A little bit of Hooker and you...

Thomas Hooker

If you are a local reader then more than likely you are familiar with the city of Hartford's founder, Thomas Hooker and the brewery that appropriates his name with a quirky play on words as The Hooker Brewery. As a former bar manager, trust me when I say that the beer's popularity is due to more than its clever name, although patrons continually are amused by the sound of "I'd like a Hooker", "2 Hookers please" or the endless string of combinations one can come up with. So it is with Hooker in mind, that I thought I would throw a few things your way from dinners to brewfests to tastings. First up, the Pond House Cafe, located in Hartford's historic Elizabeth Park is hosting a beer dinner which is as follows: 


Hooker Beer Dinner/ The Pond House Cafe

Friday, August 12, 2011    Time: 6:30 PM
$47.62 per person
Passed Hors D'oeuvres - Blonde Ale
Grilled Pineapple and Tomato Salad - Watermelon Ale

Steamed Red Snapper - Munich
Pit Smoked Pork Tenderloin - IPA + Irish Red Ale
Homemade Donuts with Pineapple - Double Bach

Tapping into Twain/ Mark Twain House

Friday, Sept 23rd / Time: 6-9pm 

Annual Oktoberfest with a selection of brews and microbrews, scrumptious food from local restaurants, and rockin music to mix it all up with.

Harvest Bounty Wine and Brew Fest/ Litchfield Community Center

Saturday, Oct. 22nd/ Time 4-8pm

The Litchfield Community Center will host their 5th annual fest with multiple brewers, food vendors offering some culinary delights and live performances. A diverse selection of wines will also be offered to taste from the Village Wine Cellar of Litchfield.


Finally on any given Friday or Saturday, head over to the Hooker Brewery and treat yourself to a tour of the facility and a beer tasting at their open houses. Fridays from 5-8pm and Saturdays from 12-5pm. And if, for kicks, you would like to stop by and pay the original Hooker a visit, his grave is located in the Ancient Burying Grounds at 60 Gold Street in downtown Hartford. Website: http://www.theancientburyingground.org/


Hooker Brewery is located at 16 Tobey Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Website: http://www.hookerbeer.com