Brewery
Unclaimed profileWillimantic Brewing Company
Windham, CT · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
A pub brewery inside a converted 1909 granite and limestone post office, Willimantic Brewing Company runs a visible 7-barrel brewhouse and a 60-foot mahogany bar. The to-go program organizes beer, wine, and cocktails together: 24 oz. Cans of Willibrew beer at $8.00 base, 64 oz. Growlers at $20.00, sixtel kegs at $100.00, seven shaker martinis at $17.00, and two Gnarly Head 750 ml bottles at $15.00. A 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner featured Woodford Reserve pours and a barrel-aged Willibrew blend.
- What should I order?
- Start with a flight of house beers to compare the range, then take home 24 oz. Cans of Ambeerlicious, Anytown ASB, or Choccy Stoot at $8.00, or a 64 oz. Growler at $20.00. For a mixed-drink option, the Forbidden Fruit Martini or Dark & Devine is $17.00 in a 12 oz. To-go format.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer drinkers who want to compare a working 7-barrel brewhouse across styles, and anyone buying cans, growlers, or kegs to take home. The to-go martini list and two bottled wines give non-beer drinkers a clear path.
- When should I go?
- A flight is a sensible way to explore the rotating house beers. The to-go menu covers cans, growlers, and kegs for bringing the brewery home.
- What should I expect to spend?
- 24 oz. Cans are $8.00 base, with Flocc-n-Purple and Peachy Gold at $8.50, Most Wanted at $9.00, and Sour at $10.00. Growlers are $20.00, sixtel kegs $100.00 plus a $35.00 deposit, shaker martinis $17.00, and 750 ml Gnarly Head bottles $15.00.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The 7-barrel brewhouse is visible on site, and the building retains a 60-foot mahogany bar from its post office days. The to-go list spans cans, growlers, kegs, seven shaker martinis, and two wines, with a 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner pairing Woodford Reserve and a barrel-aged Willibrew blend.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The to-go cocktail list is built around seven named shaker martinis: Forbidden Fruit, Ginger Snap, Jolly Rancher, Key Lime, Very Berry, Banana Bread, and Dark & Devine. A Specialty Cocktail and a 24 oz. Canned Cocktail are also listed, and a 7 oz. Martini to-go item is offered.
Menu strengths
- — Seven named shaker martinis give the to-go list a clear, specific range.
- — The 12 oz. Format is sold as two 6 oz. Martinis, kept refrigerated and shaken before serving.
Standout selections
- — Forbidden Fruit Martini, $17.00, a shaker martini on the to-go martini menu.
- — Dark & Devine, $17.00, a shaker martini on the to-go martini menu.
Pricing: Shaker martinis $17.00 each; 12 oz. To-go format yields two 6 oz. Martinis.
Wine
Wine is a small to-go component alongside beer and cocktails. Two 750 ml bottles are listed: Gnarly Head Chardonnay and Gnarly Head Cabernet, each at $15.00. It is a straightforward two-bottle selection rather than a broad list.
Menu strengths
- — Two named 750 ml bottles cover a chardonnay and a cabernet.
Standout selections
- — Gnarly Head Chardonnay, 750 ml bottle, $15.00.; Gnarly Head Cabernet, 750 ml bottle, $15.00.
- — Gnarly Head Chardonnay (750 ml bottle) — $15.00 — Bottled wine listed on the to-go menu.
Pricing: 750 ml bottles $15.00 each.
Beer
The core of the program is a 7-barrel on-site brewhouse producing Willibrew beers. The 24 oz. Can list spans Ambeerlicious, Anytown ASB, Certified Gold, Choccy Stoot, Flocc-n-Purple, Flocc-n-Sour, Flying Cigar, Most Wanted, Octoberfest, Peachy Gold, Rail Mail Rye, Sour, and Wisen Guy Wheat. Growlers and sixtel kegs extend the same beer to-go.
Menu strengths
- — A 7-barrel brewhouse produces the house beers on site, with cans, 64 oz. Growlers, and sixtel kegs available to-go.
- — The can list covers a broad set of named house beers, from lighter options to richer styles.
- — A 2015 beer dinner paired house beers including Anniversary Amber Ale, Scotch Tapped Ale, Bootlegger IPA, and Pre-Prohibition Porter with courses.
Standout selections
- — Ambeerlicious, $8.00, a 24 oz. Can of Willibrew beer brewed on site.
- — Choccy Stoot, $8.00, a 24 oz. Can of Willibrew beer brewed on site.
- — Most Wanted, $9.00, a 24 oz. Can with a $1.00 upcharge.
Pricing: 24 oz. Cans $8.00 base, with select upcharges; 64 oz. Growlers $20.00; sixtel kegs $100.00 plus a $35.00 deposit.
Spirits
That dinner featured Old Forester and Woodford Reserve bourbons, including Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, plus a barrel-aged Willibrew bourbon blend and a Willi Whammer 2014 Barleywine aged in a Woodford Reserve barrel.
Menu strengths
- — Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked were poured with courses at the 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner.
- — A barrel-aged Willibrew bourbon blend and a Willi Whammer 2014 Barleywine aged in a Woodford Reserve barrel were also featured.
Standout selections
- — Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Bourbon, poured at the 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner with the second course.
- — Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, poured at the 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner with the third course.
Pricing: The 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner was ticketed at $100 by advanced sale only.
How it sits with the food
A 2015 Spring Beer Dinner paired house beers including Anniversary Amber Ale, Scotch Tapped Ale, Bootlegger IPA, and Pre-Prohibition Porter with courses. A 2015 Beer & Bourbon Dinner paired Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select with the second course and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked with the third.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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