E-Malt.com News article: USA, CT: Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. to open in South Windsor by next summer

Steve Palauskas and Todd Sullivan are on a mission to brew the best beer in New England, and they're working toward that goal by building a new brewery and tasting room on Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor, Hartford Courant reported on August 27.

The two are getting ready to break ground on a 15,000-square-foot facility for their Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. They hope to be operating by next summer.

"The whole goal is to make the best beer in New England," Sullivan said. He said he wanted the new brewery to be a place "where people want to visit and have an experience they're going to remember."

"South Windsor needed a brewery," Palauskas added. "There's so much room for growth and business opportunity in Connecticut and South Windsor is prime for this, in my opinion."

Palauskas created Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. three years ago and specializes in European- and Bavarian-style lagers. He recently acquired Sullivan's brand, Pioneer Beer Co., which brews mostly American ales, and named him master brewer.

Palauskas called their business partnership "a match made in heaven," adding, "Todd is in charge of the liquid, I'm in charge of everything else."

Sullivan said, "This is perfect, because now I can focus on the thing I'm best at, and that's making beer."

The brewery will feature 12 year-round brews — six from the Pioneer Beer label and six from Connecticut Valley — along with five seasonal brews. The partners said they also want to focus on creating beer that women will enjoy.

"Anyone looking for a beer is going to be able to get it," Sullivan said. "We want a family atmosphere and a place that a husband and wife will go to, not just the husband."

The labels will also pay homage to the state and its history. Pioneer Beer labels feature a transportation theme, with rockets, trains and airplanes, each with a brief history of its significance to Connecticut. Connecticut Valley labels will have World War II-era images, Palauskas said.

"There's so much history people forget about and we want to try and help people remember it," Palauskas said.


28 August, 2015