Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Thomas Hooker Brewery

    4.3 (125 reviews)
    InexpensiveBreweries
    Closed Closed

    Thomas Hooker Brewery Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Thomas Hooker Brewery

    Recommended Reviews - Thomas Hooker Brewery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Winter hours January 2025!
    Katie S.

    Great place, friendly people, home of a tasty non-alc CBD drink option, it's one of the few dog friendly INSIDE places in Hartford that we can find to bring our pup inside with us!

    Menu of specials
    Lisa L.

    Always a good time here. Beer and food are great, tons of seating and sometimes you can watch the dogs next door learning new things at Dog Star Rescue

    First off the food is amazing the dry rub wings crispy tasty and the Brewery is great I purchased a bottle and fill it up to go it's amazing I got the liberator doppelbock 8% omg it's like a stout but not as thick I love it ..Oh and the chef Jason Christy is amazing chef young smart his menu different Ruben egg rolls and brunch special eggs and French toast is great super great prices 13.00 for a breakfast brunch is awesome. You guys need to visit this place soon.

    Sammi M.

    I came here for happy hour with some folks from work on a Thursday afternoon. I'm glad we got there at 4:45pm because happy hour ends a bit early there ), 5pm. They have $2 off pints and then food specials. They have a great selection of beers and the food, especially the pretzel bites, are tasty. I recommend the truffle stout and the watermelon ale as something different and refreshing. Definitely recommend a visit in!

    Evidently being a responsible consumer of beer goes beyond driving
    Bill Z.

    What a great space! The layout can seat quite a few people comfortably, and they have a back room available for larger functions. They have a most satisfactory variety of beers. Their merchandise is fun to browse. The food portions are huge, and orders come out quickly. Flights are very reasonably priced (4 pours for $10). This is definitely a place I would visit on a regular basis if I lived locally.

    Tap Room
    Tracey H.

    Very good Octoberfest and Sizzling Hippie IPA. We didn't try the food but the burgers looked good. The Octoberfest is probably one of the best I've had this fall. We frequent craft breweries and I am happy to say, this is a good one!

    Loaded Potato Pizza
    Shanice G.

    I've lived in Bloomfield my entire life, why am I just now discovering this place? (Probably because they just added food lol) And listen, the food is AMAZING! Came for the beer but I will return for the food itself. I've only had 5 different pizzas the Pesto, Spinach/IBacon, Italian Combo & Loaded Potato & Fig/Arugula and they were all delicious. Now the beer, it's good. Need I say more? It's a brewery lol. I personally loved the limited edition Thicc AF. It's a dark stout. The atmosphere: So I sauntered in on a Friday after work. We were on spot number 4 because everywhere else was packed. My coworker and I hate crowds where we feel like it's fight to the finish for a drink. This place was the right amount of busy where tables were pretty full but the two separate bars helped disperse the crowd throughout the venue. A group was kind enough to offer us a few chairs at their table and we ended up leaving with new friends. You order your food at the bar and they text you when it's ready to pick up at a window. Perfect - no need to wait on a waitress or have to listen out for your name. Super convenient and hassle free. They even had LIVE music the day we went. This is quite the gem and I'm so happy I found it.

    Bar area
    Matthew L.

    Thomas Hooker Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in Bloomfield, Connecticut in 2007. It was founded by Curt Cameron. The brewery actually has its origins with a brewpub called Trout Brook Restaurant and Brewpub that opened at the Spaghetti Warehouse Building in 1996. Eventually the brewpub would start a brewery-only operation called Thomas Hooker Ales and Lagers in 2003. This new division was named for Trout Brook's most popular beer: Thomas Hooker Ale (named after the founder of Hartford). By 2006, Curt Cameron and his business partners bought out the rights to the Thomas Hooker name and a brand new brewing facility opened in Bloomfield the following year. Not only is Hooker Brewery one of the oldest breweries in the state, but it was probably the first one to give customers a taproom experience. They had success early on with offerings such as their Blonde Ale and Hopmeadow IPA. In addition to brewing their own beer, they also contract brewed for other smaller breweries around the state. A secondary location, Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt, opened at the old Colt Firearms Building in Hartford (to much acclaim) and features a small kitchen. As current beer trends have changed over the years (rise of popularity in hazy New England IPAs, sours, etc), Hooker Brewery has continued to add new interesting beers to their rotation. A full kitchen that serves pizza, sandwiches and various small plates was added to the Bloomfield facility in 2020, and a new live venue for comedy shows and live music (dubbed 'Hooker Live') opened in Hartford in late 2021. Hooker Brewery was one of the first breweries that I ever visited in person. My first visit was in September 2013, at a time when craft beer was only just catching on in Connecticut and there were only a handful of breweries in the state. At that time, Hooker's taproom was easily the largest that I had seen. After getting a nice tour of the brewing facility, my wife and I were treated to some samples of their various brews (some of which they don't even make anymore). I must applaud Hooker Brewery for updating their beer rotation and improving their recipes throughout the years as beer trends have changed in the state and other older breweries have gone the way of the dodo. My current favorite offerings of theirs would have to be "#NoFilter" (New England IPA), "Super Duper Double Citra" (Double IPA) and "Golden Nymph" (Double IPA). I haven't been to Hooker since they added a kitchen, but I look forward to getting back there soon.

    Beer and buds
    Shellene O.

    We have been over to the Colt location and wanted to visit the main brewery. I had some tour tickets that I'd gotten in a raffle (let's not talk about how long ago) and Phil let me trade those in for flights of beer and took our little group of 3 on a walk about out in the brew room. They have great merchandise available (got myself a new favorite long sleeve tee) and a pizza window right inside so you can eat pizza and drink beer - nothing wrong with that! Great service, good atmosphere, and great beer. We'll be visiting again!

    BOGO pizza Monday! Hawaii pizza.
    Sara W.

    Hooker has been around for years and it's only gotten better and better. From a small brewery in a big building, to expanding in the building, opening a second location, opening a kitchen, and opening space at the dog rescue next door, they just keep growing, and none of it is bad. They even brew a special beer for the local minor league baseball team. They do a 3-5 happy hour Monday through Friday, as well as food specials in the beginning of the week: Monday BOGO pizza, Tuesday burger and a pint, Wednesday wing Spanish. Oh, and did I mention they're a brewery that's open every day? They have live music, comedy events, a patio, and are active in the local community. Definitely everything you could ask for from a local business.

    Jean Y.

    Cool brewery in CT. You order at the counter and sit at the patio. Beer was tasty and good price. We even got a few t shirts. By the way it's a huge place with good beer.

    James D.

    If you've never been, check Groupon first for a great deal on flights that also includes some decently nice beer glasses to keep (full size). I got a flight of 6 plus the 2 keepsake glasses for $7.40 total. He shoots, he scores! Plenty of seating both inside and out and lots of merch if the advertising game is your dealio. They make lots and lots of different beers here and most people should be able to find at least one beer they like, especially you IPA lovers. I tried three different IPA's and liked their No Filter (7% abv) so much that I took a 4 pack of canned pints with me for the road. Decent haze, super juicy. Easy, easy drinking. 4 packs were like 12 bucks I think? Totally reasonable. If I didn't already drink so much craft beer I would have bought two 4 packs for sure. Really, really enjoyed this brew. Not a ton of parking out front, so on this 70 degree and sunny Saturday in April, there were at least 15 cars parked along the side of the road. Just be ready for that...you might not want to drive your Lambo. Leave it in the garage and Uber it Hot Shot. No food, but you can bring your own or get delivery. Most pints run 6 bucks for a full pour. They do take credit cards. WiFi is strong and free, just like 'merica. Great brewery. Go get yourself some beers there Sparky.

    Dog Star Rescue Day (Covid era pickup).
    Kelly H.

    Covid-era review: my first trip to Hooker Brewery (Bloomfield/Hartford lime) was a drive-thru experience as Hooker has several batches of beer about to hit expiration. To get rid of them, Hooker sold these beers in $10 gallon jugs (milk jugs donated by Guida's), donating the proceeds to Dog Star Rescue. We had to call ahead to reserve our order, and it looks like the rest of Greater Hartford did too! The drive through line ran behind Hooker, with pickup by the brewery doors, and when we left the line was down Granby Street! Our call-ahead order included Peanut Slayer, part beer, part dessert, that reminded me of Alvarium Clusternutter. It was smooth, dark, and nutty; maybe a stout for people who don't normally drink stout. Hop Meadow was a citrusy, forest-y IPA--quintessential NE IPA, and weird but still tasty from a plastic milk jug. Blonde Ale, I've had in cans, and it probably pairs with everything. The crew outside who flagged us in all had masks, and used radios to call ahead, and our order was loaded quickly. Hooker's having another Dog Star drive thru 5/16, so order ASAP, and try to go early. You won't miss the flags or Dog Star trailer (or as we left, the line going around the block!). It's wasn't the usual brew pub visit, using a drive-thru line, but the cause was good, the price right, and the beer tasty. Budget friendly overall, and I can't wait to go back and eventually see the brewpub itself.

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bill D.
    20
    38
    32

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jean Y.
    258
    1023
    7904

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Des D.
    156
    366
    1064

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Colin P.
    203
    148
    266

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly C.
    487
    1079
    1010

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess L.
    3519
    5575
    5923

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dennis K.
    8
    197
    44

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zack H.
    0
    56
    12

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leah R.
    32
    121
    104

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Thomas Hooker Brewery

    Review Highlights - Thomas Hooker Brewery

    Blonde, Irish Red, Watermelon, Munich, Saison, Softspoken, Chocolate Truffle Stout, IPA, and Tenacious just to name a few.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Breweries 1,896 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Back East Brewing Company

    Back East Brewing Company

    (100 reviews)

    $$

    I was in the area for business. My only regret is we waited until the last night we were in town to…read morecheck this place out. We didn't try the food but based on their beer quality, the food would be equally epic. Generally when you stop into a brewery you'll try a few beers and find one or two you like. This place, I enjoyed all of the beers we sampled! Big open seating area, plenty of inside and outside seating. Nintendo, foosball, and board games to play inside. Looked like they have some live music at times as well. The staff was great! Very knowledgeable about the beers and willing to help you decide on a choice.

    This review is specifically about Greg. His behavior made us extremely uncomfortable, and when…read moreconfronted, he became defensive and hostile. Note to the owner: unless Greg's demeanor and attitude improve significantly, it would be in the company's best interest to remove him from customer-facing interactions. My husband and I visited this brewery for the first time around 4:30 PM. It was slow, and as experienced brewery-goers, we asked about flights so we could decide which beers we might want as full pours. We were helped by a woman with short blonde hair who was friendly, knowledgeable, and exactly what you want in a customer-facing role. She explained that while flights are not offered, she was happy to provide small samples to help us decide and assured us it was no problem. She also explained that half pours were available. She poured five small samples for us. My husband chose a half pour of Lil Lager and a half pour of Oktoberfest, and I ordered an Athletic NA. We also ordered pretzel bites, which we were told had to be rung in separately--unusual, but fine. Shortly after receiving our drinks, I noticed that all half pours were listed at a flat rate of $5, even though a full 16oz Lil Lager was only $4 and the 16oz Oktoberfest was $7. I mentioned this to the woman helping us, and she agreed it didn't make sense. She told us she would charge us $2 (a soda price) for the Lil Lager half pour, which we felt was fair and reasonable. This agreement was clearly communicated and understood. At this point, Greg abruptly inserted himself into the interaction, asking if we were done and demanding our card, despite the fact that we had just received our drinks and were still waiting for food. He had not been involved in our transaction at all. His interruption was unnecessary, uncomfortable, and disruptive, especially given that the woman assisting us was more than capable of handling everything. When Greg questioned her about our tab, she explained the pricing adjustment she had already agreed upon with us. Greg dismissed her explanation and overrode her decision. He rang us up and charged $5 for the half pour of Oktoberfest, $4 for the half pour of Lil Lager, and the full $5 for my Athletic--completely disregarding the agreement made with us and undermining his coworker in front of customers. His actions felt deceptive, disrespectful, and violating, not only toward us but toward his colleague as well. By this point, the entire experience had soured. When our food finally arrived, we just wanted to leave. As we passed Greg on our way out, he told us to "have a good night." I told him directly that he had handled our transaction incorrectly. He became immediately defensive and interrupted me repeatedly, insisting he had done us a favor by charging $4 instead of the $5 half-pour rate. This completely ignored the fact that we had already agreed--clearly and openly--with his coworker on different pricing, which he knowingly overrode. This was not about the money; it was about principle, respect, and basic customer service. When I told him the experience was awful and that I planned to leave a negative review, he told me to "go right ahead," raised his voice as we were leaving, and falsely accused us of having "20 tastes." This accusation was inappropriate, untrue, and hostile. Greg demonstrated a complete lack of customer service skills, poor judgment, and an inability to understand the basic goal of a brewery: allowing customers to experience the product so they want to purchase more of it. Instead, he dominated his colleague, alienated customers, kept inaccurate tallies, and made unwarranted assumptions. The entire interaction was uncomfortable, unprofessional, and frankly bizarre. If this establishment is going to hold small tastes against customers, then flights should be offered for purchase. As it stands, the environment felt unwelcoming and inhospitable. We will not be returning, and I will be sharing this experience with friends, family, and neighbors. This was, without question, one of the worst customer service experiences we've had at a brewery.

    Dudleytown Brewing Company - False Prophet: Pineapple, Banana & Coconut Smoothie Ale

    Dudleytown Brewing Company

    (53 reviews)

    I am here with my friend Jenn for drinks and dinner quite often because it's the halfway point…read morebetween us. But beyond all that it's a wonderful brewery and now an excellent restaurant. Their sour beers are stupendous. And we are so happy that they're offering food inside now (instead of the food trucks). Bravo!

    Great brews, decent food, nice space, little pricy…read more Came here as part of a work event. The venue is nice but there's nothing around it beyond a giant sports bubble. The brewers were brewing, and the space inside was nice. They also had an expansive outdoor area and plenty of parking. The drinks were well done, lots of flavors and varieties on tap. No one complained about the beers though the drinks were small for the price. The food venue towards the back was pumping out pizzas from a giant pizza oven with a blazing fire. I ordered some appetizers from the menu for my team to share. Meatballs, elote, and waffle fries. The apps were not easily shareable but we made it work. Waffle fries were generic and not crispy enough. The elote was corn pancakes rather than corn on the cob. My mistake for not fully reading the menu. Flavor was good but messy. Meatballs were good in terms of flavor and consistency, got a decent amount for the price too. The meatballs were the best bite. The pizza is trying to be New Haven style but is missing the structure. Way too floppy and heavy for the style of crust. Needs to be lighter on the sauce and cooked just a couple minutes more to really solidify that bottom and get rid of the tip droop. Cheese had a good elasticity to it though, good cheese pulls. As an informal event venue, it's pretty good but pricy for what you get. As a local brewery, if it can keep its events constant then it will do well. As a food venue, it's high for where it is but the quality is reasonable. A few more shareable apps beyond pizza and just a few small tweaks to the pies and they will be great.

    New Park Brewing - "Cloudscape" (IPA)

    New Park Brewing

    (140 reviews)

    $$

    My friend got married here and I was finally able to visit. I'm not an avid beer drinker so I tend…read moreto stay away from breweries unless the vibe calls for it. I loved the aesthetic of the two rooms we were in. Although the decorations were brought by the party for the event, you could still tell the space had great bones. I loved the hanging pothos from the ceiling rods. The food was delicious, although a bit run of the mill. I did not drink but I heard others raving about the selection of beer. I'd definitely come back in the warm weather and see what it's about on a casual day.

    New Park Brewing is a craft brewery that opened in West Hartford, Connecticut in March 2017. It was…read morefounded by business partners John Doyle, Alex Dee and Tom Atkins. Doyle works in the financial services industry, but had wanted to open his own brewery for a number of years. A friend introduced him to Dee: a homebrewer with an education background in biomedical science. Atkins, a huge craft beer fan, came on board for the project after Doyle and Dee started getting serious about opening their own brewery. A logo, business plan, and financing were put together. Although the brand was founded in 2015, it took nearly two years to find the right location. In 2017, New Park opened at The Shops at 485 New Park: a former ball bearings factory turned multi-media venue. New Park's mission is to offer consumers the highest quality beverages and experiences that they possibly can. In recent years, the brewery has also begun producing intervention wines, heirloom cider, and sourdough pizza in addition to their artisanal brews. I first visited New Park Brewing in March 2018, when they had just turned a year old. I was very impressed from that first visit and they quickly became one of my Top 5 favorite Connecticut breweries. I recently visited the taproom for the second time ever. I had heard that they started crafting artisanal sourdough pizza pies in recent years and wanted to try them paired up with their excellent beer. I love the whole industrial design vibe that's going on inside the taproom. Since my initial visit, the brewery has also since added an outdoor biergarten and an indoor private event space with a stage and bar (dubbed "The Green Room"). I started off with a short pour of one of my go-tos: "Cloudscape" (IPA). It's delicious, hazy, and full of citrus and tropical fruit notes. For pizza, I ordered the "Soppressata" (red sauce, fior di latte, mozzarella, soppressata, red onion, goat cheese, honey, grana padano) and the "Chef Special" (pecorino cream, fior di latte, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto, balsamic glaze, grana padano). To pair with them, I ordered a sampler flight which featured "Little Cloud" (IPA), "Steppe" (Barrel-Aged Saison), "Elmwood" (Dry Cider), and "Double Cloud" (Double IPA). Between the stellar brews and the heavenly pizza, I was in pure bliss! There's a reason why New Park is one of my favorite Connecticut breweries; I hope to be back again and again!

    Talcott Mountain Collective - $8 and pretty good

    Talcott Mountain Collective

    (59 reviews)

    $$

    This was the first time at this venue. It hasn't a large outdoor and indoor facility. We were this…read morenight indoors. The atmosphere is very open with high tables and high stools - some of the stools are available with backs for greater comfort. This night it was open mic night and there were a variety of guitarists/singers performing throughout the evening. The facility has their own kitchen and the facility was able to provide a variety of appetizer bites- burgers- personal size pizzas- hotdogs and salads available for cost. There were plenty of choices of beverages alcoholic and nonAlcoholic. All of the food could be ordered via your phone and paid through your phone. We were a party of 12 and we had a great time!!

    I had been wanting to check this place out for a while, so my expectations were definitely up…read morethere. I went during a happy hour (no live music), and overall... it was just okay. The vibe was chill, and the setup included both indoor and outdoor seating. It felt more like a casual hangout spot than a destination, very chill. It was like a Parkville Market or low-key brewery, but without its own beer or signature vibe. The bar only had one bartender, which made for a super long line so I ended up skipping a second drink. I do not even remember what was on their menu but they are supposed to have food trucks. The day we were there the truck was very late so we did not have that experience. We had popcorn and hot dogs. Great, fresh popped popcorn! I did notice a lot of kids running around outside, which as a parent, I appreciated. It's good to know this is a spot I could bring my kid on a sunny day and still enjoy some adult time outdoors. One major con? The bathrooms. They were in the basement, and the whole setup was kind of weird. Think padlocks on doors, maze-like hallways... Would I go back? Yes, maybe, but only on a hot day with live music and good company.

    Republic Gastropub

    Republic Gastropub

    (470 reviews)

    $$

    Republic Gastro Pub was the perfect spot for two childhood friends meeting up in Bloomfield, along…read morewith their husbands, and it could not have been better. There's always a little pressure when a dinner is part reunion, part catch-up, part "please let the restaurant be good enough to match the occasion," and Republic absolutely came through. The whole evening was fantastic. Shane took great care of us and struck that perfect balance of being attentive, personable, and making everything feel easy. He helped the night flow in a way that let us relax, laugh, catch up, and enjoy ourselves without ever feeling rushed. The dinners across the table were a hit, but my Moroccan lamb special was next-level. It was one of those meals where you take a bite and immediately stop mid-conversation because your full attention has been redirected to the plate. The flavors were rich, layered, and so unexpectedly good that I'm still thinking about it. Everyone loved their meal, the atmosphere made it easy to settle in and enjoy the evening, and the prices felt very reasonable, especially for how good the whole experience was. All in, Republic Gastro Pub gave us exactly what you hope for in a night like that: great food, great service, lots of laughs, and a dinner worthy of the reunion

    Overall, great restaurant. I had a hard time picking my drinks and food because everything looked…read morevery good and unique. The drinks in particular were very well balanced and thoughtfully curated. Ambience was cozy and upscale, with some prices to suggest this restaurant may be better suited for special occasions rather than your regular hang. Service was just-ok. No complaints but nothing special either, and the table near the door that we sitting at was probably near a heating vent because it was a little uncomfortably warm. Overall, yes, I would go back to dine here and I would recommend Republic Gastropub.

    J Bar at Colt - Chicken Riggies

    J Bar at Colt

    (5 reviews)

    Sheldon Charter Oak

    J's has returned as J Bar at Colt! Their favorite menu items, J's Signature Salad and Chicken…read moreRiggies has finally resurfaced!! I am so excited! I had to stop by and take it to go! Service is always beyond expectations! Looking forward to another visit soon!! Perfect ambiance in house, not too loud, perfect for a hangout! There's enough parking spaces to go around and they're easy to find. Thank you!! So excited for you all!

    I visited on 08/07/25 for a going-away happy hour for a co-worker. We gathered on the patio, as the…read moreweather was lovely, and the staff immediately and happily accommodated us by moving one of the long tables to a more shaded area. This was emblematic of the whole afternoon/evening, as our waitress was very friendly and attentive, without being intrusive; sh happily provided separate checks for everyone, and I didn't see one error, even with 12+ people coming and going over a couple of hours. The drink selection was well set for this type of location. They had several house cocktails, which received solid reviews from my table mates, a decent beer list (I was glad to see that they kept a couple of Thomas Hooker brews on tap, carrying on something from the venue's prior occupants), ;a ong with wine and seltzers. My only critique (and I use "critique in the modest or possible interpretations - if there was an option for a 4.5 or 4.75 star review, I would do so), would be about the food. Everything was very tasty; I ordered a couple of appetizers (tuna tartare and spinach artichoke dip), intending to share with the table. The dip worked well, but the tartare was served without any bread or crackers (just a spoon) which feels odd for this kind of a dish, resulting in my eating it solo (delicious!). I wish there were more "shareable" options; based on the experience, all that really fit that category were the dip, and the bruschetta that s co-worker ordered (which only had 4 pieces, I believe) - for a more casual, patio setting, that would be an improvement. Overall, it was a very positive experience - I will happily return!

    Waypoint Spirits

    Waypoint Spirits

    (35 reviews)

    $

    We haven't been here in about 8+ years and it's changed ownership since we last visited. We had a…read moregood experience prior, just hadn't made our way back, and felt it was time for another visit. Our experience was absolutely fantastic! The vibes and ambiance in the space are great, the bat has all the bottles on display of all the options, the menu has a great variety of unique and interesting cocktail interpretations. We got to chatting with Chris and learned so much from him, got to try so many interesting creations from Waypoint, which even led us to buying a couple bottles to take home! We now can't wait to go back again. Definitely going to be a new weekend spot when we want casual hangouts.

    I decided that because it was my first time, I would start by getting a flight to see what I liked…read more I got a flight with vanilla, citrus and espresso vodka, and rum. they were all Incredible flavorful and smooth. My favorite was the vanilla vodka - which was very smooth, and has great flavor. We also got a charcuterie for two- and it was extremely good.. the cheese was fresh and so were the meats and fruits. After the flight, I decided to get a drink. I got the Hurricane which was made with their rum and was exactly what you would expect. My bf got the Boulevardier and really enjoyed it.. he said it had a full and oaky flavor and really enjoyed it. This is definitely a hidden gem.. and I think everyone needs to come here!! The bartender was personable, and definitely did not make us feel uncomfortable. He was funny and was very friendly. There is also not an outdoor are we didn't get a chance to sit in but looked beautiful. The atmosphere itself is warm, welcoming and very clean.

    Thomas Hooker Brewery - breweries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...