This spot is too far away for my wife and I to regularly visit; but pre-train its a must. My beer, great. My wife, and the reason I am posting this, says the Seltzer is even better then our regular spot. If you knew my wife, you would probably fall out of your chair reading this. To not just be good, but better? read more

Surfridge Brewing - Stout's Honor, Pomegranate Lemonade Seltzer - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

We've been coming here for a while now, and for the most part it's been pretty good. However, I do have a few issues that are more operational than anything. First off, when you find the menu online, there is many items that are not currently on the menu. I know they had some staffing issues recently and I'm sure that's why they are running a limited menu, but that should definitely be updated online so guests know that before they come. I also was really looking forward to trying some of their beer, only to find that the only surfridge product available was a seltzer. This was a huge disappointment. To go to a brewery and not be able to drink their beer is pretty ridiculous. Maybe a social media post on instagram to let people know you're not serving your own beer right now? Would have been pretty helpful. When I asked the bartender if that's all the beers available he said " we're going with a microbrewery approach right now". Not really a microbrewery approach if there's one house made beverage and it's not even a beer. That's just a restaurant at that point. The pizzas were good as always, just really long wait in between. We were sitting with two other friends who ordered separately but still at the same time as us, and in between all the pizzas there were super long wait times. One pizza, than 25 minutes later one for the other check, than a half hour later, the other one for them, and then a good amount of time later the last one for us. We didn't even really want it at that point. The whole flow of the way the food came out was just really weird. I'm a chef of almost 15 years in the industry, I'm in no way giving up on this place, as I really like it here. I just think there's some very questionable decisions on the way it's currently being ran. Thanks. read more

Used to be a great venue! Tonight was so disappointing. First off, they aren't a brewery. They have vats but don't make their own beers. They offer a limited beer menu, though beer was fine. They do have some interesting cocktails and mocktails. They ran out of the hard seltzer early on a Friday evening. They cut their menu way back to only the basics. Ordered a meatball pizza that took forever to get. It was dry and tasteless. Had minimal sauce and almost no cheese. Won't be going back. Oh, and they don't offer oysters anymore either. read more

We stopped in to get some food before going on the polar express train. The food was good and the beers were too. Definitely perfectly located for anyone coming in for the polar express train. read more

We went here after seeing a play at Ivoryton Playhouse. My husband and I love finding a new brewery. We were not disappointed. We got the Stout and it rates really high up for us. I am vegan and ordered a pizza without cheese. They were so accommodating. Great food, great beer and friendly staff. read more

This place has 5 star potential but is missing the mark. Nice dog friendly outdoor patio and a modern interior with an open space brewery. Food is fine, but for a brewery the beer is way off the mark. Limited selection and the beers on tap were the same color and basically tasted the same with varying levels of bitterness. Seriously, looks like the same malt bill they added hops at different part of the boil to. And they were average at best. One of the more expensive pours I've had as well. Will only return if I dont have a choice. Way better places minutes up or down 9. read more

Stopped by on Mothers Day, very disappointed with the beer selection. Only had 3 of their own. Guest brews were marginal at best. Waited 10 minutes at the bar, no bartender and we left. Very disappointing. read more

Absolutely loved this tasteful establishment.... literally the food, decor and atmosphere in a revived mill complex. This place is happening and it was hard not to eat my entire pizza. They nailed the crust, toppings and timing of the wood fired pizza. Damn it's good. I'm thinking birthday celebrations, cool wedding rehearsal and/or hang out... wish I lived closer. Good for them. read more

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I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience here was so disappointing that I feel it's important to share. We met a group of my son's kindergarten families before the Polar Express, and the kids were naturally excited to see each other. They were running around at first, and staff asked them not to run -- which we completely understood and complied with. Unfortunately, the interaction didn't end there. After we settled the kids in the couch area, a staff member approached us and said they couldn't sit there because the wooden table was "expensive." I've been to many breweries with my young children and have never been spoken to or treated this way. The staff came across as rude, condescending, and unnecessarily pretentious. They even told my husband that they "didn't get tipped by another couple because there were too many kids," which was incredibly unprofessional to say to customers. If children aren't welcome, it would be far more honest to make it a no-kids environment rather than treating families poorly. What should have been a fun and festive family day started on a very upsetting note because of how we were treated. We won't be returning. read more

This place is just ok, they seem to always have low amount of items on draft. I go back hoping for a different experience but left disappointed, If they can't provide that many choices of their own beer they should have guest taps. I really want to love this place but they seem to be missing it. The acoustics is awful, they really need sound dapping material around the ceiling and maybe the walls. Sound just echoes around, forget trying to enjoy a band, totally impossible. They really need to step back and see. read more

Surfridge Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

Hours posted on a huge sign near the parking lot of the train station posts the hours open Fri-Sun starting at 1 pm. Fair warning --the sign is wrong and they're not open at 1. read more

Surfridge Brewing - This sign is false....Not their hours - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

A nice spot away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the shoreline with good beer and good food that is a level above your normal "brewery" food. They offer some raw bar delights, light bites (the shishito peppers are my favorite), and some good pizza. They had variety within their 8 beers on tap, but also had a local cider (from Middletown), wine, and cocktails available as well. Spacious indoor area as it is in one of the old factories, but a lovely patio space to complement it. Very chill, family friendly vibe to hang out and enjoy. If you are driving through or looking for a place to meet up, I highly recommend this for consideration. read more

Oh, my, I was resolved to thinking that CT breweries were mostly subpar, when along comes Surfridge. The welcome, the care for local ingredients, interesting twists on the tried and true. it was an enjoyable experience all around. Although an hour from home, I am sure I will be back soon. read more

These guys have definitely cracked the code w their pizza. It is done so well. If you havent tried it in the last 6 months or so, I strongly recommend you go back to try it. So, so good. The mushroom pizza is killer, so is the meatball pizza, basically all of them are great. Great atmosphere, great service. read more

Have you ever heard of Surfridge Brewing? Apparently, they're from California. I'm not sure what compelled them to open up a second location on the opposite side of the country far outside of any major metropolitan area, in a place where not even a beer enthusiast like me has heard of the OG brewery. Despite all conventional logic, they're down in Essex, CT, and I'm glad they are. Being a trendy brewery, they're in a converted old warehouse. The beers are a solid four out of five stars. I'm a hop-head, but not everyone is, so I'm glad to report that it isn't just six IPAs on the menu: there were sours, stouts, porters, ales, and lagers on tap. Not limited to just their beer, you'll find a guest cider, local wines, and a surprising number of cocktails. Where Surfridge really shines, though, is the food. They have this wonderful smoked fish dip that's gentle on the smokiness and the fishiness, yet somehow packed with flavor. (Some people don't like strong fishy tastes. I'm one of those sickos who eats sardines. I wish it were stronger.) The rest of the menu looks great, but we always seem to get that and one of their homemade pizzas. You can see the pizza oven from almost any seat. The result is something with a soft New York-like crust with a healthy amount of New Haven-inspired char. A small pizza is just enough for two people. If you really like the food, you can tip your server, but there's something unique on the menu: pay $15 and you'll buy a round for the kitchen. As with most places like this, the prices are Surfridge are a little high (but worth every penny), but if you want to go the extra mile for the staff, I wonder what it's like. Do they come out and thank you, or drink with you? I'll have to try it sometime. Service is usually pretty good, but if you park in the parking lot, you'll have to walk through the restaurant to get to the host. Perhaps I'm parking in the wrong spot. All in all, if you're looking for a fancy but accessible spot, upscale food that's not too adventurous, and a place to just sit and chill, I wholeheartedly recommend Surfridge. Now I just have to try the original location. read more

Went here after doing the North Pole Express Christmas train with kids. It's nice that you can just walk across the parking lot to it, although a fully paved path would be nice. There was an area with couches which was nice to sit with two toddlers that were tired and they could just relax with an iPad rather than in a chair at a table. The pizza was pretty good and they even reheated a slice for the 4 year old once she decided she wanted to try some. All food came out quickly. The down side was we needed to track down staff to get us plates, more water, etc.. the waiter never revisited the table. Beware that they don't have any kid friendly cups. Cups are all glass. read more

Great location right by Essex steam train. Great beer selection. Pizza was outstanding. They didn't have enough oysters to fill out order so the owner came by and said he'd give us what was left at no charge. Sat outside but there's indoor seating as well. Would definitely come back. read more

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While in Essex this weekend, my friend and I stopped at Surfridge Brewery. It's tucked away right behind the Essex steam train. This is such a fun spot! I was surprised at how big the space was, and also how very busy it was, makes sense, since it was Saturday night. I love the look of this brewery. They have comfy couches to sit with your larger group, or equally comfy woven chairs. They make their pizzas in their wood fired oven. I saw other people's pizzas and they looked like they'd be just the way I like them! There are also other food options, including oysters. We only came for some drinks. I got Mr. Pink as my beer. This is a refreshing white ale with busts of zest from the grapefruit and peppercorn. This is a very pleasant choice with some kick! My friend got Gimme One. She described it as "basic, same as Bud Light". We enjoyed chatting here and people watching. It was a rainy day, on warm days they have their patio open for outdoor seating, where dogs are welcome. Their walls are pained with waves and butterflies. Their other location is in El Segundo, California. It's easy to identify all of the California, beachy influence this brewery carries. Our bill came in the Treasure Island book. I love this idea. Of course the theme of the book, matches with the vibe of the brewery. I'd for sure stop by this fun, beach inspired brewery again. read more

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I'm pretty pumped about this spot joining us on the East Coast! I came right as the doors opened on a Saturday and was surprised to see a line of people already outside. (This makes me happy though, as it's great to see small businesses thriving in this time.) That being said, make sure to come early if you want to grab a seat without a wait! We were able to grab two seats at the bar in front of the tv, though next time I would love to sit in the main dining area - there are plenty of tables and I love being able to watch staff cook in open kitchens! The raw bar and the pizza ovens are pretty fantastic to look at, I might add. I love that this brewery offers not only beer, but cocktails and other drink options as well. The menu was also pretty impressive! I got one of the pizzas (sorry, got hungry and ate it too fast before I could take a picture), and I cannot wait to get another. It's the perfect size for two people to share for a meal or 3-4 people for just a light snack of a piece or two. I did wish that the flights were for 6 beers instead of 5 (there are 6 on the menu), but I was able to order an additional "sample size" to be able to try all 6. This is definitely a spot that is perfect for a family dinner, date night, friend get together, or just a quick beer. I will for sure be back! read more

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Super service great. Nice place for families and everyone else beer is also great and food tremendous

Food was great but not sure if this is really a brewery or restaurant? I've been to a lot of breweries and one's that serve food, and it doesn't have the atmosphere for a brewery. It's really a restaurant that has some of their own beers. You can't just sit there and relax. They only have tables for dining and you have to have a hostess/waitress seat and serve you. If you're looking to just go in and have some beer, play a game and have some conversation I can't say that's the vibe the place has. Too formal, but again, the food was great. They need more casual seating around the bar to give it a better brewery feel. read more

Highly recommend! My husband and I were looking for a doggy friendly place and stumbled upon Surfridge Brewing! We loved the ambiance, the staff was incredible and both food and drinks were great! We got the charcuterie board and the sausage fennel pizza and a couple drinks and they were delicious!! Will definitely be coming back soon! read more

Surfridge Brewing - their stars - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

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Not many draft drinks to choose from and what they have is bland. How could this be their 2nd place, a lot of amateur elements Had beer in a hot glass that just came out of the dishwasher. Blaaa! Plus's the beer is not that great tasting. The acoustic is awful, can't hear the people you are with and forget it if there's a band, the sound just bounces around. read more

This place was awesome! The ambiance is definitely on point. They have many options for seating including a nice outdoor area. We didn't get the food, but the menu sounded delish. The beers were really good. I had "we used to be friends" and tasted a few others - all very good. Johnny our server was super cool, very attentive and informative on the beer selection. Definitely do not skip this place! read more

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Excellent service. Typical beerhall. Good to bring toddlers. Pizza was varied and tasty. A little loud but comfortable temp on a frigid night after polar express! read more

My husband and I came here a couple weeks ago for a couple of beers and then made reservations to come back for brunch with my sister. The atmosphere/aesthetic was lovely, and the food was delicious. My "chai hard" cocktail was awesome. However, we were disappointed. They brought out my husband's order a good ten minutes before my sister's order and then my order. They also charged us $4 each for three lowball glasses of pretty flat club soda. Come for the vibe and for drinks. Don't come to pay an exorbitant fee for bad club soda and to watch each other eat. read more

Great beer. Great food. Pizza was amazing . Wings were so good. And Brussels sprouts delicious Highly recommend the Mr Pink beer. But you can't go wrong with any selection. They also have wine, cocktails and mocktails. Staff and owner were amazing and so friendly Great outdoor patio and indoor seating very clean. Dog friendly. Definitely worth the trip. Highly recommend read more

Everything we dream of in a microbrewery. It's tucked away in a rehabbed historic warehouse. Enjoyed a generous flight of distinctive brews with a whit, IPA, stout, and sour, plus a cider. Inspired menu with wood-burning overnight pizza (loved the white with wild mushroom) and small plates. Friendly, attentive staff. Thoughtful, creative touches throughout. And family friendly. read more

Excellent food and beer! We visit breweries all over New England, this one was very good. We had oysters and a charcuterie board. I had the red ale and my wife an IPA. Both were quite good and the food was delicious too. The atmosphere is very nice too, an all around great experience. I highly recommend it. It is adjacent to the Essex Steam Train Museum, so you can even enjoy a train and paddle boat ride if you like! read more

Visited on a Saturday afternoon with another couple. We spent three hours enjoying several beverages and food items. A great casual place, definitely will return. read more

My fiancé and I were finally able to visit this brewery this past Friday afternoon and absolutely loved it. We were greeted by the bartender and both sat at the bar. The place has a really cute industrial California vibe/ambiance. It wasn't busy, but also it was only 2pm on a Friday. I loved being able to see the chefs cooking near the brick oven pizza. Our bartender was so friendly and Kristina also made us feel really comfortable. We are excited to come back in a couple of weeks for our rehearsal dinner here! read more

Finally got t Surfridge!! Went on Friday around 5pm and the tables on the patio were all full except 2. They have a large patio and umbrellas and actually there is room for more tables out there. The inside is large too. The beer choices were good- there were 8 selections that day. It was hot out I had the Kolsch. It was light and tasty. I like the glass ware. My husband had the same. They do have cocktails and mock tails so don't fret if u don't like beer. Lots of food choices. We started with oysters. My husband was happy. They are $18 a half dozen. Then we got marinated Olives. They flavors were yummy with orange and lemon peel in them but I didn't love that they were very cold. To me olives should be room temp or just cool. Then we had the baked clams. Came with delicious crusty bread. My husband loved them. Lastly the pizza. We got the pepperoni which comes with banana peppers. It was tasty- I'll say good. Was it Sally's and Pepe's great No but it was good. We enjoyed our time here and the servers were very pleasant. Lots of parking too. We will be back. read more

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Grab a beer, grab a pizza and treat yourself to the shishito peppers. The recently opened brewery has a small and tasty beer menu brewed in-house and a dinner menu filled with funky tapas and salads. The setting is terrific and the dining area and bar are bright and clean! read more

Great beer and food! Service was great and fun vibe. Server made great suggestions. Would definitely go back. read more

Surfridge Brewing - Beer flight - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

Mr Pink is our favorite! Smooth belgium style with a touch of hops. Food options at a brewery is a huge differentiator in this market. Large floorplan with plenty of seats and excellent service. Will return soon! read more

Surfridge Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

Wow!!!what a find!!the ambiance,the food,the beautiful mural & the beer/drinks were all so ON POINT.oh and the live music,the oysters i could go on & on...cant wait to go back!! read more

Great food. However with their limited count of beers on taps they only carry one Stout or Porter at at time and often sell out. NOT everyone likes IPA read more

Only had their craft cocktails but they were great. Will definitely be going back to try the food. Loved the atmosphere and the workers were very accommodating read more

Came here to try the beer and decided to get some appetizers. Loved the ambiance here. Bright and playful during the day! Can't wait to visit once it's warmer and check out the outdoor area. We had the raw oysters and loaded potato skins.. yum! read more

Highly recommend coming here, great pizza and cocktails! Oysters are very good as well! Very cool ambiance worth checking out - like no other in the area! read more