Second time coming here. Decent selection of beers/ciders on tap as well as some new slushies I tried the Newfie slushie -Rum and tropical fruit juice frozen, mixed with lemon-lime soda and a cherry. We also got the Fresh Blau; blueberry cider and hard cider. This was a great mix since I'm mostly a sour beer person. We also got some German chocolate to snack on, a meat stick, and a pretzel with sweet and spicy mustard. Dog friendly establishment read more

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Sorry no pictures. This is a small brewery with a good selection of beers and food options available. I had a Lucky Charm Irish Red Lager. It was super refreshing after being outside on a hot day. Flavor profile was delicious. The brewer/staff working today (7/14/24) was very friendly and welcoming. I would definitely return and try more of their beer selection. read more

Forest City Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in Middletown, Connecticut in April 2016. It was founded by brewer Chris Coughlin. While a student at Northeastern University in Boston, Coughlin developed an interest in brewing. He took classes at various breweries after graduating and over the years he learned the craft. When Coughlin became serious about opening his own brewery, he decided to name it "Forest City" after Middletown's nickname. Although Middletown isn't exactly 'foresty' today, the areas around Main Street and Wesleyan University were leafy and heavily wooded for centuries before floods took their tolls on the trees in the early 20th century. Coughlin says, "I thought the name for my brewery, Forest City, would reflect an earlier time and a juxtaposition of old and new." The brewery officially opened to the public in 2016 inside Middletown's old Remington Rand building. The historic building complex opened in 1896 as the Keating Bicycle Factory. Throughout the decades, motorcycles, automobiles, typewriters and even military missile parts were manufactured there. The building closed its doors in the early 1970s and fell into disrepair. The city later took it over and by 2009 it had been refurbished with several new tenants renting space inside. I first visited Forest City in August 2019. I was training for the upcoming Closer To Free ride, so I decided to cycle from my home in North Haven all the way to Middletown (21 miles). By the time I made it to the brewery, I was very thirsty. The taproom is inviting and cozy. I decided to order a sampler flight that consisted of Champ Brut IPA, Good Sesh (Session IPA), Double Dry Hopped Hazegiving (IPA), and Brown Cow (Milk Stout). The latter was my favorite; it had nice creamy notes of chocolate milk. I ended up purchasing a growler of it to bring back home. If you plan on visiting the brewery in Middletown, I must recommend making it a craft beer afternoon because the Remington Rand building is also home to Stubborn Beauty Brewing and Spoke + Spy Ciderworks. read more

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Forest City was our first brewery tour in CT. We did Sam Adams tour years ago, that is in Massachusetts. This brewery located right next to Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown. Following Google map, we thought there would be nothing here till the end. Far end, a flag hanging and cars parked in a empty closed down factory looking area. The place is pretty nicely designed with good ambience which I valued. Liked wall paintings also. We had 2 flights. Not like in CA, here calls sampler the flights. There were numbers from 1 to 4, light to strong. Beer was cold and fresh, like made of mountain water or something. As a IPA fan, loved 3 and 4. Cool place to hang out, but no food. I need food to drink beer. Maybe just me. Definitely we will come back. read more

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This is a small brewery that has a nice selection of beer. We enjoyed their sours and IPAs. The bartender was super friendly! They also serve some food like pretzels, pizza, cookies and chips. They also have games. We really enjoyed island time and sweet Mary sour ale! read more

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After a grand visit to SB, my friends and I definitely wanted to check out the new Forest City. I was pleasantly surprised by how different the vibe was. There was no loud music blasting, and the seats were better set-up for bigger parties. (Our party of 5 was a little too cramped at SB.) I'd say overall, we were more comfortable chilling at FCB. There were 4 beers to try on this given Saturday, so I tried them all. Truly, nothing compares to their Stargazer IPA. It's definitely one of the best IPAs from the Hartford area I've had, so mad props for that. Otherwise, though, I found the other beers not as good (Farmhouse, Ginger Saison, and another I can't remember). They made up for it with the Stargazer, though, because I could have definitely had many glasses of that. I look forward to coming back and scoping out their additional beers. (And did I mention, I'll snag a Stargazer?) read more

Forest City Brewing - Hop it up - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Forest City is a nano brewery, one of 3 breweries/cideries located in the Remington Rand Building. It's pretty tiny, but very friendly, with a nice local vibe. There's a small sitting area, and then the brewing operation in the other area, with a bar where you can place your orders. The day we visited was chill and relaxed, and the staff contributed to that relaxed vibe. At the time of our visit, they were dog friendly, but I always recommend asking or calling ahead, as regulations and enforcement change. There's no real outside area, because of the shared building experience. Beers were really great! They have a nice variety, from stouts to IPAs to sours. The Blaubeere sour was quite good, nice dry blueberry sour. read more

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This is a great start up brewery with great potential to grow. My first visit, a flight of all available on tap. Six on this day, 4 of the 6 way above average, steady throughout. I recently heard they closed for only a couple of day to expand their line - very good sign of growth. I've heard other good reviews from acquaintances, all of whom I would quantify as Micro Beer Snobs and hard to please. Forest City is also well situated in a growing revitalizing business district of Middletown, including another shining star, Stubborn Beauty Brewing Co., 2 doors down from Forest. Two breweries hop - not a bad score. read more

Forest City Brewing - Today's list - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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I heard about this brewery from some friends who were visiting the other brewery located in this same building. It had some good reviews so I decided to give it a shot, and I'm so glad I did! The tasting room has a really nice setup - it gets busy, but there's wall space for drinks, as well as a number of tables with stools in the middle and some stools along the wall. There's also a lot of art on the wall, which gives you something to look at while enjoying some good beer. I've officially been twice (they were closed for brewing when I was in the area last night), and they've had four to five beers on tap each time. The first time they didn't have an IPA so I decided to try the Wild Time Pale Ale, not expecting much (because I'm truly an IPA or DIPA lover)...but it was really, really good! I was blown away by how much flavor it had, and the ABV was only 5.5. The next time I went they had that same pale ale as well as another IPA (Remington IPA, 6.5 ABV), which also blew me away - juicy and thick. Can't quite decide which I liked more (I think I liked the flavor of Wild Time but the finish of Remington, but it's so hard to decide...thank goodness for flights!). I can't wait to try the new stuff they're brewing. They offer 32 oz and 64oz growler fills and they'll fill a growler you bring from home as well (currently there's a limit of 64oz per style of beer). There's plenty of parking available, as well as food trucks (and they let you bring food in to enjoy while you're drinking - good setup for that if you get a table). Definitely stop in to try this brewery! read more

Forest City Brewing - Two Remington IPAs, two Wild Time Pale Ales, and a 12oz Remington - all delicious! - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Awesome Sour Beer in Middletown Their growlers are a Favorite to go drink after a day in the CT River read more

Had a flight and a classic stout. Very good stout! Smooth and creamy. Very cool vibe here also and good seating. Love the warehouse brewery pop ups! This is a fun place for a few flights and to go growlers! read more

Forest City Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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My star rating breakdown is really 4.5 stars for friendly staff and awesome beers and then 3 stars for atmosphere. The taproom itself is cute and cozy but I was not generally impressed with it. I will say, the main bar has amazing woodwork and is beautifully crafted. The standard fluorescent light flooding the space is not great but it gets the job done. The staff were so friendly. Everyone just seemed ready to help and they made themselves available when they saw people were around who needed beer. They offer flights with 4, 5, or 6 beers. Which rocks. I like being able to pick how many pours I get and not being locked into an arbitrary number. However it is also key to note that six beers (at least the end of October 2017 when we went) covers the whole menu besides the guest tap. I appreciate that. Rock on FC. FINALLY (but not to be over looked) is the beer. The Wild Time pale ale and El Dorado IPA are two of the best in their respective categories I have ever had. The other beers were well balanced and just good. I was totally impressed. All that said, not every beer was a rockstar and I would love to see some cooler lighting. I will be back here for sure. You should visit too. read more

Forest City Brewing - Tap room - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Very small jam packed tasting room. It's funny, at breweries I have found that everyone even when it's packed is friendly. Interesting beer selection. The milk stout was soft on the palate but rich in flavor. The Odin IPA was excellent well balanced and enjoyable. Prices are great and I will be back read more

Forest City Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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This is a brand new place that just opened three weeks ago. The GPS brought us up short but we kept going and ended up driving over the train tracks and found it. Super clean and friendly with delicious beers. We walked in and were waited on right away with a smile, unlike at Stubborn Beauty where we were ignored for over five minutes. They had a really great ginger beer that I'll be going back for among three others that were awesome. Try them out! read more

Forest City Brewing - The entrance (right next to Stubborn Beauty). - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

What a cool low key place to spend some time. Stopped in with the hubs on a recent Saturday afternoon and walked into a small tasting room with a good amount of seating, high tops and bar seating along the walls. We started with a flight of everything on tap and honed in from there. I liked the Blueberry sour and the Pilsner, my husband liked the IPAs. We brought light snacks but others brought in sandwiches, the staff was super chill and friendly and the mix of customers ranged from leashed Puppies to young families to retireees and Weslyan students discussing Chem PHds in between. The bathroom was indoors and very cean. We'll be back. read more

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This place is awesome!! Stopped in here after enjoying a brew over at Stubborn Beauty, and was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere is unique, because you feel like you're in a farmhouse kitchen. The employees were very friendly, and recommended that I order a flight. To try all four of their beers it was only $7, and the sizing of the samples was extremely generous. I was also able to find a seat at a table, which was a huge plus. I enjoyed all of the beers I tried, which included a saison, a kolsch, an APA, and a stout. I'd have to say that the ginger saison was my favorite out of all of the beers. I found it to be refreshing, and the ginger wasn't too overpowering. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the employees and beers, and will definitely be returning in the near future. read more

Forest City Brewing - The beer list - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Some people seek white beaches, others seek purple mountains majesty, I seek amazing beer. Priorities people! Forest City is pouring some of the most delicious brews that I have ever tasted. This is the beer that I will go the distance for, even with a fridge full of Alchemist, Tree House, Trillium, etc. (gasp, the sacrilege!). I especially appreciate the head brewer's ability to convert me to beer styles that I thought I hated. I am a straight up IPA girl, but 'Chris and Company' have taught me that I also love a good saison, kolsch, and sour. Add to that the ridiculously accommodating staff (could his mom be any sweeter?) and amazing artwork, and I'm tempted to rent a studio space next door just for ease of access. Middletown has several hidden gems, and Forest City Brewing is all that and more! read more

This place is sick. The owner/brewer was so hospital. Very friendly, easy going, and genuinely a nice guy. The beers are very good. The service was amazing. The music was a vibe. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable. 10/10 recommend. read more

The difference between breweries is sometimes quite nominal, But not Forest City; this place is phenomenal. With juicy IPAs that we're ever-so-fresh, This is my new favorite spot; the brews passed the tes(h)t. The owner of Forest City is an amazing guy who knows how to treat his customers and knows how to BREW! The Remington IPA was hazy, hoppy, and heavenly. The Classic Irish Stout and the Double IPA (EXP1?) were also very well made. After ordering, I got an opportunity to meet the owner Chris, who shook my hand and thanked me for coming. I thought it was awesome that his parents were working at the brewery with him. What is better than a small, family-run brewery with an amazing product? I'll admit that I didn't have the most perfect brewery visit. I may or may not have smashed a full growler on the floor...before consuming even one drop of beer (It was slippery!), but nobody gave me a hard time at all. It was cleaned up within minutes, and the beers kept flowing. Plenty of parking. Plenty of smiles. Can't wait to return. read more

Great brews in a small space. They usually have a selection of 6 or 7 that are all very different, but also all very good. They almost always have a stout and an IPA, which are my two favorites, so I may be a little biased. The last time I was there they also had a sour too. There are only a few tables and some stools. It is a popular place, so that can be tough. They do have some fish crackers, pretzels, and other light snacks available if there are not food trucks there or if you are not quite feeling what they have to offer. The place is also kid and dog friendly. All times I have been there I have seen a few kids hanging out and nice chill dogs lying on the floor or looking for pets. read more

After visiting Stubborn Beauty for years, I had honestly given up hope that this place would ever open. However, today I was pleasantly surprised to see an "Open" flag out front. It turns out they've been open for 3 days, so it was lucky that we stumbled in there! The space is really nice and open, there's plenty of counter space for resting beers and elbows on and most importantly, the beer was surprisingly good! We got a flight, which consisted of the classic stout, American-English IPA, ginger saison and Spring pale ale. Across the board they were all very good, but the ginger really stood out to me. I can't drink wheat beers and I was thrilled to find out that despite the mouthfeel being similar to a hefeweizen, there's no wheat in this one! So for as long as it's available, I'm going to be back to drink it. They're only open Saturdays for now, but the owner (?) was hopeful that they'll be expanding their hours soon! read more

Forest City Brewing - The choices! - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Atmosphere is great and the beer tastes good. Lucky to have an awesome local brewery!

This little brewery was our third stop of a three brewery birthday tour. It was a definite second favorite and I would recommend a stop here. Per the usual expectation, the tap room and seating area was rather small. However, we were happy enough to loiter in the hallways with our pints. They had three tap lines running when we stopped in, ranked in our quality preference: an IPA, an Irish stout, and a ginger saison. Although sadly the ginger saison was our least favorite, it was still not terrible and the creativity would tempt me to return if I'm in the area and in a beer drinking mood. We highly recommend this brewery when compared to its neighbor in the same building, on both ambience and beer. read more

Opened since June 2016, my girlfriend and I finally got the chance to stop by recently and see what all the hype was about. Bright, low-key, plenty of seating for small/large groups -- Forest City has a different but nice vibe compared to Stubborn Beauty, who is but a walk away. The small-batch, family operated brewery serves a variety of beer from classic ales to new-school IPAs (English India Pale Ales and American India Pale Ales). We shared a flight and tried the Farmhouse, American-English IPA, Summer Session Wheat, and Remington. They were out of the Stargazer but offered us another sample to make up for it instead. For the most part, they were all OK -- I am excited to come back and try what else they have brewing! read more

Such a great surprise to find this brewery open on our way to Stubborn Beauty- since both breweries are in the same building, we did a mini brew crawl! Forest City is a large open and airy space. The staff was very friendly and greeted us with huge smiles.I tried a 4 oz pour of the pale ale and ginger saison which was incredible!! I will be back for a growler fill soon. So happy to have another brewery close by! read more

Forest City Brewing - Menu - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Such a cute little brewery. Really comfortable atmosphere, great beer and great staff!

Okay, I have been a huge Stubborn Beauty fan for years, and I honestly thought for a long time that it was the best micro-brewery in CT. Guess what, it is now the second best in CT behind Forest City in my opinion. Every beer that Chris produces is awesome (I have yet to try one that I don't like)! Now for you Hop Heads, mosey on down the hallway to Stubborn Beauty where the beer tends be more on the hoppy side! Don't get me wrong, I love Stubborn Beauty, but being in my 40's many microbrews are tending to be too bitter for me now (a sentiment that is shared by many of my friends also in their 40's)! The brew at Forest City is more refined and better balanced between bitter and floral hops! For a microbrew that just opened - they got it right - right out of the gate. There are other microbreweries in CT, many are really good (Two Roads to name only one out of many) and many are only average to good (nameless) but I promise you that if you make a Friday afternoon or Saturday visit to Middletown to Forest City and Stubborn Beauty you won't be disappointed! read more

This brewery is a great addition to this building where you already have a popular local brewery, Stubborn Beauty. Right now they have 5 beers on tap, and the Hazegiving was a great IPA, especially for a new brewery. I only took off a star because it was a pretty small fit and can get pretty crowded but I suppose they need to work with the space they have. They are only open from 2-6 on Saturdays but they seemed to be very popular during that time so hopefully they will have longer hours in the future. They also have food trucks outside if you get hungry, and some bags of chips if you don't want anything to big. I definitely would recommend this brewery, especially if you enjoy the craft beer scene and want to support local businesses. read more

Forest City Brewing - Beer list 3/25 - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Love the hazegiving! Also, seems like a family business! Everyone is pitching in! Love this place!!! read more

Forest City Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Brought my BFF here on her birthday for a flight two weekends ago and then went back last weekend for the Ginger Saison. Both experiences were superb if not better when they first opened because the owner and staff are a bit more relaxed and confident in their products. Still superfriendly staff and great tap room where you may be lucky to see the two cute little Italian greyhounds hanging out with the rest of the brew-loving crew. read more

All around great! The beer, the brewer, his family, the atmosphere, etc. A 1 man show with his family assisting in his efforts to produce quality beer. Definitely make the trip over and check the place out. They offer 4 oz and 12 oz pours and 750 ML growler fills. Bring a few extra bucks to buy some pretzels, popcorn or Goldfish :) read more

Forest City Brewing - Mural art courtesy of New England Illustration & Design - Breweries Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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A very good brewery that keeps getting better. The IPAs were top notch and the stout was my wife's favorite. Not much of a tasting room but having two breweries near each other makes it a nice stop to try a wide range of styles. read more

One of the best breweries in CT. Prices are very reasonable and every beer is absolutely delicious. I'm partial to the stout and ginger Saison myself but everything they make is fantastic. read more

This is a nice family owed and operated brewery. They try hard to make you feel happy. Be sure and ask for a sample. I wish they were opened more often. read more

Stopped in on rainy day. Love the space, the artwork, the brewers and the beer. Thanks for having us! Stubborn Beauty beware!