7 Best Craft Breweries near Manchester

“I’ve been going to 2nd Bridge for a few years now and it’s my favorite spot in central CT by far. Not only are the beers delicious, but it’s truly a “Cheers” environment where everyone not only knows your name but also every story you’ve shared before. I highly recommend this pub to anyone who wants a cozy spot that has excellent libations and the finest array of football around.“

“great and helpful staff, food and drink is awesome. they make you feel like family. a real important note is they support and are vested in the community. I drive 14 miles past countless other breweries just to support this business.“

“Food is delicious, staff is great. Also has the fancy vibe with a feel good spin“

“Always a great experience here. Beers are always good, great food choices and service is always excellent. Kudos.“

“This review is a part of my quest of visiting all CT breweries. I've been to East Hartford Brewing in December 2023, but decided to pay another visit.

This is a small brewery. It is hard to notice from the road, so pay attention to your map. There are two parking lots available, the closest one is pretty small. No food is sold inside. They have a patio for warmer months and a separate building that only works during warmer months, but I didn't have a chance to visit those. The main brewery space is freezing, it was not insulated well.

The beers here are great. There are multiple styles available: scotch ale, lager, sour, IPA and so on. Generally, one beer per style. The beers are really good. Between the visits, I tried all the beers they have except seasonals. My favorite is Amazing Grace (Barrel aged scotch ale). The beers were available in beer flights of four before, but not during my last visit.

This is an awesome place to visit for any craft beer enthusiast and it is worth a separate trip. I would only suggest going here during the warmer weather.“

“This review is a part of my quest of visiting all CT breweries. Around 2019 I came to Connecticut Valley Brewing Company and bought one of each beers they had. It ended up being about 4 dozens of delicious beer. So I planned this visit to the taproom only as a formality. However, the overall experience was a bit worse.

The place is big - it has a huge indoor space with multiple seating options, including couches. No separation, just one big room. Plus there is a big patio for warmer months. The went for a plane theme and decorated the room with it. It is a bit noisy inside when there are many people, but still manageable. The brewery has an excellent selection of beers of various styles. Since I tried every beer they had over the years of going to beer festivals where CTVBC is always present, I can say that their beers are amazing. Every style they produce is delicious. From the latest visits I would recommend Spiked Smoothie Strawberry Lemonade (Fruit Beer) and Camper's Maple Stout, as they just boast rich taste. You can also order beer flights, although the options are limited to 12 taps only.

There is a food served via a separate business which coexists in the same building - Birdhouse Coffee Shop. And this was a downer. I will leave a separate review for this business, as blaming the brewery for the quality of food is unfair. But this coexistence means, that you are now limited in food options and cannot bring your own or order from a food truck. So you're stuck with a very mediocre food and slow service.

Other problems I experienced were:
- Messing up my order. One bartender asked for beer numbers from the menu, while the other one asked for the names. The latter one messed up my position.
- By the end of Monday, which is not too busy of a day, restrooms lacked the paper towels.

Overall, the beers are great. The theme of the taproom is awesome. The service might have been better.“

“I had my graduation party here and it was wonderful! The staff is incredibly kind and able to accommodate many needs. We rented out the big tent which was clean, spacious, and within our budget. We were also able to get drink vouchers for our guests- I highly recommend the raspberry summer ale! Whether you are coming here for a relaxing afternoon or looking to plan an event, Hops on the Hill is a wonderful choice.“