On Saturday, April 20, 2024, Luxury Experience joined craft beer afficionados who flocked to the annual CT Beer Fest 2024 held this year at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut for the opportunity to experience exceptionally crafted beers, ales, IPAs, lagers, pilsners, sours, stouts, ciders, and more, from across the state of Connecticut. From “high octane” beers to those with low ABVs, there was something for every palate. Cheers!
As our palates usually tend towards drinking darker beers and stouts, attending the CT Beer Fest 2024 provided us with the opportunity to go outside our comfort zone and sample other styles in addition to our tried-and-true dark beers and stouts. Each of the craft brewers at the CT Beer Fest brought a range of interesting products for attendees to sample along with special products for VIPs only, and we thoroughly enjoyed making the acquaintance of several of them. We share some of the many highlights below to entice your palates.
A Sampling of Highlights We Experienced
Almost Famous Brewing Company
U Wanna Peach of Me? ABV 6.9%
Almost Famous Brewing Company, East Granby
U Wanna Peach of Me? This tasty treat was a Peach Cobbler Milkshake IPA, ABV 6.9%, IBU 28
@almostfamousbrewing
Armada Brewing
Edge of Darkness, Dark Lager, ABV 4.7%
Armada Brewing, New Haven
Edge of Darkness, Dark Lager, ABV 4.7% with roasty, smoke, and creamy notes.
@armadabrewing
Athletic Brewing Co
Ripe Pursuit, Non-Alcoholic Lemon Radler, ABV < 0.5%
Athletic Brewing Co., Milford
Ripe Pursuit, Non-Alcoholic Lemon Radler, ABV less than 0.5%
@athleticbrewing
Back East Brewery
Blackberry Berliner Weisse, ABV 3.5%
Back East Brewery, Bloomfield
Blackberry Berliner Weisse, ABV 3.5%
@backeastbrewing
BAD SONS Beer Company
Whoopass, Double IPA, ABV 9%
BAD SONS Beer Company, Derby
Whoopass, Double IPA brewed with CTZ, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin Hops. Fresh crushed Gooseberry, Grapefruit, and Peach, ABV 9%.
@badsonsbeer
The Beer’d Brewing Co., LLC
Stay Toasty – Stout, Imperial/Double, ABV 8.9%
The Beer’d Brewing Co., LLC, Stonington, and Groton
Stay Toasty – Stout, Imperial/Double, ABV 8.9%
@BeerdBrewing
Berlinetta Brewing Co
Velvet Pilsner Lager Beer, ABV 5.5%
Berlinetta Brewing Co., Bridgeport
Velvet Pilsner Lager Beer, ABV 5.5%
@BerlinettaBrewing
Black Hog Brewing Co
Cold Pizza Pilsner, Pilsner-Italian, ABV 5.5%
Black Hog Brewing Co., Oxford
Cold Pizza Pilsner, Pilsner-Italian, ABV 5.5%, Dry Hopped Italian Style Pilsner|
@BlackHogBrewing
Broken Symmetry
Rebellious Monk, Belgian Style, ABV 9%
Broken Symmetry, Bethel
Rebellious Monk, Belgian Style Tripel Ale, ABV 9%
@BSGbrew
Center Street Brewing Company
La Neta Lime Lager
Center Street Brewing Company, Wallingford
La Neta Lime Lager, Traditional Mexican Lager
@CenterStreetBrewingCompany
Cheshire Craft Brewing
Dynamic Due, Strawberry Banana Sour, ABV 5.9%
Cheshire Craft Brewing, Cheshire
Dynamic Duo, Strawberry Banana Sour, ABV 5.9%
@CheshireCraftBrewing
Clcoktown Brewing Company
Triple Decker, ABV 9%
Clocktown Brewing Company, Thomaston
Triple Decker, ABV 9%
@ClocktownBrewing
Coastline Brewing Co.
Maple Donut Stout, ABV 8%
Coastline Brewing Co., Westbrook
Maple Donut Stout, ABV 8%. They take their coffee stout and add maple donuts from Beach Donut into their brew! The result is roasty with a vanilla and maple finish.
@Coastlinebrewingco
Concentric Brewing Company
Seeing Red Again, Irish Red Ale, ABV 5%
Concentric Brewing Company, Portland
Seeing Red Again, Irish Red Ale, ABV 5%
@ConcentricBrewing
Dudley Town Brewing Co.
Passion Of The Geist, ABV 5%
Dudley Town Brewing Co., Windsor
Passion Of The Geist, ABV 5%
@Dudleytownbrewing
Elicit Brewing Company
Just the Drip, Porter, Coffee, ABV 5.4%
Elicit Brewing Company, Manchester
Just the Drip, Porter – Coffee. Two Connecticut powerhouses, Elicit Brewing Company and coffee roaster J. Renee joined together to create this Porter, ABV 5.4%
@elicitbrewingcompany
5 Churches Brewing
Imperial Milk Stout with Peanut Butter, ABV 15.2%
5 Churches Brewing, New Britain
Imperial Milk Stout with Peanut Butter, ABV 15.2%. This velvety smooth beer took 6 years to make and was a VIP offering.
@FiveChurchesBrewing
Great Falls Brewing Co.
Barrel Aged Double Stuffed, ABV 10%
Great Falls Brewing Co., North Canaan
Barrel Aged Double Stuffed, ABV 10%
@greatfallsbrews
Labyrinth Brewing Company
Sour Batch Series, Super Sour with Pomegranate, mango, and lactose, ABV 5.8%
Labyrinth Brewing Company, Manchester
Sour Batch Series – Super Sour with pomegranate, mango, and lactose, ABV 5.8%
@labyrinthbrewing
Myrcene Ale Co.
Tart Plum Tango with Hibiscus, ABV 5.7%
Myrcene Ale Co., Old Saybrook
Tart Plum Tango with Hibiscus, plum and orange sour with hibiscus, ABV 5.7%
@myrceneale
New England Cider Company
Blueberry Hard Cider, ABV 5.2%
New England Cider Company, Wallingford
Blueberry Hard Cider, a blend of real apple juice and blueberry concentrate, ABV 5.2%
@NewEnglandCiderCompany
NewSylum Brewing Co.
Paging Dr. Strong, Belgian Tripel, ABV 9%
NewSylum Brewing Co., Newtown
Paging Dr. Strong, Belgian Tripel, ABV 9%
@NewSylumBrewing
Nod Hill Brewery
GeoBunny New England IPA Dry-Hopped, ABV 6.5%
Nod Hill Brewery, Ridgefield
GeoBunny New England IPA Dry-Hopped with Citra & Mosaic, ABV 6.5%
@nodhillbrewery
Reverie Brewing Company
Viva La Lager Mexican Dark, ABV 5.3%
Reverie Brewing Company, Newtown
Viva La Lager Mexican Dark, ABV 5.3%
@reveriebrewing
Still Hill Brewery
I Caved New England IPA, ABV 7.4%
Still Hill Brewery, Rocky Hill
I Caved New England India Pale Ale, ABV 7.4%
@stillhillbrewery
Thimble Island Brewing Company
Seafoam, American Pale Ale, ABV 5%
Thimble Island Brewing Company, Branford
Seafoam, American Pale Ale, ABV 5%
@thimbleislandbrewery
@thimbleislandbrewing
Two Roads Brewing Company
Two Juicy Hazy Double IPA, ABV 8.2%
Two Roads Brewing Company, Stratford
Two Juicy Hazy Double IPA, ABV 8.2%
@tworoadsbrewing
Urban Lodge Brewing Co.
Packwood, smoked rye chocolate stout, ABV 8%
Urban Lodge Brewing Co., Manchester, and Hartford
Packwood, smoked rye chocolate stout, ABV 8%
@urbanlodgebrewing
@urbanlodgepratt
Willimantic Brewing Company
IPA 2024, ABV 7.4%, Brewed with rye, German and English Malts, West Coast Hops
Willimantic Brewing Company, Willimantic (the oldest brewery in Connecticut, opened in 1993)
IPA 2024, a new IPA for the new year, ABV 7.4%, Brewed with rye, German and English malts, heavily dosed with a blend of West Coast hops.
@willibrew
Witchdoctor Brewing Company
Love is Blond, ABV 5.6%, lightly hopped Bland Ale
Witchdoctor Brewing Company, Stonington
Love is Blonde, ABV 5.6%, lightly hopped Blonde Ale
@witchdoctorbrewing
In addition to the many craft beer companies in attendance, there was food for purchase, and a wealth of artisan crafts that caught our attention including Sheldons’ Sawmill, LLC located in Northeastern, Connecticut (iconic charcuterie and cutting boards) and Gerrard Woodworking from Vernon, Connecticut (gorgeous wood bowls) to name but a few.
Rachel Diamond – CT Brewers Guild Executive Director
The CT Beer Fest 2024 was a well-spent afternoon of experiencing exceptional products, conversing with the brewers and other attendees, and speaking with CT Brewers Guild Executive Director Rachel Diamond (Home Brewery is Broken Symmetry) and learning more about the CT Brewers Guild. Until next time, cheers!
About The CT Brewers Guild
“Founded in 2012, The CT Brewers’ Guild protects and promotes the interests of Craft Beer Producers in Connecticut. Since the dawn of America, Craft Breweries have been meeting places and catalysts of growth. Finding common ground over a pint is what our nation, and maybe all civilizations were built upon. It is a rich history, steeped in patriotic tradition and we believe our Craft Beer Manufacturers play an important part in today’s economy and communities, small and large. Connecticut boasts more than 115 operational breweries, with many more in planning. Our focus is sustaining growth of our industry through legislation, awareness, and inclusivity.”
For more information on the next CT Beer Fest or about the CT Brewers Guild, please visit the website: https://www.connecticut.beer/community or social media: www.instagram.com/ctbrewersguild/ and www.facebook.com/CTBrewersGuild
470 James Street, # 7
New Haven, Connecticut 06513
Telephone: +1-203-293-8622
Email: ctbrewersguild@connecticutbeer.com
Website: www.connecticutbeer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CTBrewersGuild @ctbrewersguild
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctbrewersguild @ctbrewersguild
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