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June 3, 2019

Hartford breweries eye beer garden launch at Bushnell Park

HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever Hartford's Hog River Brewing Co. co-owners Ben and Joy Braddock.

A pair of Hartford breweries are teaming up to create a new beer garden event in downtown's Bushnell Park later this month.

The owners of Hog River Brewing on Monday said they are partnering with Hanging Hills Brewing Co. in hopes of kicking off the festival on Friday evenings from June 28 through September. 

The two breweries, in conjunction with West Hartford’s Harry’s Pizza, are still pursuing city permits to allow for the inaugural event at the park’s historic “Pump House.”

Ben Braddock, who co-owns Hog River Brewing on Park Street with his wife, Joy, said Mayor Luke Bronin and other city leaders have overwhelmingly supported the project, which is meant to spur economic activity downtown.

“I think the goal for every small business in Hartford is to highlight all the great stuff going on in the city,” said Joy Braddock.

If approved, the June-September event will be held every Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., except during park events on July 19 (Hartford Jazz Festival) and Sept. 13 (Small State Great Beer festival).

In addition to food provided by Harry’s Pizza, live entertainment and games will also be featured at the weekly event, the Braddocks said.

Both breweries will sell between three to four beers as well as a collaborative brew that Ben Braddock and Hanging Hills founder and brewer, Joe Ploof, are creating.

“We run our breweries with a real community focus,” Joy Braddock said. “In the craft beer industry, collaboration over competition really does lead to more success.”

The Braddocks said they considered for years hosting a beer garden downtown, but didn’t think it would be a success until they experienced the successful pop-up brewpub on Pratt Street held during the NCAA division I men’s basketball tournament in March at the XL Center.

If successful during its “pilot” year, the hope is that other Hartford breweries will join the event next year.

“I don’t know that it will be a huge money maker, but the thought is that on Friday people can come listen to some music and enjoy some beer and food,” Ben Braddock said. “The whole idea is to have fun.”

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