CITY STEAM BREWERY CAFÉ
942 Main St, Hartford
(860) 525-1600
www.citysteambrewerycafe.com

Mon-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm
Fri-Sat 11:30am-Midnight
Sun Noon-10pm

The following notes were taken on recent trip to Montréal. With stops in Hartford, Connecticut, Montpelier Vermont, and Burlington Vermont.

The first stop was in Hartford, Connecticut, and the:

City Steam Brewery Café

On the way to Montréal, we stopped into City Steam Brewery Café in Hartford, Connecticut.

I should note that I have met the brewery here, Ron Paige, many times over the last 15 or 20 years.  I am familiar with all of his beers and appreciate them as well. 

The brewery is situated on the corner of Main Street, quite close to a local college. (The actual address is 942 Main St, Hartford, CT.)

From the outside it looks more like a bank.  Until you look in the window and see the brewing kettles.

At lunchtime, most of the customers and seemed to come from local businesses and offices.

Business, and service, is brisk and friendly.

When I was there, there were seven beers on tap, two "meads", a root beer and hard cider.

The sandwich special of the day was something they call "sliders".  Served four to a plate, these were roast beef, horseradish and onion served on small hamburger rolls. 

With a good beer, they made a most refreshing lunch.  I enjoyed a beer that they called "Brown sugar".  Their notes tell me that this is, "A dark, thick relatively sweet Jamaican-style stout, brewed with 80 pounds of brown sugar. (14 Plato.)"

My notes tell me that this is a "Deep, dark, clear, brew with hints of molasses and little or no head.  The coffee aroma at "lip to sip" is echoed by the flavors.  There are chocolate, molasses and Rock Candy accents.  The finish is light and refreshing.

My wife enjoyed the same sandwich order for lunch, but chose the Lager.

The brewery notes tell me that this is "a very light offering in color, carbs and calories.  This is a smooth American light beer.  10° Plato." My notes tell me that: "This brew was a bright, your golden yellow color with a steady creamy white head and very little hop or malt aroma.  The light aroma, continued from lip to sip, revealing a Light body and non-aggressive malt and slightly aggressive hops.  With a finish that lasts a good while.  It should be noted that this brew was served well chilled."

City Steam was a great choice as a stop on the way to Montréal.  Parking at a local garage is only a block or two away.  And getting off, and back onto, Route 91 is no problem at all.