Tap Takeover: Founders Brewing Company returns to CT @ Prime 16 in New Haven

Beer Bar: Prime 16

Location: 172 Temple Street, New Haven

Brewery:  Founders Brewing Company

Date: Thursday, July 5th 8PM

The Skinny: The great people at at Prime 16 in New Haven are teaming up with Midwestern Craft Beer rock stars, Founders Brewing Company out of Grand Rapids, Michigan for a very special occasion.  Prime 16 is welcoming Founders Brewing Company back to Connecticut with an awesome Tap Takeover event!  So head on over to Prime 16 on Thursday for some amazing craft beer and killer food.



Here's the rundown of the Founders Craft Brews that will be on tap at Prime 16:

Centennial IPA

Red's Rye PA

Dirty Bastard

Pale Ale
 

Cerise
 

Devil Dancer

 Porter Backstage Series: Frangelic Mountain Brown

New England Brewing Night (Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA release!!!) on Thursday, June 28th, 8PM @ Prime 16

Beer Bar:  Prime 16

Location:  172 Temple Street, New Haven

Breweries:  New England Brewing Company

Date: Thursday, June 28th @ 8PM


The Skinny:  The very fine folks at Prime 16 in New Haven are teaming up with their equally fantastic neighbors to the northwest, New England Brewing Company for this very special occasion.  This is the release of the Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA (who doesn't love that name? seriously???)  The great minds behind the amazing New England Brewing Company brews will be on hand to greet their fans, chat about their brewskis and simply hangout with fellow craft beer enjoyers.

Along with them, will be a few of their very tasty concoctions:

Scrumtulescent Saison

Gandhi Bot 2X IPA

Sea Hag IPA

Elm City Lager

Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA

So, it's a Thursday night, almost the weekend (who are we kidding, it is the weekend, haha), head on over to an Awesome CT Beer Bar for awesome CT Craft brews!  Support two Connecticut Craft Beer Meccas in one night and enjoy yourself at the same time.  And oh yeah, grab some awesome food at Prime 16 (Everything is good there!)

The Weekender (June 22 - 24)

Every Friday I will publish "The Weekender". This will be your guide to awesome craft beer events and deals for that weekend.

I will give a brief highlight of 5 Connecticut Craft Beer events or deals to check out. Some will be the same from week to week and some will be different. So please check back each week.

5 Events/Deals You Need To Know Are Happening This Weekend:


1. Prime 16 Saturday, June 23rd 2-4 pm

Enjoy any of Prime 16's 20 premium drafts at 1/2 price!

Address & Directions: 172 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510
New Haven County


2. Coalhouse Pizza Beer Stein Day, Saturday, June 23rd

Bring you own beer stein (up to 20ounces) or club mug and recieve select drafts at regular price!

Address: 85 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905
Fairfield County


3. The Outer Space Happy Hour, Saturday, June 23rd 5-7pm

$2 Drafts during their Happy Hour!  Also check out their impressive bottle list.


Address & Directions: 295 Treadwell Street, Hamden
Phone Number: 203-288-6400
New Haven County


4. Willimantic Brewing Company Stein Day, Sunday, June 24th

Bring in your favorite drinking glass/stein/receptacle and get some awesome discounts!!!


***BONUS TIDBIT: Sunday is also Postal Workers Night, so if you happen to work for the postal service you can get 10% off of your bill!!!***

Address & Directions: 967 Main Street, Willimantic
Windham County


5. Cambridge House Brew Pub Bikes & Beers, Sunday, June 25th  2-6pm

This awesome and unique event kicks off at 2PM on Sunday.  The start and finish of this event will be at Cambridge House Brew Pub in Granby.   This event includes a bike ride, delicious food and brewskis for the adults age 21 and older.

For more info head (HERE)

Address & Directions: 357 Salmon Brook Street, Granby
Hartford County

Tap Takeover @ Prime 16, Tuesday June 26th

Location: Prime 16, New Haven

Breweries:  Sixpoint Brewery, Green Flash Brewing Company & Clown Shoes Beer

Date:  Tuesday, June 26th 8:00PM

The Skinny:  As many craft beers in CT may have heard, Sixpoint, Green Flash and Clown Shoes have invaded CT.  The splendid folks at Prime 16 in New Haven are going to team with all three of these breweries for what promises to be a magical night of Craft Beer Awesomeness.

This fantastic Tap Takeover will include five great craft beers from Sixpoint, six from Clown Shoes and last but not least, seven from Green

Check out the full rundown below (including links to each beer page):

Bengali Tiger

Righteous Ale

The Crisp

Sweet Action

Resin

West Coast IPA

 Hop Head Red

Le Freak

 Saison Diego

Trippel

 Imperial IPA

Double Stout

Eagle Claw Fist

 Muffin Top

 Vampire Slayer

 Blaecorn Unidragon

 Miracle

 Tramp Stamp

Pimp
(Double Brown Ale, Collaboration with Brash Brewing Company)


Clementine

Beer Festival @ Delaney's Tap Room and Restaurant

Beer Festival:  8th Annual Delaney's Chili Cook-off & Beer Festival

Location:  Delaney's Tap Room and Restaurant @ 882 Whalley Avenue, New Haven

Date/Time: Saturday, July 14th 1PM - 5PM

Price:  Tickets are on sale now, just head (HERE) for a link to purchase them now, or head down to Delaney's to buy one in person. If you buy your ticket in advance, it's only $30, which includes chili and two pints of beer, and all the samples you'd like to try! If you buy your tickets at the door, they're $35.




The Skinny:  The 8th Annual Delaney's Chili Cook-Off and Beer Festival is almost here!!!  Before I dive into all the savory and hoppy details, I need to divulge something.  I went to this event for the first time ever, last summer.  It instantly became my favorite craft beer event.  It beats out the Great American Craft Beer Festival in Rhode Island and the Vermont Brewers Festival (which is located in a park next to Lake Champlain in beautiful Burlington, Vermont.  This event is better than any Brewery visit or Tap Takeover I have attended.

This, to put it simply, is THE Event that I have been blabbing about to my friends and relatives (craft beer drinkers or not) since the moment I attended it last year.  So, clearly I am very excited to both write about it and attend it again this year.

I'll try to paint the scene for those who have not been to this festival or Delaney's before.  Delaney's is in the Westville section of New Haven (nowhere near downtown and more of a suburban area).  The event is held outside.  The beer tents are located on a closed off section of Central Avenue (that is maybe 100-150 feet long (SOOO much great craft beer in such a small area!!!).  They plan to offer more than 100 different craft brews from breweries throughout the U.S. and even a few international brews!!!  They offer unlimited samples, so please plan accordingly with transportation and as always, taste responsibly.

A large tent, located in their small parking lot covers an area of long cafeteria style tables (Some of the tables have the chilis lined up and some have chairs to sit at to taste the chilis, drinks some beers or just take break in the shade.  Although they do have judges for the chili competition, they also do give out a people's choice award.  So eat early, eat often and cast your vote!  Also, if you head on down to Delaney's in the next week or two you might still be able to enter the chili cook-off!  Just ask one of their friendly bartenders

The parking lot is also where you can try to get one of the Delaney's bartenders soaked in the dunk tank (which of course becomes more and more fun and more and more challenging as the hours go by).  You can purchase some awesome BBQ (if the chilis aren't enough for ya) and listen to some great live music.  As the event draws to a close, the tent area is also the scene of an awesome raffle (I highly recommend bringing a $20 or so as this event is for a several great causes and the prizes are fantastic too! (Yankees tickets, cases of craft beer, gift certificates etc)

All of the proceeds from this event will benefit three charities:

Love  146

Ronald McDonald House

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp 

So with all that this event has to offer, you can probably see why it is my favorite.  The beers are great and plentiful as are the chilis.  There is awesome live music throughout.  All of that is including in the modest admission price.  If you bring along some extra cash, you can test your arm on the dunk tank, get some BBQ or try your luck at their fun raffle.  And of course all of this is in the name of a three great causes!!!  Perfect for a July Saturday afternoon.

The Weekender (June 8-10)

Every Friday I will publish "The Weekender". This will be your guide to awesome craft beer events and deals for that weekend.

I will give a brief highlight of 5 Connecticut Craft Beer events or deals to check out. Some will be the same from week to week and some will be different. So please check back each week.

5 Events/Deals You Need To Know Are Happening This Weekend:

1. Pies & Pints Friday, June 8th 7-9 pm

Head on over to Pies & Pints in Middlebury for a Sam Adams Tap Takeover.  There will be 5 taps dedicated to awesome Sam Adams draft beer.  On tap will be Boston Lager, Norse Legend, Tasman Red, Cinder Bock, Blueberry Hill Lager.  There will be free samples and full pints will range from $3.50 to $4.50 each.  Also, Peter from Sam Adams will be on hand to explain the nuances of each beer and answer any questions you might have.

Address:  One Store Road, Middlebury
Phone Number:  203-598-7221
New Haven County

2. Monster B's Bar & Grille Friday, June 8th

The awesome folks at Monster B's in Stamford are teaming up with Widmer Brothers Brewing Company out of Portland, Oregon for a Tap Takeover.  There will be awesome Widmer brewskis on draft as well as some cool giveaways.  Sidenote:  Grab some of Monster B's buffalo wings while you are there.  They are AWESOME!!!

Address:  489 Glenbrook Road, Stamford
Phone Number:  203-355-1032
Fairfield County

4. Prime 16 Saturday, June 9th 2-4pm

Enjoy any of Prime 16's 20 premium drafts at 1/2 price!

Address & Directions: 172 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Phone Number:  203-782-1616
New Haven County

4. The Outer Space Saturday, June 9th 5-7pm

$2 Drafts during their Happy Hour! (Currently 4 Connecticut Beers on the Draft List!!!)

Address & Directions: 295 Treadwell Street, Hamden
Phone Number:  203-288-6400
New London County


5. Willimantic Brewing Company Sunday, June 10th

Stein Day!  Bring in your favorite drinking glass/stein/receptacle and get some awesome discounts!!!

***BONUS TIDBIT: Sunday is also Postal Workers Night, so if you happen to work for the postal service you can get 10% off of your bill!!!***

Address & Directions: 967 Main Street, Willimantic
Phone Number:  860-423-6777
Windham County

The Weekender (May 25-28)

Every Friday I will publish "The Weekender". This will be your guide to awesome craft beer events and deals for that weekend.

I will give a brief highlight of 5 Connecticut Craft Beer events or deals to check out. Some will be the same from week to week and some will be different. So please check back each week.


5 Events/Deals You Need To Know Are Happening This Weekend:

1. Relic Brewing Company Beer Tasting, May 25, 5-7PM

The Skinny:  The Folks at Relic Brewing Company in Plainville invite you to come on down for a beer tasting!!!  On tap will be:  Whiting St (slightly hoppy easy drinker), Fortnight (classy American ipa), Houndstooth ( traditional Dark English Mild, malty and lucious)

Growlers will also be available in 64oz and 32oz sizes!

  ***BONUS TIDBIT: They will also be open Saturday from 12-3PM for a tasting and will feature an additional beer, Shipright (strong British IPA with a complex hop profile and higher alcohol content)***

Address & Directions:  95B Whiting Street, Plainville
Hartford County

2. Coalhouse Pizza Happy Hour Friday, May 25, 3-5PM
The Skinny:  The great folks over at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford celebrate Happy Hour from 3-5PM!!!  Head on down and enjoy $5 Flights and $5 Drafts (From the list of 52 Beers on Tap!).  They also offer 1/2 priced mixed drinks for those not-so-craftbeer aficionados.

  ***BONUS TIDBIT: Saturday is 1/2 priced bottled beer day AND this Saturday at 5PM starts "Beer Glass Give-Away Night"***

Address: 85 High Ridge Road, Stamford
Fairfield County


3. Prime 16 Saturday, May 26, 2-4PM

Enjoy any of Prime 16's 20 premium drafts at 1/2 price!

Current Draft List

Address & Directions: 172 Temple Street, New Haven
New Haven County


4.  Willimantic Brewing Company Stein Day, May 27th

Bring in your favorite drinking glass/stein/receptacle and get some awesome discounts!!!

  ***BONUS TIDBIT:  Sunday is also Postal Workers Night, so if you happen to work for the postal service you can get 10% off of your bill!!!***

Address & Directions:  967 Main Street, Willimantic
Windham County
5.  Beer Dinner: Eli Cannon's Tap Room, Middletown May 28th,    3-7PM

Price: $55 per person (Head over to Eli Cannon's to purchase your tickets)

The Skinny: The awesome people at Eli Cannon's in Middletown are joining forces with their friends from the west coast, Stone Brewing Company for this savory event. What better way to spend your Memorial Day holiday, than at Eli Cannon's eating some of the best food in CT and drinking some of the best Craft Beer that America offers.

For more information check out the event post (HERE)

Address & Directions:  695 Main Street, Middletown
Middlesex County

Tapintoct presents: "The Weekender" (Your Connecticut Craft Beer Weekend Guide)

This is the first installment of "The Weekender".  Every Friday I will publish "The Weekender".  This will be your guide to awesome craft beer events and deals for that weekend.

I will give a brief highlight of 5 Connecticut Craft Beer events or deals to check out.  Some will be the same from week to week and some will be different.  So please check back each week.


5 Events/Deals You Need To Know Are Happening This Weekend:

1. Thomas Hooker Brewery  Friday, May 4 5-8 pm

A $10 donation gets you a beer tasting, a tour, a pint glass, a chance to hang out with other beer lovers, and a great start to your weekend!

Address & Directions:  16 Tobey Rd. Bloomfield, CT 06002
Hartford County
TapintoCT Thomas Hooker Brewery Write-up

2. Thomas Hooker Brewery Saturday, May 5 12-5 pm

Come for a tour and full tasting of Thomas Hooker Beers and guided tours from our friendly staff.  Due to overwhelming demand this tasting is by reservation only.  Call this number to reserve some spots: 860 242-3111

Address & Directions:  16 Tobey Rd. Bloomfield, CT 06002
Hartford County
TapintoCT Thomas Hooker Brewery Write-up

3.  Coalhouse Pizza Saturday, May 5 All Day

All bottled beers on their menu are 1/2 price all day

Address:  85 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905
Fairfield County

4.  Prime 16 Saturday, May 5 2-4 pm

Enjoy any of Prime 16's 20 premium drafts at 1/2 price!

Address & Directions:  172 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510
New Haven County

5.  Cottrell Brewing Company Saturday, May 5 1-5pm

Tours every half hour on the half hour.  Also a tasting and beer sales!

Address & Directions:  100 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck, CT 06379
New London County

Free Craft Beer Tasting @ Prime 16, May 2nd

Location: Prime 16, New Haven

When: May 2nd, 9:00 PM  



The Skinny:  The awesome folks at Prime 16 in New Haven host a free Craft Beer Tasting every Wednesday Night!  (That is right, Free Beer Every Week!!!)  Tonight, starting at 9:00PM they will be offering up free samples of some of the finest beers that Dogfish Head Brewing Company has to offer.  There will be free samples of the following Dogfish Head beers:

Raison D'etre

90 Minute IPA

Noble Rot

So head on down to Prime 16 for some of their awesome food (think AMAZIN' Burgers).  Also grab some awesome and hard to find craft beers off their tap list (Below).  And while you are there, get the added bonus of some free beer samples!




 

Random Draft List Posting: Prime 16, New Haven

Location:  Prime 16, New Haven

Date:  Today (April 28th)   

The Skinny:  Check out today's awesome draft list at Prime 16 in New Haven.  I count 20 different craft beers!  Easily more than half a dozen different beer styles!  Not a single repeat brewery on the list, as far as I can tell (Spreading the tap love around...very nice)! 

As an IPA lover, this tap list also hits the spot.  Prime 16 has an IPA, a 2xIPA and an Imperial IPA on tap today.  Good Stuff!

If you are looking for some home state brewed goodness, then they have that too.  They are featuring New England Elm City Lager!