“There is nothing in the world like the first taste of beer.” – John Steinbeck
Torrington, Connecticut, is a town rich with manufacturing history and home to the famous abolitionist John Brown. In the early 1800s, Frederick Wolcott launched the first woolens mill in Litchfield County, and the family name was commemorated as the only technical school in town (Oliver Wolcott School). In 1856, resident Gail Borden founded Borden Milk, which is still on-brand today. He produced condensed milk and other dairy products for the community. By the early 1900s, Hotchkiss Bros. Co. was designing plans to build The Torrington Firehouse at 117 Water Street, what is known today as Bad Dog Brewing Company. They worked with Charles Scranton Palmer, an architect, to curate a building laden with hand-hewn wooden doors and beams. The brass came from Israel Coe and Erastus Hodge's local brass mills next to the Naugatuck River.
Rich In History & Nostalgia
Today, this old firehouse, named The Torrington Fire Department Headquarters, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Resting on a stone foundation and granite ashlar, a veneer of stone with a seamless texture of sorts. Inside this historic building, there is a beautifully restored two-story museum and a brewery that produces delicious beer. Matt and Michele Tkac run Bad Dog Brewing Company.
The overhead doors are hand-finished in beautiful, natural wood tones, and just beyond the opening sits an antique fire truck and a Torrington Police motorbike circa - ‘back in the day.’ Walking into the building gives a feeling of warmth and a sense of knowing there once was a community of people committed to public safety and their families.
Bad Dog Brewing Company's Opportunity To Be A Steward
The brewery's symbiotic nature and historic monument create a thriving community space offering well-curated beverages. The Bad Dog Brewery's tenets of culture begin with people, animals and, pets, and, of course, the environment. Without these, we lack community, loving kindness, and the inputs necessary to brew the Tkac’s tasty beers!
The brews include names like Weizz Azz, a classic German Hefeweizen with a 5.2% ABV. Boats and Oats is their flagship Stout, with hints of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. The Brutastic IPA uses hops with notes of pineapple. Sucker Punched is a Sour Ale from Alvarium Brewing Company in New Britain. For those who would rather partake in a seltzer, wine, or cider, the team has selected brands like Middle of the Road, St. Croix, and Sunset Meadow Vineyards. Grab a drink and meander the property, up and down stairs, take pictures, and revel in the history of our famous little town in Litchfield County.
Bad Dog Brewing Company specializes in small-batch brewing and purchases local products when possible. Their spent grains go to local farmers to be used as protein-rich feed-stock. They are dedicated to preserving the history of this building, the stories that lie within its walls, and the spirit of community connection. Bad Dog Brewing Company is located at 117 Water Street, Torrington, CT, 06790. It is open Thursday through Sunday and offers space for large events and family parties.
If you want more information about beer, breweries, and brewing, click the link to Foraging and Farming below!
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