TLDR: a finance bro gets healthy by leaving the industry, quits drinking and brews awesome…read morenon-alcoholic beer and takes his company public, inventing an awesome lifestyle brand in the process. Athletic Brewing is the premier brewer of nonacholic beer in the US. Full stop. When I found them a few years ago, AB was hidden in back warehouse in Stratford. They were operating on a hope and a prayer. I'm guessing they built out that first taproom themselves with a few trips to Home Depot. The beer was the star of the show, awesome but hard to get, the market not yet realizing this was a "Good Thing." I could go on and on about their standard fare which has expanded to Run Wild, Upside Dawn and Free Wave but the two things made them different, and special, to those who were in driving distance: the taproom and the limited run, special varieties available there. Taking the second point first, the head brewer must be a made genius and/or he decided to let taproom patrons be his guinea pigs for testing. (Bring back Single Hop Mosiac!@) For several years, especially before the main flavors weren't widely available, I'd stop at the taproom and pick up strange and unique hop blends and experimental formulations. Each was in a nondescript silver can. As time passed and the overall brand grew, some of those experiments have become seasonal or special flavors, graced with a distinctive can design - these include Downinder, All Out and others. The taproom was a special place. AB smartly staffed it with a personable and knowledgeable staff who excelled at both introducing NA beer to the uninitiated and expanding the palette of veterans to the growing rotation of flavors. Regrettably, since the closure of the Stratford location and move to the modern, larger Milford brewery, the taproom has been "paused." I can't see why they would delay reopening the taproom as the customer connection and experience there strongly differentiated AB from every other brewer NA or not in CT. Further, the Milford location has a boss patio with styling branded umbrellas that would be a perfect spot for a cold NA draft while picking up a selection to go. Hopefully, AB will be able to balance their meteoric rise to the nationally dominant NA brand with a local Milford taproom. For now, you get still get six packs to go, albeit warm, and no opportunity for tasting on site. The knowledgeable staff is still present to guide your beer selections. Final notes: Putting aside the flavor (which is great) most of these beers are less than 100 calories. Most are like 65 or 70 calories. The Downwinder Gose is the perfect summer thirst quencher. I could stick with the Run Wild IPA and the Hazy IPA and nothing else. The available one off limited run flavors take AB from good to excellent. They remain price competitive even after present widespread availability nationwide. IMHO no other NA beer comes close on flavor, and on the price/flavor combination, AB is the lead by a mile. Enjoy!

Six years after my first visit, Athletic's original taproom may be closed now but the company has…read moregrown at an exponential rate. For that, I must applaud them! For my 2025 New Year's resolution, I made a decision to start leading a healthier lifestyle. I made the decision to cut out a lot of carbs (especially refined white flour) and I'm eating foods that are high in protein and fiber, but low in fat and calories. These are also foods that make you feel fuller faster. I've also decided to significantly reduce alcohol intake. Craft beers tend to be very high in calories, and alcohol in general can have negative effects on your metabolism. A friend of mine recently decided to start exclusively drinking Athletic beers. Five months into it, he feels significantly healthier and may never drink real beer again. I decided to give the 'Athletic diet' a trial run. I signed up for a year membership and visited their Milford facility to grab a case of their beer. I'm optimistic that this new change will help me to lose inches off my waist (and save money too) without losing the great taste of craft beer.

Amazing staff, great selection, good food truck service, and good prices. Rotating choices and good…read moreapparel to choose from

New England Brewing Co. brings a new experience at a new location with all of their signature…read morebrews. Positioned at Indian Neck Avenue facing Branford Landing, the new spot does not only have relaxing views on deck, it's spacious and inviting decorated with exclusively commissioned art. It was a year long wait, and it was well worth it! Meeting their team was a delight and all their staff was absolutely accommodating. Choose from a number of items from their draft list or cocktails, non-alcoholics & more (they also have wine.) They also house two food trucks that are permanently installed on the grounds that are Nebco Kitchen that appears to have a rotating menu as well as Naples Wood Fired Pizza serving a variety of 12" pizzas who've been there for years. There's a choice for everyone, and they are family friendly!

As a longtime Fat Orange Cat Brewing fan, I felt bittersweet when they closed their East Hampton…read moretaproom. It was a great place, but now they're much closer to home. If you've ever had a craft beer brewed in North Haven, then congratulations; you've had a Twelve Percent-made beer already. So, why not visit the taproom and brewery? You'll be able to try their clients' beers on eighteen different rotating taps. You'll taste taproom-less beers from places like Fat Orange Cat, Eredità, Spartacus, False Hope, Abomination, and more, as well as established breweries like Tox and Evil Twin who simply needed more capacity. There's usually a food truck, and I'm sure you can bring your own food. There's usually are plenty of non-alcoholic options, as well as coffee. But come early, because the parking lot fills up fast!

12 Percent Beer Project is basically a playground for anyone who loves their beer with personality…read more The vibe hits that sweet spot between minimalist‑industrial and "yes, I could absolutely spend an afternoon dissecting hop profiles here." It's spacious, energetic, and has that low‑key hum of people who actually care about what's in their glass. Service is dialed in. The staff knows their stuff--like, actually knows it. Ask about a collab stout or a triple‑dry‑hopped hazy and you'll get real tasting notes, not the generic "it's smooth" answer you get at lesser taprooms. And the beer selection? This is where 12 Percent flexes. Rotating taps full of experimental drops, collabs with cult‑favorite breweries, and a lineup that swings from pastry stouts to funky saisons to IPAs that taste like someone squeezed a whole orchard of tropical fruit into your glass. It's the kind of board that makes you want to order a flight just to avoid FOMO. While you can't order a flight they do offer two small pours at a time and I did just that. Maybe just a time or two. I recommend you do!! Cheers

New location is great. They did a nice job reclaiming the other brewery and making it theirs…read more Good to be able to get full pours of some great beers.

Happened to driving by and we noticed they were newly open…read more They were busy with a full parking lot and picnic tables. We had the Superscript IPA 6% and the Northford Pint 4% described as 'English Dark Mild.' Both were delicious. There were a total of 8 beer varieties on the chalkboard. We'll be back to try the others. The staff, while hustling with the crowd was friendly and efficient. There was tent outside serving smash burgers though we did not try them.

If you live anywhere near Milford and haven't been to Tribus yet, congratulations--you've been…read morewasting your weekends. This place is everything you want in a brewery and nothing you don't. First off, the beer: it's stupidly good. Like, annoyingly good. The kind of good where you go in thinking, "I'll just try one" and then three flights later you're googling if it's socially acceptable to move into a brewery. Their IPAs actually taste different from one another (shocking, I know), the stouts don't drink like liquid bread, and even the lighter stuff has actual flavor. It's witchcraft, and I'm here for it. The vibe? Top tier. Inside feels like hanging out in your cool friend's garage--if your cool friend also had a professional brewing setup and knew what the hell they were doing. Outside, the beer garden is basically Milford's adult playground. Add in food trucks and you've got yourself the perfect Saturday. The staff? Friendly, quick, and actually seem like they enjoy being there. Do you know how rare that is? I've been to breweries where the bartender looked like I asked them to solve long division just by ordering a pint. Not here. At Tribus, they get it right. Bottom line: If you're looking for a place where the beer slaps, the vibe's relaxed, and you won't get ignored like a ghost at a bad Mexican restaurant (ask me how I know), Tribus is it. 11/10, would recommend, and will absolutely keep coming back until they name a beer after me.

Nice little brewery in Milford, in an industrial park. Has an outdoor area as well as indoor…read moreseating. Staff is nice. They don't serve food however there is a food truck on site but don't know if it's there all the time. They have a tv for sports and dart boards. Would go back.

A friend lives nearby so we stop here every once in a while for a brew and entertainment…read more It's a comfortable brewery located in an industrial building that has overhead doors and a nice outside space. There is plenty of parking. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the beer.

Friendly brewery, often with live music. A good variety of…read morebeers. The "Jam" is a delicious fruit sour if you're into that. The Hop Glop is tasty and full bodied.

Great bar. Hundreds of brew choices and large seating areas. Pool table and room for party's and…read moreevents. Lots of other activities near by within dame complex too. Fast service

If you're a sour lover, Witch Doctor Brewing Company is absolutely worth the visit. Their sour…read moreflights are yummy, and perfect for anyone who enjoys exploring different flavor profiles without committing to just one glass The vibe here is great. It's laid-back but still lively, with dart boards and games that make it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's the kind of place where you can actually relax, laugh, and not feel rushed. They also have a bunch of different events which they lost in the walls and change each week. One of my favorite things about it is the flexibility with food. You can bring your own, which already makes it a win, but they also take have QR codes you can scan and have food delivered right to your table from nearby restaurants. It's such a seamless setup and honestly makes the whole experience even better. All around, this spot nails the balance between great drinks and a genuinely fun atmosphere. Perfect for a casual night out, meeting up with friends, or just switching up your usual brewery routine. Definitely a go-to. Ive been a few times and I'll definitely be going back.

New England Cider Company is a great little spot in Wallingford to hang out on a sunny afternoon!…read moreAlthough if you're not looking, you might pass right by it! The building is located in front of an industrial complex, and blends into the surrounding buildings. Once you find it, there's a parking lot on the side and a tent out front with seating. The inside seating area is not too big, but it's cozy. When you first walk in, there's a bar with several different flavors of cider on tap including Pumpkin, Fresh Blend, Blueberry, Cranberry, Spruce Willis, and Sour Apple. You can get just a glass or fill a 32oz or 64oz growler. They also have flights available to try all 6 flavors, as well as cans of cider. There were also some small bites like chips, pizza, etc. listed on their menu, though I didn't get anything to eat, nor did I see anyone else there order anything. When I went, I tried the Blueberry Cider, which I thought was really good! The blueberry flavor wasn't super strong, but it was still tasty, and not too sweet. I sat at a table inside, where they have a garage door that opens to the outside when it's nice out. They also have a variety of board/card games to play. I went on a Saturday evening and they had a band playing out front, where they also have a small outdoor bar, which had different flavors on tap than the indoor bar, including Orchard Blend, Purple Rain, and El Noble, as well as regular (non-alcoholic) apple juice. It also seems like they have a lot of events most weeks. When I went they were advertising karaoke, "Cider with the Sanderson Sisters" for Halloween, and a bonsai class. The staff was friendly and the service was quick. Overall a cool spot to hang out, I would recommend!

I was in the area on a beautiful day and decided to pop into a new-to-me local spot for a drink…read more That's how I ended up at New England Cider Company. It's tucked inside an old industrial park. If you're not looking closely, you'll drive right past it. Outside, there's a casual setup with a tent, whiskey barrel tables, and some umbrellas, which sounds nice in theory, but the grass really needed a cut. It kind of took away from the whole outdoor vibe. I was planning to sit out there, so that was a bit of a letdown. Inside was a pleasant surprise. It's much bigger than it looks from the outside. The bar is right at the entrance, which made it feel like a high-traffic zone, so not ideal for lingering. There was a private party in the main room, so I headed back outside to enjoy the sun. Now to the cider: I asked for 2 samples and ended up with the cider that I didn't actually choose, but hey, I'm not one to make a fuss so I went with it. The cider I wanted was actually pretty tasty, so I might return just to give the menu another try. You know how some ciders are sweet and yummy? The one I got was the kind that tastes sour but has a higher ABV. Still good, but my goal was sweet and yummy. Service was fine but not overly warm. Nothing bad, just not memorable. Would I go back? Sure, on a really nice day. If they had live music, I'd absolutely give it another shot. There's potential here, especially for cider fans, but it's not quite my go-to yet. They did have a very cool bathroom sink. Points for that!