Thomas Hooker Beer Dinner @ Cugino's Restaurant of Farmington

Restaurant:  Cugino's Restaurant of Farmington


Brewery:  Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

Location:  1053 Farmington Avenue, Farmington

When:  Saturday, July 28th 7:00 PM

Price: $35 Per Person Tax & Gratuity Not Included.  For tickets call the folks at Cugino's at     860-678-9366

The Skinny:  Cugino's Restaurant in Farmington is joining forces with Thomas Hooker Brewery for an awesome Beer Dinner.  This Four-Course event starts at 7PM with stuffed peppers and Munich Style Lager and ends a few hours later with Gelato and Imperial Porter!  Scroll down for the full menu for this succulent Connecticut Beer Dinner.

1st Course

Long Italian Stuffed Peppers
paired with:Munich Style Lager


2nd Course

Cugino's Chopped Salad
paired with: A Sneak Preview of their "Saison" (Belgian style farmhouse ale, light in color with champagne like carbonation).  This won't be released to the public until the fall!


3rd Course

Franky G. Cavatalli Pasta
paired with: Hopmeadow IPA


4th Course

Chocolate Gelato
paired with: Imperial Porter

Local Grown Beer Dinner @ Mikro Beer Bar with New England Brewing Company

Beer Bar: Mikro Beer Bar


Brewery:  New England Brewing Company

Location: 3000 Whitney Avenue, Hamden

When: Monday, August 13th 5:00PM - 9:00PM

Tickets:  $80 Per Person All Inclusive and can be purchased at Mikro Beer Bar

The Skinny:  The folks at Mikro Beer Bar in Hamden are teaming up with their oh-so-close neighbors to the west, New England Brewing Company for what is bound to be an awesome & tasty beer dinner!!!

This is going to be a 5 course event!  Mikro Beer Bar's chef, Michael Fox (Not the guy from Back to the Future or Spin City...at least I don't think) will be creating 5 succulent courses from ingredients cultivated from local CT farms and producers!

The exact food courses are still being planned out, but here is the Craft Brew rundown:

Reception - Elm City Pilsner

1st Course - Friars Quad

2nd Course - Scrumtrulescent Saison

3rd Course - sumthin' Hoppy

4th Course - 668 Neighbor of the Beast

5th Course - 2010 vintage Wet Willy Scotch Ale

(Get your tickets soon as this will sell out.)

Beer Dinner: Featuring Stone Brewing Company @ The Ginger Man Norwalk

Restaurant:  The Ginger Man

Breweries:  Stone Brewing Company

Location:  99 Washington Street, South Norwalk

When: Monday, July 30th 7:00PM

Price: $75 Per Person All Inclusive (For tickets head to The Ginger Man site or call them at 203-354-0163)

The Skinny: The great people at The Ginger Man Norwalk are joining forces with Southern California Craft Beer Powerhouse, Stone Brewing Company for an amazing beer dinner.  The exact menu and beer selection is still being conjured up.  Though one beer being paired up will be Bashah, a Black Belgian Double IPA collaboration between Stone and BrewDog


Beyond that, all we know is that this will be a fantastic 5 course meal.  That's right, 5 amazing courses paired with 5 equally amazing beers.

Beer Dinner: Hops & Hogs @ Firebox in Hartford

Restaurant:  Firebox

Breweries:  Element, Allagash and more

Location:  539 Broad Street, Hartford

When:  Monday, June 25th 6:00PM

Price: $65 per person - not including tax or gratuity (You can call 860-246-1222 to buy tickets)

The Skinny:  The fine folks at award-winning restaurant, Firebox in Hartford are hosting their 2nd annual Hops and Hogs Dinner (What a great name, right?).  The headliners at this awesome event will be craft beer and suckling pig! (I'm guessing you smiled upon reading that phrase "craft beer and suckling pig").

The menu has been planned, and looks amazing from they oysters and pork belly all the way on down to the bacon and salt crusted potatoes and the strawberry cobbler desert!  The great people out at Firebox don't want to reveal everything, so there will be a few surprises.

Here are the tasty craft beers that they have planned so far:  Element Brewing Company Dark Matter, Allagash Curieux AND a one off cask of Element Extra Special Oak with Tahitian Vanilla















Here's how the evening has been planned out, starting at 6 PM:

Oyster reception

Raspberry Point Oysters

pickled bacon mustard caviar

1st

Mustard Greens

House made guanciale, local english peas, shaved
asparagus, grape tomatoes, crispy goat cheese

 

2nd

Cucumber and tomato gazpacho, sweet pea farm feta
cheese

MAIN (plated)

Eaglewood Farm Suckling Pig

Crispy pork belly, pulled pork, house made
sausages

SIDES (served family style)

Grilled asparagus

Beet and bacon slaw

Baked beans

Bacon and salt crusted potatoes

DESSERT

Strawberry cobbler with lemon basil ice

Please note that it is subject to change depending on availability, and could even change the day before slightly.

Beer Dinner: Mikro Beer Bar and Allagash Brewing Company, Monday, June 4th

Beer Bar:  Mikro Beer Beer

Brewery:  Allagash Brewing Company

Location:  3000 Whitney Avenue, Hamden

When:  Monday, June 4th (Reception 5:00PM - 6:00PM & Dinner 6:00PM)

Price:  $75 Per Person (Includes tax and gratuity)  Advance Tickets are required for this event and are on sale at the bar.


The Skinny:  Don't miss this awesome 5 course Craft Beer Dinner.  The great people at Mikro Beer Bar in Hamden are teaming up with their New England neighbors to the north, Allagash Brewing Company out of Portland, Maine.  Though the food portion of the menu is still being ironed out, the Craft Beers have been chosen and this promises to be a killer event.  (***This post will be updated as soon as Food courses are conjured up***)



Chef Mike Fox from Mikro Beer Bar is actually going to be traveling to Maine to find amazing locally grown and raised ingredients to create a menu that pairs perfectly with the Allagash Craft Brews. 

Matt Welch from Allagash Brewing Company will also be on hand to help explain the complexities and intricacies of each Beer.

The Allagash Beers for the evening will be as follows:

Allagash White 

Belgian Style Wheat

Allagash Blonde 

Belgian Blonde

Allagash Victor

Belgian Strong Ale Brewed with Red Grapes

Allagash Victoria

Belgian Strong Ale Brewed with White Grapes

Allagash Curieux

Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale

Allagash Four

Belgian Style Quadruple

Beer Dinner: Eli Cannon's Tap Room, Middletown May 28th

Beer Bar:  Eli Cannon's Tap Room

Brewery:  Stone Brewing Company

Location:  695 Main Street, Middletown

When:  Monday, May 28th 3:00PM - 7:00PM

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.

Some of Stone Brewing Company's best Craft Beers, including Belgo-Russian Imperial Stout, Vertical Epic 11.11.11, Escodido Imperial Black IPA and many more will be paired with amazing dishes cooked up in the Eli Cannon's kitchen.

Here is what the head chef from Eli Cannon's Tap Room has in store for your palette:

Appetizer
Lamb Lollipop - French Tipped Lamb Chop with mint jelly sauce, served over potato sticks

Soup
Coconut Saffron & Shrimp

Salad
Tomato Watermelon Salad

Main Course
Choice of Grilled Trout or Rib Eye w/ a coffee and chili crust. Served with roasted fingerling potatoes and roasted asparagus

Dessert
Chocolate cupcake with a chocolate and chili ganache center topped with fruit buttercream and a candied raspberry
Chocolate coconut cupcake with lemon buttercream.

Tickets are limited so get them soon!

If you have any questions, call up the folks at Eli Cannon's @ 860-347-3547

Beer Dinner: Wednesday, May 9th (Cambridge House Brew Pub & Thomas Hooker Brewery) UPDATED!!!

Beer Bar: Cambridge House Brew Pub

Brewery: Thomas Hooker Brewery

Location: 357 Salmon Brook Street, Granby

When: Wednesday, May 9th 6:00PM - 9:00PM

Price: $55 per person ($50 per person for Cambridge House Brew Pub Mug Club Members)
The Skinny: This is one of those rare but great Beer Dinners that is being held in a Connecticut Brew pub and includes a Connecticut Brewery. The great folks up in Granby at Cambridge House Brew Pub are teaming up with their neighbors and equally fine folks at Thomas Hooker Brewery for a Beer Dinner. It will be a 5 course event.

According to the menu, each course will be paired with both a Thomas Hooker Beer and a Cambridge House Brew Pub Beer!  There is no word on whether you will choose between the beers or get both.



For more information or to make a reservation head (HERE).

Beer Dinner: Wednesday May 9th! (Connecticut Brew Pub & Connecticut Brewery!) UPDATED!!!

Beer Bar:  Cambridge House Brew Pub     

Brewery:  Thomas Hooker Brewery

Location: 357 Salmon Brook Street, Granby

When:  Wednesday, May 9th 6:00PM - 9:00PM

Price: $55 per person ($50 per person for Cambridge House Brew Pub Mug Club Members)
The Skinny:  This is one of those rare but great Beer Dinners that is being held in a Connecticut Brew pub and includes a Connecticut Brewery.  The great folks up in Granby at Cambridge House Brew Pub are teaming up with their neighbors and equally fine folks at Thomas Hooker Brewery for a Beer Dinner.  The full menu is still being finalized buy guest chef Mike Naive but just knowing who is involved in this event lets you know that is going to be as Awesome as it is Delicious.  It will be a 5 course event.  I will update this post with the full menu as soon as it is available.

For more information or to make a reservation head (HERE).

Beer Dinner: Burger Baby, Hartford

Restaurant: Burger Baby

Location: 283 Asylum Street, Hartford 06103


When: Tuesday, April 24th 6:00PM

Price: $50 per person

The Skinny: The splendid folks at Burger Baby in Hartford are teaming up with their pals just down the street at City Steam Brewery for this awesome Beer Dinner.  This is a five course dinner featuring an amazing collection of delectable meats from chicken to beef and also lamb!  As if this isn't enough to wet your appetite, there will be all the classics you know and love from City Steam Brewery on tap as well.  It's sure to be a great night.  For the full menu of food & beer pairings as well as to make reservations, look below:


1st Pairing: 
Blonde on Blonde, Stock Pale Ale
A Play on Chicken Wings: Crispy Chicken Skins with Buffalo, BBQ, Asian, Horseradish Honey Mustard Sauces

2nd Pairing:
Naughty Nurse, Amber Ale
Seared Sea Scallop and Roasted Beet Salad, Bacon-Cider Vinaigrette and Crumbled Goat Cheese

3rd Pairing: 
Black Silk Stout, Oatmeal Stout
All Natural beef Short Rib Slow Cooked in Black Silk Stout with Parsnip Puree and Brussel Sprouts

4th Pairing: 
Innocence, Double IPA
Spiced Lamb Burger, with Balsamic Caramelized Onions, Toasted Cumin Seed and Cilantro Aioli

5th Pairing:
Dexter Gordon, Barley Wine
Rich Valrhona Chocolate Custard with Anise Tuile

For more information or to make a reservation head HERE.

Beer Dinner: The Ginger Man, Greenwich

Beer Bar: The Ginger Man

Location: 64 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich


When: Tuesday, April 24th 7:00PM

Price: $75 per person All Inclusive (Tax and Tip Included)

The Skinny: The great folks at The Ginger Man in Greenwich are teaming up with equally fantastic folks from Harpoon Brewery for a savory 5 course beer dinner.  The menu (detailed below) features a trio of culinary delights in fresh sea scallops, chili rubbed quail and last but certainly not least oven-roasted new york strip.  On tap from Harpoon Brewery will be six of their expertly crafted brews included two from their much heralded Leviathan series.
Amuse
UFO Raspberry
Tuna Tartare
Cucumber | Melons
First
Catamount Maple Wheat
Pan Seared Sea Scallops
Sweet Corn Risotto | Asparagus | Tomato Vinaigrette
Second
Black IPA
Chili Rubbed Quail
Braised Red Cabbage | Smoked Bacon |
Caramelized Onion Emulsion
Third
Leviathan Belgian Quad
Oven-Roasted New York Strip
Mushroom Potato Gallette
Fourth
Chocolate Stout
Chocolate Malted Crème Brule
Fifth
Leviathan Barleywine
Smoked Australian Cheddar Cheese
Apple Raisin Jam | Wheat Crackers

For more information or to make a reservation head HERE.

Beer Dinner: Little Pub

Beer Bar: Little Pub

Location: 59 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield


When: Tuesday, April 24th, 7:00PM-10:00PM

Price: $65 Per Person

The Skinny:  The folks out at Little Pub in Ridgefield are teaming up with our neighbors to the north, Berkshire Brewing Company for a 5 course beer dinner.  On tap from Berkshire Brewing Company will be Berkshire Traditional Pale Ale, Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, Maibock Lager, Lost Sailor IPA, Raspberry Ale / Coffeehouse Porter Black & Tan.


And here's the scrumptious menu:

Traditional Pale Ale

chicken tortilla soup

Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale 

chipotle ranch chopped salad

Maibock Springtime Lager 

maryland crab cakes with a thai curry aioli

Hand Drawn Cask of “Extra Hopped” Lost Sailor IPA

with pulled pork carnitas and creole seasoned shoestring fries

Raspberry Ale / Coffeehouse Porter  “Black and Tan” 

warm new orleans bread pudding with maple sugared bourbon sauce.

As if all of this isn't enough, Gary Bogoff, the co-founder of Berkshire Brewing Company will also be on hand to explain each of the craft brews and answer any questions that you may have.

For more information or to make a reservation send the folks at Little Pub an email at  info@littlepub.com or give them a call at 203-544-9222