoying the picturesque Connecticut countryside.
Whether for a bachelorette party or a romantic getaway, CT wineries are playgrounds for revelers. Picture warm late-afternoon sun, softly rolling hills peppered with chestnut trees, ponds, and rows and rows of green vineyards as your backdrop to sipping an ice-cold chardonnay on a picnic blanket. Or leaning on an oakwood bar, noshing on hors-d’oeuvres and enjoying the latest oak-aged cabernet franc. Connecticut wineries offer a wide variety of settings in which to enjoy the best parts of life: love, friendship, and the fruits of nature. So live in the moment and enjoy everything the CT Wine Trail has to offer.
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As any New Englander will tell you, we’ve been doing micro-brews since long before those upstarts out west. Since the 1800s, beers, ales, and ciders have been the lifeblood of Connecticut libation culture, and except for a short break in the 1920s, Connecticut breweries have continued our long tradition of innovative, great-tasting beers. With the possibility of beer tasting very much on the horizon, we think it’s the right time to provide a few insider tricks of the trade on how to get the most out of a beer tasting.
1. The Pour Is Important
Most breweries will do the hard part of executing a perfect pour for you, but in case you go out on your own, here’s an easy tip to remember. Forget what the snobs say about glassware: a regular tulip glass will do just fine, and if no tulip, a pint glass gets the job done. American beers tend to be fairly high on the carbonation scale (2.2–2.7+ v/v, according to craft beer experts), which means you’ll want to pour down the side of the glass to avoid getting too much of a frothy head on the beer. Foam can be fun, but it gets in the way of the taste. Try to pour your beer so there’s a slight head, but no more.
You thought smelling was just for wine? Think again. Today’s craft beers are incredibly aromatic. Sticking your nose inside the glass and taking a big whiff is exactly the right play. Having trouble? Try warming up the beer a tad by gripping the glass with your hands at the liquid level. If that doesn’t work, cover the lip with your palm and lightly swish the beer around, hold for three seconds, and then inhale.
2. Take a Whiff
Take the time to consider your brew—the color, the viscosity, and the way it interacts with the light. Then take a small sip. Let the beer hit all the parts of your mouth, lips, teeth, and tongue. Swish it a bit if you’re feeling fancy. Then swallow and notice the aftertaste.
3. Look and Sip
By now you should have a good idea of what your beer is all about. Take one more sniff to confirm what you’ve just tasted, and prime your mouth for the moment you’ve been waiting for: drinking at whatever pace is best for you. We recommend a ravenous gulp. (You deserve it.)
4. Sniff and Gulp
Now that you know how to taste like a pro, get out there and experience the best breweries Connecticut has to offer! Please drink responsibly.
The Connecticut beer scene is thriving. With over 110 micro-breweries operating in the state, choosing a starting place when going beer tasting can seem daunting. The good news: CT breweries make some of the finest beers in the world—delicious, award-winning brews, ciders, and ales guaranteed to slake your thirst for the unique. There’s no wrong choice. However, here are three recommendations in case you’re like us and want someone else to choose for you.
Fox Farm is the undisputed king of Connecticut breweries. Not only are their IPAs a wonder to behold, their variety of quality styles have become leaders in their own right. The Salem, Connecticut, campus is absolutely brimming with old-world, bucolic charm mixed with modern beer culture comforts. A must for any beer aficionado.
If you’re the type looking for something a bit left-of-center, then Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores (OEC for short) is for you. OEC is known for their wild experimentations and pushing the limits of modern brewing. Their four-times-yearly eccentric tour is the way to go for true beer enthusiasts. With hops and yeasts grown on-site, this Oxford brewery is the height of innovation, and well worth an afternoon.
Respect your elders. For nearly 20 years, New England Brewing Co. has been in the discussion for the best brewery in Connecticut. Is there a more universally recognized CT brew than Imperial Storm Trooper? We don’t think so. But NEBCO isn’t content to rest on its laurels. Hard work and creativity are at the heart of this Woodbridge stalwart. Simply put, if you need a place to begin your quest for knowledge of CT beers, there’s no better place to start than NEBCO.
Regardless of where you choose to start your brew adventure, Connecticut has the most variety and the best beers in New England. Plan your next tasting now!
Have you ever been to a “nosing”? It’s a competition where the participants have to identify a spirit by smell alone. These contests can get cagey. People travel from all over the world to attend them, and take it very seriously. While most us prefer to just drink our spirits, there is a way to leave the competitive edge behind but keep a few tips on how best to taste spirits you may be trying for the first time. We caught up with a pro “noser” and got the details.
1. Pour into a Glass
Like wine, liquor likes to breathe. It’s extremely difficult to get the full aromas and flavors of a spirit if you’re sipping it out of a shot glass. You don’t have to use the “recommended” glass for each category of spirit; a tulip glass or snifter will do. Pour yourself one ounce and let it hang in the glass for a minute. Always taste spirits at room temp. With the exception of a few high-octane bourbons, which require a minute splash of water or ice chip to overcome the alcohol content, trying to taste a chilled spirit is a waste of time.
Because spirits have a much higher alcohol content than beer and wine, the alcohol can prevent experiencing the full aroma of the spirit. Nosers often take the tip of their finger and dip it into their glass. Then they rub a bit of the spirit on their wrist, the same way you test perfume or cologne. Interaction with your skin neutralizes the smell of alcohol and allows you to get a better sense of what the spirit truly smells like.
2. Start with the Skin
Once you have an idea of the spirit’s scent from your wrist, swish the liquor in your glass and inhale deeply. If you still feel that twinge in your nose from the alcohol, return to your wrist and recall the aromas you noted earlier, then immediately nose the glass again. It can help to keep your mouth slightly open when you smell.
3. Sniff the Snifter
A spirit worth tasting should be savored, which is hard to do if you’re slamming it down your throat. Take a small sip. Note what it feels like in your mouth, which part of your tongue it excites. Swirl it around a bit, then spit. You’ve now done a “tasting sip,” which preps your palette for the pleasure of what comes next: a healthy sip and swallow. But before you do, take a tiny sip of water. You want the final taste to be a pleasantly shocking experience (by your palette’s standards).
4. Sip, Don’t Shoot
Distinguishing between 50 kinds of scotch with just your nose may not be in your future, but with these simple techniques you’ll be ready to get the most out of any spirit you try. Who knows? Someday you may find yourself at a nosing, and you’ll know exactly what to do!
A delectable and refreshing treat, a gin bramble is perfect for sunsets and BBQs. Squeeze ¾ oz. of fresh lemon juice into a tumbler. Add a sugar cube—or prepare some simple syrup by combining equal parts of sugar and hot water, then pour ¾ oz. of simple syrup into the tumbler. Add four ripe blackberries (or a spoonful of blackberry jam in a pinch). Take a spoon or muddler and gently macerate the fruit. Add 2 oz. of Fifth State Gin, and dump into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh blackberry, a sprinkle of thyme, and a dash of kosher salt. Fifth State Gin’s new-world approach adds notes of cinnamon, coriander, and citrus, making it ideal for citrus cocktails like a bramble. Enjoy!
Everyone has heard of a sloe gin fizz, but truth is, the cocktail is hard to find. Inspired by the clean finish of Litchfield’s Batchers’ Vodka, this Summer Fizz will do the trick for whiling away an afternoon. Get your cocktail shaker and crack an egg into it without allowing any yolk in—just the egg white. Add ½ oz. fresh lemon and ½ oz. simple syrup. Dry-shake (no ice) for a solid minute—you want to get this mix frothy! After the dry shake, add ½ oz. Mandarine Napoleon, Cointreau, or, if there’s no other option, triple sec. Then add 1 ½ oz. of Litchfield Batchers’ Vodka, ice, and shake once more. Strain over new ice into a double old-fashioned glass, and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Enjoy!
1. Blackberry Bramble with Fifth State Gin
2. Summer Mint Fizz with Litchfield Distilleries Batchers’ Vodka
This is the kind of summer beverage you imagine people dressed to the nines sipping at racetracks in the 1950s. Take a small batch whiskey (for example, Waypoint Spirits Habanero or Hopped Small Batch Whiskey) and put aside 2 oz. in a rocks glass. Combine 1 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice, ½ oz. simple syrup, and ½ oz. lime with a pinch of fresh mint. Muddle these ingredients lightly, then add whiskey. Shake with ice, then strain back into the rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with mint and enjoy a refreshing cocktail with a kick!
3. Pimlico with a Kick (featuring Waypoint Small Batch Whiskey)
Connecticut’s spirits culture has never been so vibrant. With distilleries dotting our New England landscape, we thought we’d get you inspired to visit one or all of them by making some cocktail suggestions that are perfect for summertime.
