Welcome to Hog River Brewing

Craft beer, community, friends and family. That's what we're all about here at Hartford's living room. We're local CT folks, born and raised, and what we wanted more than anything else was a laid-back place to have a pint and while away the afternoon with our friends. So after quitting the corporate gig and embarking on eight years of professional brewing around the state, it was go-time to bring our vision to life.

Our taproom draws inspiration from our domestic and international travels, where we've enjoyed beers at breweries that were nothing more than an open garage, a picnic table by a river or a viking and fire inspired beer room on the shore of a fjord (ok, that last one was pretty special). What we loved about all these places and others, is that they made us feel at home. And of course the beer was incredible too.

That's why at Hog River Brewing, we want you to feel at home here. There's always a friendly face and someone at the bar (hi Rich!) willing to talk to you about any and everything. Oh, and we're pretty proud of our beer too.

Taproom

We have seating at our bar, tables and beer rails for 75 and standing room for much more. Our taproom is a lightly fixed-up industrial space, with just enough warmth to make you want to spend a few hours.

Besides our shiny brewhouse and tanks, we're most proud of the two turn-of-the-century, 20 ft. machine presses tucked (ha!) in the corner of our taproom. These towering monsters tell their own story of the history of Hartford and our Parkville neighborhood. Used to hammer parts for the first pneumatic tires manufactured for automobiles and bicycles in the country, they are the last remaining vestiges from when the building served as Hartford Rubber Works, and later Pope Manufacturing Company.

Offerings

We offer 16oz. pints of any of our house beers, as well as 5 oz. samplers (individual or flights) - an easy and enjoyable way to get a taste of any of our beers. And if you need beer to-go, we sell a rotating selection of 16 oz. 4-packs, 64oz. and 32 oz. growlers (new and refills).

We don't serve food, but we welcome you to bring your own and we can point you in the right direction of local food. Thursday - Saturday, we have some of CT's amazing local food trucks on hand.

If you really want to make us your second home, consider becoming a Mug Club member. $100 annual membership includes 20oz. pours for the price of 16oz., 15% off merchandise and an annual Mug Club members-only party. Mug Club members can renew their memberships for $75 annually.

We hope you'll stop by for a taste of Hog River Brewing soon! We can't wait to welcome you in. When you're in our living room, you're family.

PS - For updates on beer & food truck schedules, general ramblings and pretty pictures,
follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,

Location

1429 Park Street
Hartford, CT 06106

TIP: Use 30 Bartholomew Ave. as your destination address for more accurate directions to our taproom. We are not located in this building, but we are right next to it in the 5-story white building on the corner of Park St. and Bartholomew Ave. Parking is available in lot on opposite side of the street.

Directions >

Hours

Mon & Tues - Closed
Wed - 3-8pm
Thurs - 3-10pm
Fri - 3-10pm
Sat. - 12-10pm
Sun. - 2-7pm

Our Beers

Our taproom beer menu features a constantly rotating selection of house beers, poured direct from tank to your pint. Our philosophy is simple - we brew what we love with the hope that you will love it too. We offer a range of styles from classic German beers, such as our house Kölsch-style ale, to our big and bold barrel-aged beers.

Currently on tap

UPDATED NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Golden Messenger Kölsch

15 IBU, 4.5 SRM, 4.3% ABV

Our Brewer’s favorite style, this classic, cold-fermented German ale is brewed with Cologne malt imported from Germany. Lightly hopped with Hallertau Mittlefruh hops and conditioned for 3 weeks. A clean, crisp and refreshing lighter-style craft beer.

Fall Harvest Altbier

30 IBU, 13 SRM, 5.5% ABV

Altbier is a historic German beer native to Dusseldorf. “Alt” refers to the “old” style of brewing. This is a well-balanced, bitter yet malty, clean and smooth deep amber German beer. Bitterness is balanced by malt richness. Brewed with 100% German malts and hops.

Nerd Alert IPA

6.2% SRM: 4 (Hazy) IBU: 20

Brewed with Golden Promise and wheat malts. Full bodied, hazy and juicy from an abundance of Amarillo hops and Simcoe Lupulin Powder then double dry hopped with the same. This NEIPA is sure to bring all the nerds to the yard. Cheers!

Parkville Punch IPA

20 IBU, 5 SRM, 5.8% ABV

Brewed with pilsner, wheat and monastique malts creating a light bodied, hazy, New England-style IPA. Hallertau Blanc and Loral hops used generously and Citra added for dry-hopping. The hop blend showcases floral, citrus fruit and herbal notes. Mild bitterness for a super sessionable pint!

Local 35 IPA

32 IBU, 4 SRM, 6.2% ABV

A hazy IPA brewed with Golden Promise malt and flaked barley. A heavy dose of Citra and Amarillo hops added at the end of the boil for a fragrant aroma of citrus, tropical fruit, apricot and peach.

Flight of Crow Imperial Stout

28.5 IBU, 48 SRM, 8% ABV

Intense roast flavors and aromas from roasted barley, chocolate and de-bittered dark malts. This full bodied, jet black and robust beer is balanced by a silky smooth sweetness and hopped with Hallertau German Northern Brewer to round it out.

8th Ward Brown Ale

21.6 IBU, 21.5 SRM, 6.0% ABV

A robust brown ale perfect for drinking all year around. Dark brown with flavors of bread, biscuit and coffee from an array of classic malt varieties. Hopped with noble German hops, which provide an earthy hop flavor to round out this delicious offering.

Barrel Aged Barleywine 100 IBU, 17 SRM, 13% ABV

A passion project with our friend David Wollner, owner and brewmaster at Willimantic Brewing Co. This barleywine was first brewed last November using a Belgian yeast strain and American and New Zealand hops. For the past 11 months it has been gently resting in a Heaven Hill Kentucky bourbon barrel, creating a dessert beer perfect for cold nights. Time in the barrel has mellowed the hop profile into a gentle bite that chases flavors of vanilla, charred oak, raisin and prune. On tap and in cans Friday 11/16.

AVAILABLE IN CANS:

Golden Messenger Kölsch

Fall Harvest Altbier

Local 35 IPA

Parkville Punch IPA

8th Ward Brown Ale

Flight of Crow Imperial Stout

Barrel Aged Barelywine - can release Friday 11/16

Events & Food Trucks

There's always something going on at the brewery. We welcome folks to hold hangouts, happy hours, parties and more at the brewery. Whether you're looking for a casual get-together during open hours, or are looking to book the space for a private event, we can accommodate you. Email events@hogriverbrewing.com for more information.

Food Truck & Events Schedule

What is a craft beer taproom without a food truck? We can't get enough of the creativity and deliciousness pouring out of the CT food truck scene, and we love bringing it to the brewery to share with you. Check out who's joining us this month:

Thursday 11/15: Unfortunately we will not have Twang Thursday tonight due to the inclement weather. We’ll be back on track with Twang Thursday live music on Nov. 29th!

Friday 11/16: Brasato food truck

Saturday 11/17: Fuego Picante food truck

Sunday 11/18: Roadside Dogger food truck

Twang Thursdays

Experience live music in the taproom every Thursday

7-9 PM | No Cover | Food Truck onsite

Featuring Americana/Roots Rock/Folk artists from Hartford, the Northeast and across the country

SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER! WE WILL RESCHEDULE THE WOLFF SISTERS FOR A LATER DATE.

the wolff sisters

Thursday, November 15th

The Wolff Sisters blend rock, blues, and roots music into their own unique sound. Their gritty songs draw from adventures all over New England that shaped their lives. The three sisters, Rebecca, Rachael, and Kat, create haunting harmonies that only siblings can manage to do. Drawing inspiration from bands like The Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Jackson Browne, TheWolff Sisters bring a refreshing sound and soul to the music scene.

Listen >

plywood cowboy

Thursday, November 29th

Take yourself back to the days of dusty country roads, carefree summers, and your radio tuned to music that was soulful and authentic. Enter Plywood Cowboy. With their second album release, “Blue Skies”, the band continues to produce refreshing music that has been called “steeped in tradition, with lyrics full of longing, truth and heart” by Sound Waves Magazine. The album presents a roots Americana palate with modern harmonic sensibility. The band has opened for the Grammy-nominated act Yarn, as well as for U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, and has performed with members of Keith Urban’s band. In 2018, Plywood Cowboy won the Connecticut Folk Festival band competition.

Listen >

Orb Mellon

Thursday, December 6th

Orb Mellon is the blues moniker of Mike Malone, founder and guitarist of the seminal 1990s indie rock band and Sony/Epic recording artists Dirt Merchants. Orb Mellon mines the raw energy of 20th Century American roots music, particularly whiskey fueled house party delta blues. He has released 3 full length albums and 3 EPs and his work has been featured in numerous shows and movies such as the HBO drama “True Blood,” and the Spielberg produced sci-fi drama “Extant.”

Listen >

Eavesdrop Trio

Thursday, December 13th

Originating as a trio, friends Kara Rose Wolf, Kerrie T. Bowden and Laura Marie Picchi maintain their vocal roots and continue to shape their sound through writing and collaborative instrumentation. Eavesdrop’s debut EP, The Afterglow, showcased the trio’s vocally charged acoustic, folk, soul roots. With their latest release, TIDES, the band has expanded into a six piece ensemble. Co-produced by Alan Evans and Ross Bellenoit, TIDES is the band’s first full length album. It brings the listener on a ride alongside the three songbirds, taking a deeper look into the life events that fostered their creativity.

Listen>

The RiverGods

Thursday, December 20th

The Rivergods are a fun, original, working band based in southeastern CT that has played its own heartfelt harmony-rich folky/rootsy/rockish music since 1997. The Rivergods are fronted by husband/wife songwriters, Ben and Nancy Parent, and the band includes some of the finest, most talented players in the region, and has had some pretty great ones in the past. The Rivergods make real music, our music… how and when we like and as often as we can. We’re fairly rooted in southern New England, with well-rounded lives, but we definitely get out for the occasional road trip.

Listen>

If you are an Americana/Roots Rock/Folk artist and are interested in playing at our Twang Thursdays series, please send your bio and links to music/performances to Connor Millican at wiseoldmoon@gmail.com.

Our Story

We're Ben and Joy Braddock, crazy kids (now with a kid of our own!) that a long time ago fell in love with each other and fell in love with craft beer. Fast forward 15 years and we're almost one year into owning our beloved craft brewery & taproom in the heart of the Parkville neighborhood in Hartford, CT.

We jumped the corporate ship, deciding life is too short to not pursue our dreams and spend our days doing what we love. Over 10 years ago, Ben quit his day job when his cubicle walls started closing in on him. It was a “now or never” kinda moment. He swallowed his pride and got his start in the industry cleaning kegs. As a brewer in both a production and brewpub setting, he learned the ins and outs and discovered his own brewing style.

More recently, Joy quit her corporate gig to focus 100% on building a taproom experience that invites community, family and friends to not only enjoy our craft beer but also enjoy the space through other experiences like live music, pop-up maker fairs, beer dinners and barre classes. She is excited to bring the community an ever-evolving lineup of unique events that bring people together.

Together, we invite you to come join us for a beer. You'll most likely find one of our faces behind the bar. Come say hello!