Ginger Man + Coalhouse Celebrate American Craft Beer Week

Two of our favorite spots to get brews and grub in Fairfield County have lots of fun ahead for American Craft Beer Week.  ACBW kicks off today, 5/13, and goes until 5/19.  The focus of the beer week has always been on smaller batch brews, a focus on fine details, and more of a hands-on approach to beer.  Now, it’s no coincidence that Ginger Man in Norwalk and Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford live and breathe this philosophy year round, but you know they have to step up their game (is that possible?) to celebrate American Craft Beer Week.  It’s kind of like the Super Bowl of the beer world.

Coalhouse Pizza is featuring a week of tap takeovers:

Flights at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford CT

Monday, 5/13:  Sebago

Tuesday, 5/14:  Half Full (see a full week of special Half Full events here)

Wednesday, 5/15:  Harpoon

Two Roads Brewery Has Some Serious (Meat)balls this Weekend

Get your mind out of the gutter, people.  We’re talking about Two Roads Brewery having The Local Meatball shop on hand for their Saturday food truck experience from 3-7 on 5/11, the start of CT Beer Week.    Since TLM launch on 4/20, Mike’s been gaining quite a following of ballers.  There’s no doubt that Mike will be serving up some Serious meatballs, his standard formulation made with Saugatuck Craft Butchery beef and other local ingredients.  Here are descriptions from his site about the meatball choices (there is usually Serious and one other on special):

SERIOUS:  made with the finest ground beef from Craft Butchery, we use only the best local ingredients. Soaked in our traditional sauce, they are like no other. These balls burst with flavor and are our version of the classic.

Future Specials

KICK IN DA:  made with the most tender local pork around and some hot cherry peppers to give them just the right kick. Served in a chunky, spicy sauce, they’re a win-win.

IN THE BUFF:  fresh ground chicken and our own buffalo sauce—these are the perfect combination of heat and flavor.

HONEY’S:  honey BBQ sauce from a local favorite and a tender, juicy pork ball…who needs ribs when you’ve got balls?

JEWELS:  these salty, sweet creations are what we like to call a “breakfast ball.” Made with delicious ground beef, sausage, bacon and chunks of melted cheddar cheese. Topped off with the tastiest local maple syrup on a soft, light and airy snowflake roll. They’re jewels.

Here’s how to do it:

1)  Place your oder.

2) Grab your slider, Average Joe, or Grinder.

3) Head upstairs to Two Roads Brewery  and down those meatballs with some old cold brews.  We highly recommend the saison.

4) Fill up some growlers or growleritos (they are so cute and tiny).

5) Get some more meatballs before you leave.

Two Roads Brewing Co.

1700 Stratford Ave

Stratford, CT 06615

Phone:  (203) 335-2010

The Beer Garden Soon Swilling Brews w/ Food Trucks @ Harbor Point in Stamford

Lobstercraft food truck

Check out lobster rolls fresh from the water

Seconds before this entire sandwich is devoured in a major omnomnom fest.

Bobby Flay preps the tomato soup that will soon be handed out to hungry munchers

$10 for the flight, but you get full pours!

Update:  The Beer Garden @ Harbor Point is now open and here are our first impressions.  

Prost!  And, we’ll be saying Prost! quite a bit when, sometime in early May, Stamford gets its own hot new spot for the beer enthusiast:  The Beer Garden @ Harbor Point.  The Beer Garden is being created through a collaboration of Imian Hospitality and BLT.  And, this is not going to be any kind of puny pub, either.  It’s over 6,000 square feet, has seating for over 300 people, has two levels, has a private bar room, and has an outdoor terrace on the second floor with killer views of the Sound.

As for the beer, they’ll be serving up craft brews with 24 on draft.  According to the press release, they’ll also be pouring hard to find ales from craft breweries.  Some of brews you can expect are Dogfish Head, Captain Lawrence, Curious Traveler, Thomas Hooker, and Two Roads.  We’re sure they’ll be pouring Half Full, too.  But, it’s not just beer on draft, it’s also about larger bottles of craft brews to please the consummate beerologist.  And, if you happen to be one of those people who doesn’t like beer or who just needs a break from some brews, you could check out some “American-centric” cocktails from master mixologist Jason Clark.  Just remember:  Beer before liquor, never been sicker…liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.

Westport Brewer Wins Rookie of the Year and Is Looking for Bigger Digs + a Name for His Black IPA

Jonathan Healey of Compo Hill Brewing Co.

Compo Hill Brewing Co. logo

Look at all those awards!

Nice bottle, nice brew!

Jonathan Healey’s brewing system that he built.

The crushed grains, ready to be used in the brewing process.

Jonathan bakes the pumpkin for 30 minutes before he puts it in the mash.

Where the action goes down…the hot liquor tank.

The brain of the brewing system, the electric brewing controller.

The pumpkin in a bag and allowed to seep into the mash, giving that nice pumpkin flavor. No artificial flavors here!

No, not rabbit food…those are the hops!

Here the pumpkin ale waits to reach its full potential…

*Click any pic to start the photo gallery*

Jonathan Healey is a renaissance man.  He owns a video production company called A View of You, he markets Gathering of the Vibes Music and Arts Festival in Bridgeport and The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, and…oh yes…he’s now a multiple-award winning brewer.  More specifically, according to the Southern New England Homebrew Competition he’s Rookie of the Year.  Not to mention, he also won “The People’s Choice” award at Smoke in the Valley, held in Seymour.  Clearly Jonathan’s been doing something amazing, but local Westporters have known this for quite a while.

Jonathan brews his Compo Hill Brewing Co. beer out of the garage of his Compo Hill Avenue house.  In a garage that could make any brewlover drool, he’s set up an all-electric brewing system that can pump out 5-15 gallons of beer per batch.  Healey shared in a press release that he sent to us:

“I wanted to build a brewing system that would produce consistent results from batch to batch. Using direct flame in mixed weather on my driveway wasn’t cutting it.  Now that I have the system dialed in, I’m free to experiment. Right now, I enjoy developing beer/wine hybrids or vinous styles using grape flavors, oak, and wild yeast.”

Get Your Own Taste of Half Full Brewery Bright Ale – Stamford, CT

Although Half Full Brewery, based out of Stamford, isn’t open for tours and tastings yet, you shouldn’t let that stop you from trying their Half Full Bright Ale.  Conor and co. from Half Full will be hitting up three restaurants in Stamford tonight.  They’ll be talking ’bout Half Full, the beer, and about their flagship Bright Ale.  For more info, check their site and also check our first article or our second detailed run through of Half Full with Conor himself. 

See and taste Half Full tonight:

Station Eats:  6 pm

Coalhouse Pizza:  7:30 pm

The Brickhouse Bar and Grille: 9 pm

If you can’t make it tonight, don’t worry.  The Bright Ale will be on tap at these spots, so make sure to come on by and try things out.  Also, keep up with Half Full and us to find out more about the opening that should be happening pretty soon. Here’s a map that Half Full is maintaining that lists off restaurants where you can get the good stuff:

View Larger Map

Half Full Brewery

43 Homestead Avenue

Stamford, CT

website: www.halffullbrewery.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/halffullbrewery
twitter: http://twitter.com/halffullbrewery

Bourbon, Brews, and Burgers: all about the new Plan B Burger Bar in Stamford, CT

Back in March we told you about Plan B Burger Bar opening up a restaurant in the Stamford Town Center.  Then, you most likely sighed when you saw the opening was sometime in the fall of 2012.  Fall?  No summer without burgers, American craft beers, and bourbon?  Well, sigh no more.  Plan B Burger Bar will be open for business this Saturday, 8/4, starting at 2 pm!  

There are lots of things that we’re excited about in terms of Plan B Burger Bar opening up in Stamford.  First of all, the meat they use is never frozen and is ground in the restaurant every day.  Secondly, this beef is Certified Humane which means they are allowed to graze to their four-stomachs’ content, they aren’t fed junk, and they aren’t treated with antibiotics.  Plus, whenever they can, they get food, beer, and more locally.

Look at that beaut! From Press Release.

What else are we gushing over?  Their love, appreciation, and worship of drinks!  To be honest, we don’t know jack about bourbon, so we’re excited to learn more from the servers and bartenders at Plan B.  We do know a helluva lot about craft beer, though, and they’ll have a ton of the good stuff.  Did we mention that there are certified Cicerones (beer sommeliers) who can lead you to that perfect beer time after time?

Plan B Burger Bar isn’t just drinks and burgers, though.  They have a nice menu of American and bar classics that are kicked up a bit and fancy-fied.  You’ve got some organic portabella or truffle fries, lobster rolls or sliders, wings, a bourbon baked brie plate, Beef Wellington bites (Gordon Ramsay would approve), a soup of the day, and 8 different salads.

Now, in terms of looks, this place is gonna scorch it.  It’s right at Stamford Town Center, so they were able to go crazy because there was lots of room.  We’re talking 4,500 square feet!  There’s an outdoor patio, a large bar for those nights out, and of course the dining area that seats 185 people.  There’s also a lounge area if you feel like taking it easy and chilling with some friends with some cocktails, brews, or bourbon.  The lighting is also pretty freaking sick.  Above the bar you’ll find meat hooks that have lights attached to them.  There are tons of other fun touches around the restaurant like a metal bull head statue, a red neon sign that blinks on and off with “Eat, Meat.”  Finishing touch?  The M flickers on and off.  Sick.

So, we’re definitely excited to try out Plan B Burger Bar in Stamford and all they have to offer.  We know that Connecticut loves good burgers, so let’s see what they got.

What do you think?  Have you been to one of the other Plan B Burger Bars?  What did you enjoy or love about your visit?  Dish it out, we wanna know.

                                               Plan B Burger Bar Locations:

·          138 Park Road, West Hartford - (860) 231-1199

·          120 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury - (860) 430-9737

·          4 Railroad Street, Simsbury - (860) 658-4477

·          1638 Post Road, Milford – (203) 713-8700

·          230 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford Town Center, Stamford – (203) 964-8353

·          Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA – opening Late August 2012

New Chef, New Menu, More Beer Than Ever @ The Ginger Man – Norwalk, CT

If you’ve never been to The Ginger Man (see our CBS review) in Norwalk, you’re missing out.  Seriously, you are.

•  52 beers on tap with a constantly expanding and updating beer list of 100 bottles and one cask

• Creative gourmet pub food

• Beer dinners featuring different breweries paired into five courses

• Brunch:  ’nuff said

From @GingerManSoNo on Twitter

There are now more reasons to go, though.  With the addition of Chef Mike Hazen, they are changing things up.  The menu has been tweaked and now you have another reason to spend each and every night there.  Yes, Chef Hazen has created amazing gastropub style daily specials that start at 5 pm.  Here’s the rub:

Monday:  Donut Burger  |  $14
maple glaze, cheddar, bacon, square patty

Tuesday:  Taco Slider Night|  $8.5

Wednesday:  Pint of Prawns  |  $15
lemon mayo, cocktail sauce

Thursday:  Chef’s Night

Friday:  Farmer’s Market, it’s all about local

Saturday:  Brunch till 4…
Lob Cobb  |  $22

Sunday:  Brunch till 4…
Proper Roast Beef Sandwich  |  $12
horseradish sauce & watercress

Check them out any ol’ time and check them out July 30 at 7 pm.  At that time they’ll be hosting a Stone Brewing Company beer dinner.  Stone Brewing Company, based in San Diego, is putting out killer beer and one of our favorites of all time:  Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.  So, check out the new chef, the new specials, the new brunch, and the new beers.

Cheers, blokes.

The Ginger Man

Address:  99 Washington Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: 203.354.0163

Custom 6 Packs of Beer, Wine, Liquor, and More @ WineNation – Norwalk, CT

A beautiful shelf of loose beer ready to be paired by you at WineNation in Norwalk, CT

A few months ago we heard about WineNation, that would open at 380 Main Ave. in Norwalk.  Well, we imagined all the great possibilities when we heard that there would be a crazy plethora of wine, beer, and other liquid goodness.  The thing that really hooked us was hearing about them offering a make your own six pack of loose beer.  Up until today, we wondered if this could actually be true…if such a thing did exist.

Well, OmNomivores…we have news to share.  It is true.  There is a giant shelf and a half of loose beer bottles and cans that you can choose from to create your own custom six packs.  You’ll notice the price of the bottle right there on the shelf.  We decided to get a six pack each and spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out what we were in the mood for.  Well, wouldn’t you know it, we saw MORE bottles that we needed, so we knew what we had to do.  Being the ever creative couple, we divided up another six pack into three bottles each.  There are also six packs and even cases to be found, but here are some of the bottles that we hunted the shelves for:

We got a beerlike swagger, we got a beerlike swagger. We got a beereeereeerlike swagger.

Brooklyn Pennant Ale ’55

Goose Island Summertime

Widmer Brothers W’12 Dark Saison

Peak Organic Summer Session Ale

Magic Hat Elder Betty

Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat

There is also plenty of wine on the shelves, too.  In fact, if you look around too much, you’ll probably get overwhelmed.  We stocked up on a few refreshing whites and a few bolds like one of our faves:  Petite Petit. Even more insane?  There are many shelves that are still empty, so as they fill them in, there will be even more variety.  You’ll find the usual categories such as Italian Reds, but you’ll also find Staff Picks, organic, local, fruity, and more.  Plus, they have an amazing amount of liquor, mixes, food, non-alcoholic beverages, and drinking/mixing tools.

The staff here is super friendly and willing to help, so if you don’t see a beer or wine that you like, let them know.  We asked for Sixpoint beer and they took it down in hopes to put it in stock for us.  They have wine tastings Fridays from 3-6, Saturdays from 12-5, and Sundays from 1-4.  While you’re there, sign up for their free Grand Cru card to get deals, news, and special offers.  Also, there are plans for classes in the works, so check their site for more information.

So, excuse us.  We have a full fridge of beer to start drinking.  One bottle at a time.  Yes, always take life one bottle at a time.

Wine Nation

Address:  380 Main Ave  (next to Stop & Shop)
Norwalk, CT 06851

Phone:  203.295.3860

Site: http://www.winenation.com

MONDAY – THURSDAY: 9AM TO 9PM

FRIDAY – SATURDAY: 8AM TO 9PM

SUNDAY: 10AM TO 5PM

Super Duper Weenie Truck Hits up Bull N’ Brew at Ambler Farm – Wilton, CT

California Lovin’, Dre Style

Starting in college, I became a vegetarian.  It wasn’t always the easiest to do, especially when you were out with your friends, but I had my reasons mostly around conserving energy and saving the environment.  But, by the time I met Kristien, I was eating just fish, then slowly, I started to eat chicken but I still didn’t touch pork or beef.

That is until the summer I worked at a camp in New Canaan.  See, every other week they’d have Super Duper Weenie come to make hot dogs and burgers.  After seeing all my kids eating up and enjoying their food, I knew what I had to do.  Slowly, I had a burger here, a hot dog there.  By the end of the summer, I had built my stomach back up to beef-eating state. The lure of Super Duper Weenie was way too much.  Yeah, I know, I’m a sell out. ; ) 

Now, imagine our delight when Dina Nocerino wrote us and told us about a great fundraiser for her organization, Karuana Bully Rescue called Bull N’ Brew that featured Super Duper Weenie!  I mean, it all aligned with the OmNomCT creed:

1:  We love doggies.

2:  We love to help doggies.

3:  We love to eat hot doggies.

4:  We love to wash down hot doggies with brews.

Let’s start off by saying how awesome the 2nd Annual Bull N’ Brew was.  There was an amazing selection of beer from New England Brewing Company, Beaver Beer, Victory, Thomas Hooker and more. So, it wasn’t a major surprise that we saw a member of the elite Barley Literati, James Gribbon.  The music by Tim Palmieri and Friends was awesome and so was Like Violet who played the final set of the night.  People were having a great time, talking, relaxing, drinking, jamming, and chomping on some Super Duper Weenie.  Best of all?  Tons of money was raised with about 80 people attending.  Money that will be used to help rescue dogs, take care of them, then find them loving homes.  

Okay, onto Super Duper Weenie.

Gary Zemola and co. were there and you could pick from a variety of your favorite dogs or make your own burger and add a side of fries if you wanted, too.  We took things slowly, ordering a hot dog each, sipped on some brews, then went back for seconds.  I’ve only had the Georgia Red Hot and the Mighty-Ity, so I decided to explore things a bit and try their other dogs.  Kristien branched out and tried new stuff too.  Here’s our hot dog and burger break down for the best hot dogs we’ve ever had in Connecticut:

Come to Poppa!

New Yorker: Sauerkraut, Onion Sauce, Mustard, & Hot Relish. This is the hot dog purist hot dog, which is exactly why Kristien always gets this one. Absolutely perfect! That snap you dream about when you bite into a hot dog topped with sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard (the ONLY kind for hot dogs) and their homemade onion sauce and hot relish that is to die for… all in just the right proportions.

Cincinnatian: Cincinnati Style Chili, Cheddar Cheese & Chopped Onions. What can I say? The chili here is great. It has a really exotic taste, too…there are hints of Indian spices in there, just awesome. They didn’t go light on the cheese either, adding a nice balance of flavors to the rich savoriness of the chili and the bold punch of the onions.

The Hot Dog Went down to Georgia…

Georgia Red Hot:  Sausage, sauerkraut, mustard, and sweet relish. Kristien loved the crunch of the red hot, and the bite from sauerkraut and relish offered an awesome finishing taste.

Californian: Homemade Meat Chili, Freshly Chopped Onion, American Cheese & Hot Relish. This is what I went with when I found out there was only one Georgia Red Hot left. I was told that it was a good alternative if you wanted something spicy. Well, the chili was great and there was just the right amount of cheese on there to give it a great contrast in flavors. I didn’t get the heat, though, like I remember getting at their restaurant in Fairfield. Still, an awesome hot dog that left me satisfied.

Burger Deluxe: 1/4 lb. Pure Beef, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onion. I had fond memories of the burgers from camp, but I soon realized that Super Duper Weenie was better than I remember. This burger was juicy, full of flavor, and was piled high with toppings. Surprisingly, one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time.

Load ‘er up!

Fresh Cut Fries: Even though they made them on their truck, they were still awesome.  Cut just right, fried just right, crispy, seasoned nicely with salt and black pepper. Nice and shoestringy!

Bull N’ Brew, 2013

The 2nd Annual Bull N’ Brew was a blast and we look forward to next year’s.  If you missed out this year, you’ll have to wait a year, but it’s totally worth it.  In the meantime, check out Karuana Bully Rescue for other fun events on the way and help them out with a donation if you can.   You can also check out Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield, CT to experience their legen-wait for it-dary dogs.  Thanks again to Karuana Bully Rescue for making this all happen!

Super Duper Weenie

Noms:  4.5

Cost:  $$

306 Black Rock Turnpike

Fairfield, CT

Offshore Pour: Craft Beer and BBQ Cruise Around Long Island Sound – Norwalk, CT

Yup yup, you read that right.  Offshore Pour, a craft beer boat cruise.  Suds have been rounded up by Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market in Fairfield and grub’s being provided by Bobby Q’s Bodacious BBQ.  Brews ahoy from 1-4:30 pm at Veteran’s Park, but doors open at 12 pm on June 16.

Once you’re on the Island Bell, you’ll be able to eat BBQ to your heart’s content, drink down some of the best craft brews, listen to some badass live tunes, take a cruise around the Long Island Sound, and you’ll even get to take home your own souvenir tasting glass.  Here are the beers that will be available:

New England Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Sierra Nevada, Merchant du Vin, Stone Brewing Company, Dogfish Head, Harpoon Brewery, Samuel Adams, Sebago Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Co., Blue Point Brewing Company, Olde Burnside, Latis Imports, Unibroue, B. United International Inc., and Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Tickets are $59 or $75 if you buy the day of the event, June 16.  Proceeds will benefit Fairfield Theater Co. so make sure to get your tickets and get your friends to go, too.

 You need to be 21 or older to go and come with a valid ID.  Don’t bring your pets, don’t bring your children, and don’t bring your boo hoo grumpiness.  Bring an empty stomach and an unquenchable thirst!