Never had Meade before and I'm kicking myself now. I'm not a fan of "hoppy" drinks, BUT the hoppy…read moreMeade I will drink and actually got me to venture down other "hoppy" lanes, like beer. Especially for someone who likes cider and wine, the Meade has a nice, refreshing flavor. The different flavor nodes of the honey make it sweeter and not bitter (personal preference). Awesome sit in areas with TONS of games for socialization with friends. In this order are my favorites!! Wally, Whip, Lemon, Bouchot, Ginga, Cherry, Hoppy, Pecan

Bergen House is a craft meadery that opened in Middletown, Connecticut in September 2020. It was…read morefounded by army veteran Talon Bergen. He first began experimenting with homebrewing when his brother-in-law gifted him a Mr. Beer kit. The first batch of Bergen's homebrew was awful, but the kit came with an interesting book that he read over and over again. He soon became fascinated with the science behind brewing and fermentation. Later on, a friend gifted him a bottle of homemade mead. Bergen's wife Emilie liked it much more than any beer she ever tried, so he decided to try his hand at crafting mead. Mead is a fermented beverage made from a mixture of honey, water and yeast. It is the oldest fermented beverage known to man (predating beer, wine and cider). Like his first batch of beer, Bergen's first batch of mead was also awful. After several months, Bergen finally began making mead that was drinkable. The Bergens later had an idea to open their own brewery. After seeing how many breweries that Connecticut already had, they instead decided to open a meadery. The Bergens found a space in Middletown's old trolley barn building to house their meadery and taproom. Although not the state's only meadery, Bergen House is the only one to have its own taproom for on-site consumption. I recently visited Bergen House for the first time after going for a long bike ride on the nearby Air Line State Park Trail. I was greeted by Emilie Bergen who was very friendly and talked to me about the different meads. There were eight different meads on tap during my visit. Each one has different spices and fruits added for flavoring. I ordered a sampler flight which featured "Crime Scene" (Rye Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sweet & Sour Cherry Mead), "Local Buzz" (Dry Mead made with local honey from Hilltop Apiaries), "Wally" (Off-Dry Mead made with wildflower honey, green tea and Citra hops), and "Grapefruit Meads Business" (Wildflower Mead flavored with rosemary, grapefruit & ginger). The latter two were my favorites! Emilie also gave me a small sample of "Bochet": a traditional French Mead made with wildflower honey caramelized before fermentation. I ended up taking home a growlito of "Wally", which tasted a lot like a honey-infused New England IPA. I had a great experience at Bergen House and I look forward to returning!

Beautiful winery ! Lots of outdoor space , I got the wine slushy . I tried The monthly special the…read morered white and blue which was really good. I also tried one of the other flavors which was good too And outdoors is dog friendly which I loved . And there's a bar and food menu to order from outside . Overall good service , great atmosphere perfect place to spend a day outside drinking wine

So finally made it back here after 8 plus years. Very impressed. They really upped staffing…read more Lines but they move! A bunch of different wines from years ago. Food is excellent!! Has moved its way into my top 5 CT wineries!!!

Love coming here . The drinks are always great and fresh ! I also learned they are gluten free. The…read morevibe in the ambience is great. The staff is very knowledgeable in all things liquor!

Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlor - (5/5) For the first part…read moreof our Valentine's Day (and 5-year anniversary) celebration, I took my wife to Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlor, a woman-owned cocktail lounge in Hartford -- and it was absolutely perfect for her. The space is stunning. Pink and green tones, chandeliers, fairy lights, leather chairs, and individual table lamps at the seating areas create a modern, chic, romantic vibe. It feels intentional and beautifully curated from the moment you walk in. We stopped in for drinks and small bites before dinner. My wife ordered the vanilla chai martini, and she loved it -- smooth, flavorful, and well-balanced. I had a cocktail with a reposado base (I don't currently see it listed on the menu, so I can't recall the exact name), but it was excellent -- smooth, slightly sweet, and very well crafted. For small bites: She ordered the smoked salmon. I had the stuffed sweet potato. The stuffed sweet potato was hearty and easily shareable -- which we did -- and there was still enough for leftovers (which I unfortunately left on the table -- still hurts a little). Service also deserves recognition. Our server seemed a bit young and possibly newer, maybe even a little nervous at first -- but he did a great job. He was attentive, polite, and well-mannered. When we had questions about the tequila used in the cocktail or what type of mushroom was in the stuffed sweet potato, he made sure to get the answers for us. That level of attentiveness definitely stood out. Between the ambiance, the drinks, the food, and the service, this place set the tone perfectly for our evening. My wife already wants to revisit, and that says everything. 5 out of 5. Perfect date-night energy.

In a word? Unwelcoming. Stopped in to see what it was all about. was hoping for a tasting flight…read moreof their different products. Not only are there no tastings the guy behind the counter, which was like a checkout counter vs a bar, was bored, rude and uninterested in promoting the product. I persevered and ordered an espresso martini. Left it behind unfinished. Between the dirty too loud indoor space and unremarkable outdoor space I figured I'd cut my losses and save the calories for something worth consuming.

We had only been to this Distillery one time in the past and boy what a difference a year makes…read more They extended the sitting area and have a wonderful back room for parties. They were so knowledgeable about their products and we really enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere. We did a tasting and also ordered some drinks off the menu. I highly recommend trying this spot if you're in the area or making the trip even if you're not. Great experience! Will definitely be back.

Just had a great experience at Sunset Meadow Vineyards. The place is very warm and welcoming which…read morehad a lot to do with our server Matthew who made our visit special with his knowledge of all the different wines even though he had only been there a short time. I like that they allow you to bring your own food, however, they do have a great selection of cheeses and crackers and other snack items to purchase at reasonable prices. I highly recommend Sunset Meadow Vineyards and can't wait to go back again!

Sunset Meadows is my favorite winery in Ct. The indoor and outdoor atmosphere is great and Matthew…read moremade my day!!!

You'll feel right at home when sipping wine at Bethlehem Vineyard. In the backyard of the…read morewinemakers home you feel like the winemaker yourself while enjoying a glass or a flight!

It's a cute winery - a little off putting at first, because you're driving down someone's driveway…read moreand up to their house. There is parking on the front lawn. The first time I went here, they had two types of wine and all their operation was in the basement. It may have been winter. The second time, they have tables and chairs outside for people to overlook the grapes and enjoy the fresh air while tasting, an outdoor bartender, and expanded room in the basement. The wines are very tasty, although I'm partial to apples, and the bartenders were very nice to speak with. Their bottles are beautifully designed - Bethlehem takes the mantle of a Christmas town, and the bottles that embrace that image are so nice to have for the holidays.

such an amazing find! fantastic view, multiple fire pits available for customers, and great cider!read more

Second time coming to the cider house and this time we got a flight of cider again but this time it…read morewas their summer flavors. I have to say I'm a fan of their fall favorites instead. It was a hot day so we were able to grab a table under the umbrella. There's also an overlook to look at the scenic view with a now positioned selfie stick tripod to attach your phone for photos

First time coming here after visiting Lavender Pond Farm. Dog friendly outside with seating area…read more We ordered the McBarrel nachos which came with ground beef, tomato's, pickles, melted cheese and their special sauce (tasted like thousand island/big Mac sauce) We also ordered a cider but it wasn't as bubbly, tasted flat, but they were happy to swap if for a canned Down East cider I also got a plain spicy margarita. Very basic. Asked for flavoring and they have more sweeter stuff: strawberry, pomegranate Food and drinks were all out quick We were specifically looking for dog friendly places online and found an ad for "Yappy hour"; dog friendly food and drinks. Although this was an ad from last year unknowingly, we were still able to get a puppy bowl for our dog (hamburger, hotdog carrots and treats). Who I'm assuming was the owner, came out, greeted us, made some small talk and was on his way. Staff were friendly and food was good.

Stopped in after a hike in the Killingworth area. The restaurant is relatively small with bar…read moreseating and a few tables. In the warmer months, there are several picnic tables to enjoy your meal outside (this area is dog friendly too!). My friend and I sat at the bar and were lucky enough to be greeted with some live music. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The menu isn't large, but it has a good variety of food and drink options. I opted for the Cowboy Griddle Wrap with chicken and a pumpkin cider. The wrap was flavorful with cowboy caviar, avocado, and cilantro lime aioli with chicken and melted cheddar cheese. If you are in the area, it's a great spot for a quick drink and bite to eat.