Drinking Local

On a dreary day last weekend, a group of friends and I took a lazy drive down route 8, to the newly opened Two Roads Brewery in Stratford, Connecticut. This turn of the century factory, once used to manufacture plane parts, has been completely remodeled and transformed into a state of the art brewery. We stepped inside and followed the sign to the tasting room. My friend sarcastically asked, "Where are we? The town hall?" With such a long history, the building made you feel as if you were in a court house from an early black and white movie. However, the second we reached the top of the stairs and turned the corner, the atmosphere completely changed. Dozens of people were gathered around a large oval shaped bar, equipped with shiny new taps and a bottle filling station, in case you wanted your beer to-go. We dove right into the tasting, but not before admiring the grand scale of brewing that was going on through the plate glass windows behind us. There's something about the camaraderie of craft beer drinkers, that makes me feel as if I'm part of a movement, a means of social change for the greater good...or maybe I was just tipsy. It certainly got me thinking about the affects of drinking local, which is why this week I take a look at three local beers, made here in the great, slightly more expensive than everywhere else, state of Connecticut. I'll start where the article began, with a look at Two Roads Worker's Comp Saison.
    For those readers who aren't familiar with a saison, it is often referred to as a farmhouse ale, a reference to the Belgian farmer's who perfected this style. Using only the ingredients they had available to them such as, rye, grains, and barley, farmer's came up with a refreshing light beer, with complex undertones. Brewed in the same style as the men who created it, Worker's Comp Saison is no different. With a ABV of 4.8%, this very drinkable brew gives off the pleasant aroma of tropical fruit, mostly due to the agressive yeast strain used to in the brewing process. The taste is subtle at first, but after closer review, traces of spice such as clove, or perhaps nutmeg, came through. Normally, I lean towards the darker side of beer, but I believe in credit where credit is due, and this time the credit belongs to Two Roads for a well-rounded take on the growing Saison trend. Come warmer weather, this beer will go great with a barbeque.
    Moving westward, to Stamford, Connecticut, we come to Half Full Brewing, where they brew a Rye IPA that's worth cracking open. When it comes to this IPA, moderation is the key word. Not overly hoppy, yet not what I call "weak," Half Full IPA is a medium-bodied ale with a respectable 40 IBUs. This unfiltered beer pours a murky glow with a nice bit of rye in each sip. Not until I looked it up, did I realize that this IPA is 7% ABV, which may not be what most people consider a moderate ABV. Let me reassure you, if I hadn't just told you, you wouldn't know it. If, however, one too many Half Full IPAs happen to catch up with you, just relax and order a pizza or make some pasta, because this brew goes well with both.
    Alas, all good trips through Connecticut must end, but not before stopping in Bloomfield for a taste of Back East Brewing's Imperial Stout. This 10.5% ABV beauty comes to us thanks to Back East's Imperial Series of beers, which tend to be big and in your face. The Imperial Stout does not try to hide what it is, with an intense taste of roasted malts, chocolate and toffee on your tongue. Even some of the hops used to brew this stout, shine through in each gulp. Like Half Full's IPA, the stout is unfiltered and also bottle conditioned, which means that the beer finishes fermenting in the bottle. Because of Imperial Stout's high gravity and because I'm just so darn polite, I recommend sharing this beer among friends. It makes a great addition to any dessert, especially those of the chocolate variety.
    Though there are many local breweries to see, if any readers would like to visit these three, information about tours and tastings can be found on their respective websites. Most breweries are open to the public on Saturdays and by the time you visit these three, I'm willing to bet another brewery will have cropped up somewhere in the CT. Slainte!