friday field trip

There is nothing new about a brewery in Connecticut…it isn’t the first, by any means.  The interesting thing about this newest brewery in the state is the location.  It occupies an old factory building not far from the historic district in the south end of Stratford – oh, and it has a cool name.  It is called Two Roads Brewing Co.…hard not to like something named after a Robert Frost poem.

A brewery is certainly “a road less traveled” for me, not being much of a beer drinker…or any kind of drinker for that matter.  I was really more interested in checking out the renovated building and the state-of-the-art brewery than I was to sample the product.

There is a very large ‘tasting room’ that oozes with future possibilities…private parties are inevitable and, with so many colleges nearby, I expect many young people also.

The ‘tasting room’ overlooks the brewing facility, making it an interesting place to meet a friend for a drink.  The place has a warehouse vibe – a unique environment that has incorporated many of the original parts of the building it inhabits.   My favorite was the top of the bar.  I later found out it was made from wood repurposed from the original factory floor.

Beer is sold in tasters, pints, growlers, and six packs and there is already a strong local following and a presence across Connecticut.  Someone ordered a growler to take home when I was there and I have to admit I was kind of mesmerized by the machine that filled it up.  It is probably standard brewery equipment, but I had never seen one before.

A photo of a selection of tasters at Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford, CT. The bar is made from the original factory floor repurposed from the old building the brewery occupies.

I probably should have planned my visit a little better since I did not realize tours were given on a formal basis and I wasn’t there at an appropriate time to take a tour.

Although there is no food being served at Two Roads, I heard the Caseus Cheese truck (the Caseus Cheese Shop food truck from New Haven that serves gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches during the week to the surrounding Yale community) parked outside one weekend and other local food trucks have plans to make future appearances.  What a great idea.

All in all, Two Roads Brewing Co. was a really interesting place to visit and,  if you are a beer drinker, a wonderful place to drink.  I would like to make another trip when I can take the tour.  Are you wondering if I tried the product?  Yes, I did.  I’m still not a beer drinker, but I would make another trip to Two Roads Brewing Co.  Hey, it’s all about trying new things, right?

Thanks for visiting.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things,  Jackie