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July 5, 2019

Enfield brewery expanding in downtown Middletown

Photo | Powder Hollow Brewery Mike McManus, owner of Enfield-based Powder Hollow Brewery, is opening a second brewing location in downtown Middletown.
By Joe Cooper

Enfield’s Powder Hollow Brewery is again expanding its operation -- but this time it’s headed south.

Owner and founder Mike McManus on Friday said the business is currently renovating two vacant retail units at 62 Washington St. in downtown Middletown to house a 2,000-square-foot taproom and 1,000-square-foot brewing operation. He plans to debut the site sometime this fall.

The Middletown expansion begins less than a year after Powder Hollow moved into a larger building in Enfield connected to a new winery -- R Dee Winery -- launched by McManus and his sister, Michele McAuliffe. 

McManus said he’s installing a “pilot system” at the Middletown location that’s designed to manufacture small batches of experimental brews. In total, the taproom will serve up to 30 types beers made by Powder Hollow and other Connecticut brewers. It will also sell wines and ciders produced by R Dee Winery and other wineries in the state. 

HBJ Photo | Joe Cooper
Powder Hollow Brewery will open a new taproom in downtown Middletown, 62 Washington St., this fall.

Powder Hollow, which will add 10 to 15 new employees in Middletown, is making a significant investment in renovating the ground-floor space formerly occupied by the Next Street driving school and custom apparel store Fat City Garb.

McManus said he’s already demolished walls separating the two units, and is stripping the units down to their original brick-canvassed walls. Upon completion, it will feature a 30-foot bar top and up to 100 indoor and outdoor seats.

The 29-year-old is bullish about his business expanding in the center of Middletown’s growing restaurant and bar scene.

“Being at the top of the state, it made sense for us to look south,” he said. “Middletown already has a lot of food and drink spots, and it seemed like a good place for a brewery addition.”

Founded in Nov. 2014, Powder Hollow annually produces more than 2,000 barrels of beer. 

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1 Comments

Anonymous
July 5, 2019

Can’t wait to try it out!!!

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