NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT
Amidst the ruins of a multi-acre insane asylum, Connecticut’s historic Fairfield Hills Mental Hospital has housed NEWSYLUM BREWING since March 2020. In a rustic 9,000 square-foot red brick building formerly used as a dining hall, Newsylum’s exquisite high-ceilinged pub and its stone-grounded black metal-furnished pavilion make a strong impression.
Newtown’s second brewpub (Reverie Brewing opened in 2019), is guided by head brewer John Watson, a highly experienced ex-homebrewer crafting a colorful array of beers emulating from the sterling silver barback brewtanks. Wood-fired pizzas, charcuterie boards, hot dogs and pretzels head the light pub menu. Local wines are also available.
The cavernous vaulted ceiling, stark Gothic windows, stately wood columns, antique door frames and white marble-topped bar (with pipe-handled draughts and gray metal chairs) provide a Classic Cathedral architectural vibe.
My wife and I stopped by at noon on a Sunday in July ’24 to down eight fine elixirs – three of which were nifty India Pale Ales.
Flagship New England IPA, Counting The Days, merged dry-hopped Citra/Mosaic/Columbus varietals as juicy orange-peeled grapefruit and pineapple tang joined floral-spiced pine lacquering atop crystal malt sugaring.
Brisk Citra-hopped Imperial IPA, Beautiful Consequences, stayed silken as gentle orange-peeled grapefruit bittering and salty guava-gooseberry souring picked up creamy vanilla-daubed oats sugaring.
Dry-hopped Vic Secret tropicalia embraced West Coast IPA, Coping Mechanism, plying lemony grapefruit-peeled orange, pineapple and tangerine tanginess to resinous pine needling and musky pale malts.
Dry aluminum yellowed pale ale, Therapy Session, put floral perfumed lemon zest across woody hop resin.
Sour blackberry seltzer fizz pepped up fruited Berliner Weiss, Boom-Bang!, a salty acidulated wheat-backed summertime quencher.
Stylishly bolder, Keating Farms Kolsch bolstered its lemon-dried spicing with lemongrass herbage and sparkling champagne spritz atop pilsner malt crisping.
Candi sugared Belgian yeast draped sweet banana pie, tart orange marmalade and pineapple cake illusions for Paging Dr. Strong, a bold tripel.
Lactose milk stout, Cattle Call, let milk-sugared coffee and oats-flaked burnt caramel lead the way with a molasses hint.