Hopping around CT Niantic Public House

Hopping Around CT. opping

Photos & profile by Jim Lalumiere

Niantic Public House & Brewery

“Be Humble. Have Patience.”

I met Todd Sakowski back in 2005 at the beginning of the craft beer boom. Beeradvocate.com was in its infancy, yet that site brough a lot of new craft beer geeks together. Professional brewers, homebrewers and craft beer drinkers realized that the site was a wealth of newfound knowledge and provided us with a forum of like-minded enthusiasts. That forum soon became the craft beer family that many of us still embrace today. Todd was one of the early homebrewers, honing his skills under Willimantic brewing legends David Wolner and Paul Zocco. Eventually, Todd studied brewing at the Seibel Institute of Technology and put together a business plan with his wife, Jenny. Todd- a lifetime Ledyard resident- was drawn to the shore and settled on a location in downtown Niantic. The Niantic Public House and Brewery opened its doors on November 24, 2018.

Upon walking into the Niantic Public House, your eyes are immediately drawn to the larger-than-life murals of sea creatures covering the walls. 20-foot octopi swim peacefully alongside 15-foot sea turtles, an homage to the oceanic environment of Southeastern Connecticut. All of the paintings and can artwork are done by in-house artist and bartender Jake Cullers. Jake’s wife, Madison, is Niantic’s taproom manager (and resident sour beer devotee). Both are examples of a running theme at the brewery where customers become friends and family, sometimes even employees. There is a 25seat wooden bar in the middle of the room, and, Covid notwithstanding, seating for 75 more people throughout the space.

For Todd and Jenny, the craft beer they make is important, but the community that