Luxury Experience - The Online Resource for the Discerning Consumer
Home | Testimonials | Who We Are | Contact Us | Subscribe | Links | Media Kit
Home
Destinations
Hotels and Resorts
Spas
Restaurants
Chefs' Recipes
Liquor Cabinet
Wine Cellar
Music Scene
Adventures
Fashion
Arts and Antiques
Performances
Luxury Products
Publisher's Notes
Awards
Events
Gastronomy
Travel News
Subscribe
Site Search
Nominated for Tales of the Cocktail 2008 Spirit Award for Best Cocktail Writing


Touring and Tasting at Black Hog Brewing, Oxford, CT, USA PDF Print E-mail
Written by Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta   
Black Hog Brewing, Oxford, CT - photo by Luxury Experience
We had a fabulous tour and tasting at Black Hog Brewing in Oxford, Connecticut learning about their tasty products and the craft brewing movement in Connecticut. Owned by brothers Jason and Tom Sobocinski and brew master Tyler Jones, Black Hog Brewing (BHB) has been turning the craft beer movement on its head since they founded it in 2014 and launched their first products in July 2014.

 

Black Hog Brewing  - Woodbury, CT - photo by Luxury Experience

We took an interesting, and very tasty, tour on Sunday, November 29, 2020 with Taproom Manager Olivia Pogodzienski to learn about BHB's diverse and tasty products and about the craft brewing industry. We first learned about Black Hog Brewing through Brandon Collins, owner and master distiller of Continuum Distilling in Waterbury, Connecticut, as he uses "beer trimmings" from local craft breweries, including Black Hog Brewing, to create his exceptional spirits products, Drops and Charred. Although we have extensive spirits and wine background, our beer and craft brewing knowledge was minimal, and we thought that it was high time to learn about this fast-growing market. Touring BHB with Olivia provided us with a wealth of knowledge of the craft beer and burgeoning seltzer movement deftly blended with the perfect mix of fun.  

Whereas spirits usually have 40 - 45% alcohol by volume (ABV) and wines range between 12 - 14.5 % ABV, craft brews ABV also come in a wide range. BHB's Hog Lager comes in at 5.5% ABV whereas their Leaves A Mark Stout and their Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter have 11.5% ABV.  

We learned that some products are top fermented, some are bottom fermented, some have hops, some do not. During our tour we learned the difference between porters and stouts, ales, and lagers, and like wine, learned that to appreciate the nuances of craft brews there are specially designed glasses for the various types of products.  

Black Hog Brewing  - Woodbury, CT - photo by Luxury Experience
Shhh - beer in the making

Speaking with Olivia, we learned that one of the distinguishing factors of the artisanal craft brew movement versus the spirits industry, is that their craft brew clientele is always looking for something new to try, whereas spirits drinkers are generally looking for consistent product every time. The Black Hog team is always happy to put their creative hats on to keep coming up with interesting products in addition to their core products, and having sampled a few of their amazing products, we are happy that they keep moving forward. Interesting to note about Black Hog Brewing (BHB) is that they pick their own hops to keep their product very fresh and they use real fruit in their seltzers.  

Black Hog Brewing  - Woodbury, CT - photo by Luxury Experience

BHB Products  

BHB has an interesting and varied product line and the creative graphics on the cans done by local artists are as interesting as the products themselves. They opened their facility in 2014, and two of their early Ale releases, the award-winning Granola Brown Ale (5.7% ABV) brewed with oatmeal, grains, hops, and roasted malts, and their Ginga Ninja (6.5% ABV), a Red IPA brewed with fresh ginger, are still clientele favorites. They also offer Hazy Ale (6.2% ABV), and an Autumn Nugget Ale, which is a wet hopped ale.

In the IPA line, they offer Black Hog IPA dry hopped with mosaic powder (6.2% ABV), and Piglet Double (8.8% ABV). They also offer a lager with their Hog Lager (5.5% ABV).  

For Imperial Stout lovers, they offer Leaves A Mark Imperial Stout and Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter, both at 11.5% ABV. They also offer Milk Stouts with their Coffee Milk Stout and seasonal Gingerbread S'Mores Coffee Milk Stout 

Seltzers 

Spiked Seltzers have become increasingly popular as a lower alcohol alternative at 5.5% ABV. Their HUM seltzers have a diverse selection of teas and real fruit in them and include HUM Earl Grey + Black Cherry, Hum Ginger Oolong + Peach, and Hum Organic Darjeeling + Raspberry Lime 

Black Hog Brewing  - Woodbury, CT - photo by Luxury Experience

Sampling 

The day we visited, the weather was beautiful, and clientele sat at widely spaced tables under a large tent or at well-spaced picnic tables in the sun enjoying BHB products. After our tour, we sat outside in the sun at a picnic table and sampled their Nitro Coffee Milk Stout (5.5% ABV), and their Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter, (11.5% ABV), both of which were delicious. Well-crafted and memorable, if you like stouts, these two are reason enough to visit BHB.  

We brought home their Leaves A Mark Imperial Stout (11.5% ABV) to sample and poured it into large snifter glasses to bring out the coffee, cocoa, dark chocolate, malt flavors and delicious and creamy mouthfeel. The graphics on this can is a tattoo artist's hand and with its high ABV it will definitely "leave a mark."  

We so enjoyed the Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter that we brought that home as well, and as usual, Luxury Experience was "In the Kitchen and Behind the Bar" TM and created a delectable homemade ice cream, Luxury Experience - Peanut Butter Stout Ice Cream, made with Black Hog Brewing's Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter.  

Luxury Experience = Peanut Butter Stout Ice Cream - Photo by luxury Experience

Luxury Experience - Peanut Butter Stout Ice Cream 

Ice Cream Base Ingredients 

3
 
Eggs
1
Cup
Sugar
2
Cups
Half & Half
2
Tsp
Vanilla
2
Cups
Heavy Cream

Method:  Beat eggs and half & half together in a large sauce pan. Add sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened (approx. 12-15 minutes); mixture should smoothly coat a spoon (do not boil). Cool mixture, then add heavy cream and vanilla. Refrigerate overnight. (Makes a quart).   

Peanut Butter Stout Ingredients 

8
Ounces
Black Hog Brewing Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter
0.5
Ounce
Crunchy Peanut Butter
4
Ounces
Black Hog Brewing Choosy Moms Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter

Method: Add 8 ounces of the stout to a saucepan and reduce to 4 ounces. Add the peanut butter and stir to melt. Let cool. Add the ice cream mixture and place in your ice cream machine. As the mixture firms up in your ice cream machine add the peanut butter/imperial stout mixture. After a few more minutes mixing add 4 ounces of stout and finish processing the ice cream.  

Edward F Nesta at Black Hog Brewing, Oxford, CT, USA - photo by Luxury Experience

Cheers, its cocktail time!  

Black Hog Brewing is open Thursday and Friday from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Saturday from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. 

For information on Black Hog Brewing, visiting, or product information, please visit the website: www.BlackHogBrewing.com 

Black Hog Brewing  - Woodbury, CT - photo by Luxury Experience

Black Hog Brewing
115 Hurley Road 9A
Oxford, CT 06478
United States
Telephone: +1-203-262-6075
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.BlackHogBrewing.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BlackHogBrewing 

Read more about the area in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Liquor Cabinet sections.  

Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LuxuryExperience

Follow Luxury Experience on Twitter: www.twitter.com/luxurypair @luxurypair

Follow Luxury Experience on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/luxurypair  @luxurypair

© January 2021. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.

 
< Prev   Next >
Home Performances Luxury Experience Company
Destinations Hotels and Resorts Spas Restaurants Chefs' Recipes Site Map...
Liquor Cabinet Wine Cellar Music Scene Adventures Fashion Arts and Antiques
Luxury Products Publisher's Notes Awards Events Gastronomy Travel News

Luxury Experience Company
Luxury Experience - Like Us On Facebook

Instagram

 

 

 


� � @luxurypair

 

 

 


All copyrights reserved, Luxury Experience Company.
44 Amogerone Crossway #1573, Greenwich, CT, 06830, USA +1.203.358.9701
Luxury Experiences, Products, Services
A Host Matters Website