Hopping around CT - Bear Hands Brewery

Hopping Around CT. opping

Photos & profile by Jim Lalumiere

Bear Hands Brewery

Your local Bohemian Craftsman brewery

Located in downtown Putnam is the Quiet Corner’s newest brewpub, Bear Hands Brewery. Opened in 2020 and run by the hard-working team of Justin and Kayla Trent, Bear Hands brings a fun, inviting vibe with beers to match. Craft beer should be fun and relaxing, not tons of work and stress. But when you open a 3.5-barrel brewery six weeks before the Covid-shutdown, everything changes. Having just refinanced their house and moved on from their previous jobs to open Bear Hands, the pandemic was the last thing Justin and Kayla saw coming. Giving up was never an option, but buckling down and working harder was. With no draft sales in the foreseeable future, Justin kegged his beers and filled cans for 70 hours per week at Black Pond Brews in Danielson to keep things afloat. Once restrictions were lifted people were able to come in and grab pints and growlers. What the customers found was a little oasis of comfort in a very trying time.

Bear Hand’s space has two distinct feels to it. The atmosphere of both rooms is what sets them apart from other local breweries. The upstairs taproom room is distinctly “Bohemian Craftsman” as Kayla puts it. Hardwood floors and rustic wooden tables are softened by framed artwork and t-shirts hanging on the walls. Old-school brewing equipment diagrams nestle alongside watercolor flower prints and antique hand saws. Edison lights hang from chains, giving the room a cheery glow. The bar at the back of the room has a dozen comfy high-top chairs along long wooden table-top, beckoning for friends to sit and enjoy a pint or three.

Kayla Trent, Brewer/Co-owner Justin Trent

The Speakeasy downstairs has a completely different feel to it, although just as inviting. As you head downstairs, the “brick” hallway you encounter was painstakingly painted by Kayla and leads to a Prohibition era Juke Joint. Black and white checkered tiles stretch the length of the room while a hearty wooden bar surrounds a custombuilt copper draft tower. A small but unique selection of bourbons, ryes and spirits line the back wall. The room has a 1920’s Chicago feel to it with forest green over-sized leather couches and chairs alongside wooden tables that look like they could invite an intense poker game. Giving the room a modern touch is the Golden Tee game and pinball machine at the far end. A TouchTunes jukebox set in a mock wine barrel is ready to crank out your favorite songs.

Justin, like most brewers, started as a homebrewer. His eclectic taste in beer is mirrored in the vast array of beers he enjoys brewing. “Part of the creativity of the brewing process is just wanting to do the next thing” he proclaims. In today’s craft beer world, drinkers are always asking “what’s next”? The model that Bear Hands has put together accentuates that and pleases their customers. Taps are set up so that customers know what style of beer to expect on each draft when they arrive. Tap #1 is always a fruited sour with Tap #2 being a wheat beer, sometimes fruited, sometimes not. Porters are dedicated to Tap #3 while Taps #4, #7 and #10 are hoppy beers such as Pale Ales, IPAs and IIPAs. Milkshake IPAs have just joined the rotation, as is tasted in Trendaphobia, a 7.9% mango IIPA currently on line #7. Justin likes experimenting with single hop varieties and dry-hopping his beers which intensifies the hop flavor and aromatics.

Having fun with ingredients, styles and beer names is what keeps things fresh at Bear Hands. I Put Pants on for This!? is a 5.5% Curuba fruited Wheat Ale, imparting the flavors of banana and passion fruit from this hybrid fruit from Columbia. Speech Thewapist is a NEIPA that has caught on with locals and has made it into the regular draft rotation. Beckoning back to the earlier days of craft beer, Jinger’s Brown has quietly become a staple, and the closest thing Bear Hands has to a flagship beer. A hybrid between an English Brown and a Granola Brown, this easy drinking 6.5% malty ale satisfies not only nonhoppy beer drinkers, but anyone who likes a smooth pint. 12 draft lines means more beers than I’ve described here, but you’ll just have to head to Putnam to find out about the rest of them for yourselves. Believe me when I say, the Snozberries taste like Snozberries.

The near future sees Bear Hands completing a newly-built kitchen in the basement to satisfy your hunger pangs. Soon to be offered is a Pub Grub style menu of flatbread pizzas, wings, assorted Mac & Cheeses and other snacky yet filling comfort foods. The team is proud to offer a menu that will match the quality of their beers and comfort of their décor.

When in Putnam, pull up a stool at Bear Hands Brewery. Stay for a few pints, play some pinball, and make some new friends.

Bear Hands Brewery 75 Main St, Putnam

Hours: Wed -Thurs, Sunday: Noon-8pm Friday, Saturday: Noon-10pm

Wrights Mill Farm Wrights Mill Farm Wrights Mill Farm Wrights Mill Farm

You are Farmily You are Farmily You are Farmily You are Farmily Profile and Images Jim LalumierProfile and Images Jim Lalumier

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm Profile and Images Jim Lalumier

Located in rural Canterbury is a wedding venue like no other in the area. Wrights Mill Farm is situated on 240 private acres offering views of Connecticut’s rolling, wooded hills. Owned and operated as a family business since 2004, Wrights Mill Farm prides itself on offering every couple a completely personalized wedding experience. All wedding venues offer dinner, dancing, and drinking, but few come close to providing the bucolic feel and attention to detail that the team at Wrights Mill does for every couple who enters their rustic doors.

Curt Dubois, co-owner of Wrights Mill Farm, started as a dishwasher at his family business on Coles Island in New Brunswick, Canada. Working his way across Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia, Curt landed in Connecticut in 1986 and dove into the Food and Beverage industry, managing at some of our state’s more prestigious hospitality venues. Originally from this area, Curt was familiar with Wrights Mill Farm and bought the property and business in 2004. Wrights became Northeast Connecticut’s premier wedding facility, hosting over 1700 weddings in the next 14 years. The main building housed weddings year-round, while the 5000 square foot Pavilion hosts seasonal weddings and seats 160 guests.

On May 18, 2016, a disaster struck as a fire destroyed much of the main building. Faced with a full schedule for the upcoming year, the dedicated team at Wrights Mill utilized their outdoor pavilion to ensure almost all of the planned weddings were executed to the delight and satisfaction of over 100 hopeful brides. It was at this time that Curt made the decision to rebuild Wrights Mill Farm. Not only would he rebuild, but he would build his dream venue that will astonish future brides and grooms for decades to come.

Rising from the ashes after four long years of rebuilding, Wrights Mill Farm reopened its brand-new doors in October of 2020. The main building is an impressive 9600 square foot barn-like structure. A circular drive flanked by wooden fences and spring flowers of pink and yellow lead to a stone patio. The outside of the barn is made of wide wooden boards the color of chocolate. The doors under the awning lead to the jaw-dropping 5000 square foot reception hall that seats 240 guests. What sets this hall apart is the country elegance it exudes. Walking through the sliding

Before After - Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm/Jess Lance Photo barn doors, your eyes are immediately drawn upwards to substantial vaulted ceilings 40 feet high. The thick, oaken rafters and ceiling are naturally lit by windows along two sides of the room and a large round window above the entry doors. Additional lighting comes from a row of dramatic wrought iron wagon-wheel shaped chandeliers which were custom made by a father and son team in Toronto, Canada. Placed around the room are farmhouse guest tables and wooden chairs that seat eight people per table.

With the ample space the room provides, dancing is never a problem, especially when the beat drops from the team of Mark and Pat, the duo behind Offbeat DJ service. Offbeat is the on-premise DJ service exclusive to Wrights Mill Farm. With over 30 years of experience between them, Mark and Pat will get your guests off their seats and onto their feet, customizing your wedding playlist to your tastes.

At one end of the room is a bar area that people will automatically gravitate to. Whether it’s an open bar, cash bar, or a combination of both, your guests will be able to imbibe their favorite beverages served by professional bartenders. A full-service bar is available for mixed drinks as well as the finest red and white wines. Bottles and cans of craft and domestic beers, seltzers, and non-alcoholic beverages round out the offerings.

What people tend to remember about weddings, besides the actual ceremony, is the food. The team at Wrights Mill goes above and beyond when it comes to feeding your friends and family. There are multiple meal packages to choose from based on budget and preferences. All packages are all-inclusive and include: white linen tablecloths & colored napkins, silverware, dinnerware, wedding cake and/or cupcakes, champaign toast, and wait service. You can choose from 3 or 4- course sit-down meals or multiple levels of buffet-style receptions. Family-style platters, chef stations, and even BBQ options are also available. Cocktail Hour and Butler Hor D’oeuvres are additional choices that can add some flair to your special day.

The food offerings at most venues would end here, but not at Wrights Mill. What happens if you’re hungry as you’re getting ready for the wedding? Or you’ve Humpty-Danced yourself into being hungry an hour after dinner? Curt and Executive Chef Biagio have these scenarios covered. A Bridal Suite

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm / Devolve Imaging Photography

Lunch is available to your wedding party while prepping for your ceremony. A selection of fruit, cheeses, crudité, and finger sandwiches will quickly satisfy your cravings but not weigh you down. The Late-Night Menu is an offering that is relatively new to Wrights Mill, but more than half of wedding parties take advantage of it. Some more food may be in order after indulging at the bar and sweating on the dance floor. Your late-night selections include assorted flatbread pizzas, party subs, salted pretzels, free-range chicken wings, and crowd-pleasing sliders ranging from cheeseburgers to pulled pork and BLTs. It is details like this that sets Wrights Mill apart from your average wedding venue.

Your big day is not limited to just the grand ballroom. Just outside your doors is a covered deck the length of the building that accommodates eight high-top cocktail tables. Your guests can get some fresh air while overlooking the wooded hills of Connecticut. Walking around to the back of the building, you will find yourself standing on a 4200 square foot patio where you can take in the night and be warmed by the wood-burning fire pit that is beckoning to hear your stories. This fire would not be complete without the complimentary S’mores that are always a hit at the end of the night. Those of you with a competitive edge, cornhole boards and bags, and Giant Jenga are also available.

99% of couples who have their receptions at Wrights Mill also get married there. Curt accounted for this while planning the layout for the new

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm/ Devolve Imaging Photography

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

building. The amenities include a luxurious Bridal Suite, complete with three lighted make-up stations, a large bathroom, table and chairs, and enough storage for any bridal party. Two oversized restrooms are next door, able to accommodate large weddings without making people stand in lines. At the same time, the men’s room even has a changing table for equal-opportunity dads.

When one decides to get married at Wrights Mill Farm, you choose so because of the country elegance and rustic property that dates back to Colonial New England. It offers multiple spaces outside in which to get married and take spectacular pictures. A short horse and buggy ride (supplied by Cedar Knoll Farm in Lisbon, CT) from the main barn will bring you to a sitting area with 19 long wooden benches. Overlooking a natural waterfall is a wooden trellis, under which is perfectly positioned to get married. Nothing says “New England” more than having your pictures taken in front of a 200-year-old granite stone wall, with the sounds of a cascading brook mere feet from you. Don’t be surprised if deer wander into your wedding ceremony, as has happened on more than one occasion in the past 17 years. Picture opportunities are abounding on the property. Continuing on your horse-drawn carriage ride around the property brings you to a covered bridge that perfectly frames the idyllic pictures of your special day. At the entrance to the property is a serene pond with a wooden deck overhanging the water. Both of these locations are favorites of couples looking to capture romantic yet rustic images of their first day as man and wife. Over the years, Curt’s long-tenured staff at Wrights Mill have become what

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

they lovingly refer to as Farmily. Most have stayed with him for as long as they’ve been open. Bringing in his OWN family was only natural and increased the tight bond that is Wrights Mill. Curt’s daughter Briana has become the Wedding Coordinator, making sure every aspect of each wedding is seen to, putting each anxious bride at ease, and helping to personalize every decision. Curt Jr. (CJ) is instrumental in the set-up and breakdown of all weddings and of the spacious grounds and maintenance. Curt’s sister Cheryl is the Service Supervisor in command of the front-of-the-house throughout the entire day, ensuring the service the service runs smoothly and assuring no detail goes unnoticed.

It is no wonder that Wrights Mill Farm has won the Couple’s Choice Award on Weddingwire.com from 2013-2021 and The Day newspaper “Venue Award” for 2020. It’s their attention to detail, communication, personalization, and genuine care of their customers that makes every couple part of the Wrights Mill Farmily.