NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

Inside an ole red brick Industrial warehouse formerly housing Bigelow Boiler Company, ARMADA BREWING came to fruition in 2022. At the underdeveloped and previously abandoned Fair Haven section near the Quinnipiac River, the family-owned brewpub is led by head brewer, John Kraszewski.

Armada’s brick-walled, concrete-floored, high ceilinged interior features multiple TV’s, three elongated lacquered wood community tables, overhead doored barrel seating and a couched cove. The back bar’s ghoulish black and blue wall design captures the eye alongside the colorful tomb-like chalkboard beer list while scattered back tanks service the dozen tap handles.

I made the journey to Armada March ’25, quaffing three draughts before bringing home a few more Armada brews reviewed in Beer Index.

Crisp Confirmed Pils prickled musky husked graining and Saaz hop herbage with a spritzy lemon fizz.

Equally as crisp and clean, brisk lemony passionfruit bittering and mild guava-gooseberry tartness engaged Iron Gold Passionfruit Blonde.

Coffee-burnt dark chocolate spunk and dewy moss got draped by light Blackstrap molasses for Lord Chancellor Oatmeal Stout, leaving mild cola-walnut snips on the maple oats spine.