Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 29, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 19 and is slowly becoming a sisterhood, too." Although the couple expects to increase barrel production this year by 40 percent to 700 units, they question how Connecticut's brewery industry will fare in the coming years. "These are the questions that have been floating around the industry for several years now," said Ben Braddock, on whether the sector has room to grow. "I don't know that anyone can predict where the industry is going. It changes month to month." Ahead of the pack As Connecticut's brewery landscape continues to add new players, brewers say they are always looking to evolve their brand, taproom experience and assortment of brews to satisfy both beer enthusiasts and occasional fans. Stony Creek Brewery, Connecticut's second-largest brewery in terms of employees, is one of many companies investing in its brand, despite becom- ing a regional leader in sales known for its sprawling waterfront campus in Branford. The 83-employee brewery tapped into the casino market in August, opening New England's first casino brewery in a two-floor, 7,100-square-foot space at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Owner Ed Crowley said the expan- sion aims to spur Stony Creek's brand among the casino's customer base in New England, where it distributes through about 20 vendors. Stony Creek unveils new brews every month or so, offering flavors in a casual environment that features yard games and, in Branford, a view of the Long Island Sound. Crowley, also an advocate for small breweries, sees growth opportuni- ties in Connecticut as Nutmeggers continue producing innovative blends unseen nationally. He suggested nearly all of Connecticut's 169 towns and cities can support a brewery. "The more people drinking local is bet- ter for not only Stony Creek, but for the Connecticut consumer," Crowley said. Meantime, two entrepreneurs in Stratford have set themselves apart this year by launching one of the na- tion's first non-alcoholic breweries. Co-founders Bill Shufelt and John Walker opened Athletic Brewing Co. in May for beer lovers who may also be "frustrated" by non-alcoholic options. Shufelt, who abandoned the finance sector after 12 years, said Ath- letic Brewing's 10,000-square- foot facility serves some 30 percent of adults who don't drink alcohol and 40 percent consuming less than one alcoholic beverage a week. It also meets the needs of ac- tive adults who are mindful of their food and beverage intake. One of Athletic Brewing's flag- ship brews — Upside Dawn Golden Ale — has just 50 calories. Cracking the industry There are 38 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau permits pending in Connecticut, which industry insiders say indicates how many entrepreneurs are planning to crack the brewery market. Jennifer and James Wright will soon up that tally to 39. The Windsor couple is currently working their way through the local and state approval process to open Windsor Locks' first brewery on Main Street. They selected the Windsor Locks location because of the town's down- town revitalization efforts. Specifically, they were drawn to the Dexter Plaza space because of the foot traffic it could draw from the relocated Hartford rail line stop and soon-to-be renovated J.R. Montgomery Co. factory complex, which is being converted into a 160-unit apartment building. The $62 million project is expected to be completed by summer 2019, a town official said. Plus, nearby Bradley International Airport could also encourage patron- age, the Wrights said. "There are not many places that locals are eager to share with visitors and there are no breweries in Windsor or Windsor Locks," the application says. "Many hotels and area businesses would be excited to steer visitors to their home- town brewery." James Wright began homebrewing more than 10 years ago, learn- ing the trade by reading and listening to brew- ing podcasts. He gained commer- cial experience at Back East Brewing Co. in Bloomfield from 2013 to 2016. Wright climbed the ranks at Back East from packaging tasks to cellar work, and spent the last four months there as a brewer. Back East co- owner Tony Karlowicz says Wright was honest about his aspirations to build his own brewery someday, and served as his understudy learning the trade over four years. Karlowicz says many workers in Con- necticut's brewery industry toy with the idea of building their own brewery as the "entrepreneurial spirit is baked into" the business. The smart ones, he says, trial their passion at breweries before investing in their own venues. But now is not a great time to debut a new brewery in Connecticut, says Karlowicz, who opened the state's seventh brewery in 2012. He estimates Connecticut's beer market has another 5 percent of growth left before the industry flattens. "The pie itself is growing but every- one is trying to get a piece," he said. "There is going to be a shakeup. It remains to be seen how big it is." New England's craft beer industry economic impact State Labor income Avg. wage Economic impact Connecticut $271.3M $58,385 $745.7M Maine $198.4M $40,142 $613M Massachusetts $986.5M $54,197 $2.2B New Hampshire $171.3M $43,899 $454.3M Rhode Island $70.5M $47,434 $196M Vermont $94.2M $40,897 $326.3M Source: Brewers Association CT brewery barrel production* *By most U.S. definitions, a barrel equals 31 gallons. Source: Brewers Association 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 Number of barrels 23,372 40,947 51,457 72,682 105,484 129,825 166,848 23,372 40,947 51,457 72,682 105,484 129,825 166,848 Craft breweries operating in CT Source: Brewers Association 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of breweries 16 21 23 27 35 49 60 82 Branford's Stony Creek Brewery recently opened a location at Foxwoods casino. Back East Brewery co-founders Tony Karlowicz and Edward Fabrycki Jr. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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