USA, CT: Cheshire Craft Brewing the first brewery to open in Cheshire

With more and more residents getting vaccinated, now would seem the perfect time for Cheshire Craft Brewing to open its doors, the Meridien Record-Journal reported on May 21.

Located at 125 Commerce Court, Cheshire Craft Brewing is the first brewery to open in town, and one of three that could open up this year. Hamden-based Counter Weight Brewing Co. has already committed to constructing a taproom at 7 Diana Court, and Malpractice Brewing Company had expressed plans to move to Cheshire, although the venture recently announced that the original location on South Main Street is no longer viable and the business is currently looking at new sites.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Cheshire Craft Brewing co-owner Jami Ferguson. “It’s not even one hundred percent ready, but we knew as long as we had the beer and all our permits in order, we wanted to open up.”

Ferguson and co-owners, Frank Barretta and Scott DeMeo, held Cheshire Craft Brewing’s grand opening on May 7.

“It was an amazing night. We really enjoyed finally having people in here to see what we’ve been working on,” Ferguson said. “We have some amazing art pieces to be installed in the coming weeks, too, that we want people to see that will really honor Cheshire and the community we have here.”

The space has a very industrial feel inside, with a back patio open for seating access. A variety of food trucks will serve the brewery on a rotating basis.

“Right now, we have an amazing partnership with Ted’s Steamed Cheeseburgers and they’ve agreed to partner with us for all of the spring and part of the summer,” Ferguson said. “Then we will start to branch out and feature some other foods, but we really wanted to honor Ted’s and their commitment to us, as well as ensure that we would actually have a demand for food rather than just what we brewed.”

The brewery has seven house-made brews that feature names such as “The Shire” — a chocolate stout — and “Small Town” — an extra-special bitter. The other brews include a New England IPA called “First Time,” an IPA called “Industrious American,” an unnamed Ancho Porter, and a light beer called “125” in a nod to the brewery’s address.

The brewery has also partnered with Continuum Distilling in Waterbury to offer their special lemon and sweet tea cocktail cans. Cheshire Craft Brewing will also serve alcoholic cider from New England Cider Company in Wallingford.

“It has been such an interesting experience getting this together,” Ferguson said. “From developing the flavor profiles and brewing to working with our friends who have been an amazing help in everything, from gathering reclaimed wood for our patio to getting the word out about us.”

Cheshire Craft Brewing currently is open Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., but Ferguson hopes they can eventually extend their hours.

“As we begin to gauge demand, we will then open up (on more days),” Ferguson said. “But we had a great start and are hoping more of the town can join us!”

22 May, 2021