🟢 Bloomfield Gets 40+ Food Trucks This Weekend

Happy Thursday!

Well, football is back and whether you are a Patriots or Giants fan (neither for me), I’m sure you have a favorite drink that goes with your fandom.

I’m partial to bourbon, but I don’t discriminate, let’s get into the fun stuff for this weekend.

In today’s edition of The Hartford Pour, we’ll get into:

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun Tip: Working on these emails is my happy place)

I drove by a billboard yesterday and it basically said:

“Connecticut = Pizza”

I think it was on 84 somewhere. But it leads me to the age-old question…

This causes division from here to Italy (I think)

but, here goes….

Distilled by: Ben Holladay
Mashbill: 73% Corn | 15% Rye | 12% Malted Barley
Age: 6 years
Batch: DSP-MO-5, Warehouse C
Proof: 116.10
Findability in Hartford: 7 out of 10
MSRP: $75

Amazingly complex! I’m talking Chocolate-covered marshmallow, sprinkled with honey. I’m also reminded of the nougat in a Snickers bar (random, I know)

I’m literally drinking a snickers bar! The frontend is nothing but milk chocolate and is super sweet. A very pleasing sweet oak on the backend. Oily and medium-bodied, it coats the entire palate well, but could be better.

The finish is shorter than I’d like and falls off a cliff rather quickly. I believe a proof of 120+ could make this perfect.

I found this nugget at Collins Package store in Windsor Locks but you can find it almost anywhere that has a decent whiskey selection

I have a friend that is all into scotch and says all bourbons taste the same to him. Even though I can see his argument, this 1856 Original Rickhouse Proof breaks that thinking.

I love when a brand distills their own whiskey because you will get a more unique taste and this bourbon hits the mark. I found this one for $6 less than MSRP and happy about it. I likely wouldn’t have paid more. Once you get past $70 for a bottle, it needs to hit a home-run.

For the value, it’s great and would buy again if I see it under MSRP.

T8KE Rating: 6.9 | Very Good | A cut above.

Every year downtown Bloomfield shuts down for a day or two day, and every year I’m kind of happy it is!

On Saturday, September 19, Bloomfield Avenue closes off completely for the Bloomfield Food Truck Festival, 3 to 7:30pm, free to walk in.

I live close enough that “getting there” for me means walking past my own mailbox, so if downtown looks like a parking lot from your house too, that’s kind of the whole point this time.

Forty-plus food trucks and vendors are setting up on the Town Green, but I’m going straight for the drinks (for science.. duhhh!).

The Wini Bar is bringing their specialty cocktails and lemonades, and Bloomfield’s own Thomas Hooker Brewery is pouring in the beer garden, which feels like the hometown flex it actually is.

Live music from Fusion 88, Avenue Groove, and DJ Joyce B runs all afternoon, so there’s no excuse to just drive by and complain about traffic. Just stop and grab a pint and some food.

Since it’s basically around the corner from me, don’t be surprised if you spot me wandering around with a drink in hand.

Come say hi.

Back East Brewing in Bloomfield (1296 Blue Hills Ave) has had a countdown running all week, and Friday it finally pays off.

Oktoberfest runs noon to 10pm, “Top Cheddar” will be live on the patio from 6 to 9, and their actual Octoberfest lager on tap, 5.1%, brewed with imported Munich malts.

If lederhosen isn’t really your thing (it’s totally not mine, but the beer is), Avon’s got a different flavor of festival. La Festa Italiana kicks off at 4pm at 32 Old Farms Rd, free admission, live music from the Shout Band and The Savage.

Swing by M&R Liquors on West Main Street first and grab a bottle of Chianti to bring home, because a festival that smells like meatball grinders deserves a proper pairing (especially if you are doing this on the cheap!)

Oktoberfest or Festa Italiana, Friday’s not being picky at all. Sheeesh!

Confession: I have never rolled a d20 in my life (because I’m not a certifiable nerd), but Coles Road Brewing in Berlin (817 Farmington Ave) is making a strong case for starting Saturday. Dungeons and Drafts (not dragons) runs 1 to 4pm, beginner-friendly, no experience needed.

Grab a pint of Lady Bug or Orange Roads, their orange blossom honey wheat, and let the quest begin.

Later Saturday, Pratt Street in Hartford flips the calendar early for Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, 5 to 8pm, because apparently six months out is close enough to celebrate.

Wizards by day, leprechauns by night.

Saturday’s a whole personality shift and I’m here for it.

And I mentioned it above, but the Bloomfield Food Truck Festival is a must go as well.

Pickle Fest got rained out last week, so Sunday’s do-over at the Pratt Street Sunday Market comes with a little redemption energy.

The Pickle Market is from 11 to 3, hosted with Urban Lodge Brewing (88 Pratt St) pouring their Public Lands session IPA for anyone who worked up a thirst next to a pickle vendor.

There may even be a fermented pickle drink, but I can’t confirm.

Afterwards, head to Luppoleto’s East Granby taproom (17 Kripes Rd). They have New Leaf playing traditional Irish music from 3 to 5pm. They even have an appropriate Fortunato Irish Stout. I mean, this just writes itself, LOL.

I don’t know about you, but this is a very well-rounded Sunday.

Do you know of an AWESOME restaurant or bar? Or something not included in this email you’d like to see?

REPLY to this email and let me know!