East Rock Brewing Company

We go to breweries in every city we visit; have been to 50+. First time in New Haven. Loved this place. Got to-go tacos next door at the market and walked into the brewery and it was packed for a fun night of trivia. Got a flight and Blueberry Amber was the winner. Terrific evening!

Amazing beer in a cool atmosphere. Had a great time meeting up after work to play some games and sample around the collection of beer they brew.

Trying out the Lager here in Bethlehem, PA. A friend brought it down from Cape Cod. Nice, light, good taste and it doesn't hang heavy on the palette. I'm kind of a snob and really enjoyed it. Must have more this Summer!

Easy 5 Star rating! All brews we sampled (2 flights) were wonderful. Service was friendly and professional. Location is close to Yale. Food choices next store are Fantastic. We chose a pizza: ordered it, walked a few steps to East Rock with buzzer, picked it up when it was ready to enjoy with our flight. Great venue - lots of seating options in large indoor area.

Great local brewery! I'm usually a strictly IPA guy but I found plenty here that hit the spot. Pretzel was decent but definitely not life changing, overall a decent snack. Five stars is more for the atmosphere, vibe, and alternative styles to IPA (even though it's my desert island beer style).

Enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitely one my top choice breweries to recommend. The brews were very satisfying, even thought the Lukr tower brew was an interesting experience. The games in the back were really fun, especially the corn hole of course! Always appreciate breweries that have a good selection of souvenirs. Thank you for the great experience!

East rock brewery rocks! This place is a delight for anyone who loves lager! Highly recommend the Key Lime Kicker A fun place to hang out with friends and family or a date! You can bring your own food, they only have pretzels which are also good. They have board games and corn hole etc. You can also shop for souvenirs. One of the best breweries in CT! Cheers!

WishYouWereBeerTraveling. I enjoyed this place! Great selection of beer that wasn't all IPAs. Dog friendly front area outside with tables. Reasonably prices cans of beer Togo! I would definitely return!

Nice brewery!! Feels very clean. Our bar tender was really nice and helpful. They have tons of games available to play. Beer was good! Prices are very fair. Pretzel tasted LEGIT. Probably one of the best pretzels I've had in a long time. Not too salty and tastes quality. The available dipping sauces were great too. Vibes inside were laid back and comfortable. $20 got us a flight of beer, a glass of hop water (not bad btw!) and a pretzel. Worth the trip!

This is a fun, clean space with plenty of seating and great beer at a really solid price. They offer pretzels for snacking but they encourage you to bring your own food. You could also call and order delivery right from the brewery. Check their website or social media to see if they have any food trucks available. They're very lager-heavy but they have a couple IPAs and ales. You'll definitely find something you like (non-alcoholic options as well). I wanted to try a stout and they didn't have any, but their dark lager hit the spot. Definitely worth a stop.

Great brewery with a cool vibe. Good selection of beers from sours to stouts. Staff was very helpful, offering tasting of beers they thought I would enjoy. They also had a nice seating area outfront. We only stopped for one beer but will definitely come back. Brewery was in a nice neighborhood and even had a free parking lot across the street.

Before my recent visit during Oktoberfest, I had visited East Rock over the Summer for a Yelp event. This review is only based upon Oktoberfest, but some of my understanding of East Rock comes from the Yelp Event as well. East Rock did a great job with Oktoberfest. There were plenty of fun people, but they didn't let it get too crowded. They had fun activities like a pretzel toss where you had to get a ringer around the plunger stuck to your partner's head. The Oktoberfest beer was fresh and deeply enjoyable. So East Rock Brewing is not in Oktoberfest mode everyday, but here's why you should care about East Rock. First, they feature German styles when many other New England breweries are largely focussed on IPA's. I like IPA's, but it's great to have options and I've liked everything I've had at East Rock. Second, East Rock is a cool place without having to try to be a cool place. You show up. The East Rock crew like Tim and Tess are happy you're there and kind to you. There are games to play and plenty of seating. Other customers are friendly. East Rock is a nice place to be. Third, East Rock (both the name of the brewery and the surrounding area) is a cool neighborhood. The Food Hall is right next door and they're starting to find their sea legs. Lots of interesting things going on in the surrounding blocks. I don't live especially close to East Rock, but I'll be looking for reasons to find my way back. Five Stars

East Rock brewery is a good solid placed for German beers. The venue is quite big and has some outdoor seating. you can also bring whatever food you want as well. Their light beers are quite easy to drink.

Awesome view !Parking is convenient .From the hill we can take a bird 's _eye view .wowwowwowwowwowwowwoewowwowwowowowowowowow

My Hefeweissen was huge and very tasty. The space is large with a variety of places to sit--tall small tables, long banquet-style tables with benches. The bartender made us feel welcome. They were preparing for trivia night and cheerful families with children were gathering for the festivities.

Great day at the East rock brewing's octoberfest. Loads of good beer, great food amazing games, ,contests and entertainment. The staff were so impressionable and giving off such a jovial vibe that made it difficult to even try to be unhappy. The smiles, the laughs the engagement were great. Keep up the good work with great beer and a welcoming environment

Came here for trivia night and was so happy with the staff and drinks here. Trivia was difficult, but the competition was pretty strong! Super packed for a Thursday night :)

As someone who frequents local breweries, I've found there are usually the same factors, other than good beer, that make for an enjoyable location. This spot offers one or two. The game room area, or "game garden" with shuffleboard, corn hole, and bocce and it's a nice addition. It's a roomy building with plenty of seating in the main brewery when you enter the building. Unfortunately the acoustics leave a lot to be desired as far as the volume inside the building. I couldn't hear anyone I was with when they were talking at the table less than a foot away from me, and we were there pretty early in the afternoon. I would have expected more draft options for a brewery too. They also do not serve food. They do however allow you to order food to the brewery to eat there. Most of the breweries in the area have food trucks on the weekends, but they didn't the weekend I was there, and I didn't see any mention on their website of this being a thing. So in conclusion, it's a decent spot, but make sure you plan to eat elsewhere and don't go if you have sensitive hearing.

East Rock Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in New Haven, Connecticut in October 2018. It was founded by brothers Tim and Shaun Wilson. Tim serves as the head brewer while Shaun serves as the general manager. It was the first production brewery to open in New Haven in more than 20 years, and one of the few breweries in New England with a focus on German-style lagers. The brewery gets it's name from the iconic East Rock ridge in New Haven. East Rock is also the name of the neighborhood (where the brewery is centrally located) as well as East Rock Park. The brewery's logo features a billy goat which is a reference to the neighborhood's nickname "Goatville". The billy goat also pays tribute to the Bock style German lager ("Bock" loosely translates as "billy goat"). The brewery is also a stone's throw away from the former Rock Brewery, one of New Haven's historically celebrated German breweries. The historic building that houses the brewery was once home to Miller's Garden: an outdoor venue where hundreds of townspeople gathered for weekly functions in the warmer months. Attendees both young and old set up picnics while a local band held the attention of the crowd, performing traditional German songs and dance tunes. I've visited East Rock Brewing a few times since they've opened and they make fantastic German style beers. At any given time, they have twelve beers on tap. On one visit, I ordered a flight which featured their Pilsner, Meyer Lemon Gose, Vienna Lager, and 'Boisterous Billy' (an India Pale Lager). The latter was a nice hoppy lager and my favorite of the flight. I was still a little thirsty, so I ordered a second flight consisting of their Weisse Bier, "Wilson's Way" (IPL), "Goat Herder" (IPL), and Black Lager. I really liked the latter; a great representation of a Schwarzbier. The brewery doesn't have a kitchen, but they do offer big chewy pretzels baked by WholeG Bakery. I ordered one with a side of brown mustard and beer cheese; it paired well with the beers. During the start of Autumn, make sure to try their Oktoberfest Lager (an excellent Festbier).

Had an excellent time at East Rock a couple of weeks ago. Sandi was our bartender and she was pretty amazing. She described so many great beers for us to choose from and even helped score a couple of seats for us at the bar. I tried their delicious hot toddy/apple beverage. It was just what I needed after a long weekend. I could smell the deliciousness coming from the warmer and it could not be denied! So much so, I had another after the first one. My friend had the 3 Pour Pils and it was definietly worth the 6-minute wait that it takes to serve it the right way. Take a look at the pic I posted. We also tried the Hot Pretzel with their delicious horseradish cheddar dipping sauce. I definitely could have ordered another, but I had already eaten brunch before I came that day. Damn it. lol We even got a sneak peek of the brewing area. So awesome! Overall, this was such a great first visit and I can certainly say that the next time I am in New Haven, in the words of the Terminator, "I'll be back!"

The neighborhood is so fortunate to have a spot like East Rock Brewing. The beer here is awesome. They do almost exclusively lagers, which is really cool for an interesting change of pace. I especially like their sour beers in the summer - they are super refreshing. The brewery itself is a very fun place to visit. They have several tables outside and it's great to sit with friends. Inside, they have a few large TVs and tons of games. I like that it's family friendly. They recently opened a game area in the back which is 21+ and you can reserve spots in advance. I haven't visited yet, but I'm looking forward to giving it a try. Finally, the staff here are very kind and patient even when they are very busy.

Checked this place out last night, and it was fantastic! Every beer I tried was delicious. The Summer Wheat & Key Lime Kicker were my favorites. Very light & refreshing - perfect beers for summer. They also offer fresh baked pretzels and dipping sauces. The pretzels are delicious & the Cheddar Horseradish dip is a must try. The staff is amazing and extremely helpful. There is a parking lot across the street as well as street parking available. Inside is very spacious & there's also a patio. Don't forget to check out East Rock Market next door! Definitely check this place out for good beer, pretzels, and keep an eye out for trivia nights!

Been here a few times now and it's always so chill with yummy beer! We did date night one night and I loved all of the games they have through out the brewery that you can play, how fun! Beer flights are always my fav. The bartenders are always friendly too. Just tried Key Lime Kicker yesterday and wow, so good! Had me dreaming of warmer weather.

Really not very good. Just serviceable. People are nice. Good place to hang out. But the beer . . . You get away with a lot in a college town.

Big fan of East Rock. I've been gravitating to lighter, crisper beers in general lately, especially with food, and ERBC really nails the lager/Pilsner category. Also, love some of their fancy pours, and their Oktoberfest is excellent. Ambiance is great, nice patio in warm weather with doggos, in a great area overlooking their namesake and excellent food next door. Pro tip: the best sushi in CT is right next door.

Like German Lagers? This is the place. As an AHA national level award winner in German lagers, I can say this place is a breath of fresh air from the hop-crazy world. Yes they have a great IPA but I'd come for the lagers and other German inspired beers. Food court in the building for bites. Love this place!!

Stopped by East Rock after a hike at (of course) East Rock...unfortunately, I forgot my license, but the employee was so kind about it, offering for us to buy a six pack to go or come back later since they were open pretty late. The interior of the brewery and outdoor seating area looked so nice, so we wound up quickly driving back to our hotel to grab my ID and returning - so glad we did! The place is massive inside, with a huge window peeking into their operation behind the scenes. It's so cool to see their whole process from the "dining room!" We were shocked to find out they just opened in 2018 - East Rock seems like a well-oiled machine already with a large space, multiple brew offerings, and a seemingly large following. We sat outside, where they have multiple benches, some under a cover, some out in the open. It was nice to have some fresh air while we enjoyed! In terms of beer, they had a decent number on tap that day, probably around 8-10. There were a few that were kicked, but that just made our decisions easier! I wound up going with the peach gose, which was perfect for summer. As a sour beer, it was light and refreshing with a little bit of a kick to it. A great afternoon beer! My fiancee went for the Goat Herdler, their IPL, which he really enjoyed! At just $7 for each pour, it was a great deal. We also snagged a Barvarian pretzel, which came with a brown mustard - this snack was a nice pairing for our brews! We were so much enjoying our time outside at East Rock, so we wound up splitting a flight after we finished our pours. For $8, we got 4 generous pours for our flight - a steal! We went for the Key Lime Kicker (quite refreshing, and you could really taste the key lime!), the Oktoberfest (a little pre-emptive, but a good entry to fall!), the Dunkel Lager (my fiancee's choice), and the Vienna Lager (also my fiancee's choice). We loved splitting this flight and getting a wider variety of East Rock's options at a totally reasonable price! Overall, East Rock was the perfect post-hike spot. For being so young, they really know what they are doing and seem to have a great following. The beers were delightful, with enough options for everyone to find something they like but not too many to overwhelm you, and very reasonably priced. The extensive seating allows you to spread out and enjoy your time comfortably. We would recommend East Rock to anyone visiting the New Haven area!

Tasty German inspired crafts for all tastes. Huge space, shuffle board, ambiance, perfect for parties.

What an awesome spot for East Rock and New Haven! The energy was high its opening night, including a loud crowd but super efficient and pleasant staff. There was even a line out the door! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the beers. Hop Hopfen, Oktoberfest, and Weiss Biers are winners in my book. Their beers are classic and solid. Pretzels were served cold, but I assume that's because of the crowd. Merchandise game is on point. Bartenders are super fast. Acoustics are a bit rough. Can't wait to come back!

I have to admit, I'm not a big beer drinker. But East Rock Brewing's Dragonfruit Gose is so good it could make me a beer drinker. The flavor was PERFECT, not too sweet or sour, not too hoppy. Just delightful-- so much so the keg kicked while we were there! Their pretzels were good, I really enjoyed the mustard dipping sauce. The beer tour was hot, but wonderful and they had trivia during our visit, which was a blast! All-in-all, I had a fantastic time and cannot wait to go back with my boyfriend.

Highly recommend this brewery if you're in Connecticut. The beers are great and there's a good variety of them to try. The place is huge and there are games to play to keep yourself occupied. I also suggest trying their pretzel for the side sauce it comes with! I can't remember exactly what it was but it was delicious.

Great beer and food. Wonderful place. We took Pilsner, everything was really fresh and testy.

One of my favorite local breweries. Love their beer selection, their space, & the awesome beertenders.

A tornado came through while I was here and I still had a great time! I came to one of my fav brew spots expecting to meet a friend after work but nature had other plans! There were probably about 8 of us in the building when we all simultaneously get a "severe weather alert". No more than 2 minutes later as the 60 mph winds, sideways rain, and lightning are whipping at the building, do we find ourselves all following the manager into the parking garage below the brewery. What's new for 2020, right? The employees were extremely friendly and we all had a good laugh at the situation as the potential tornado passed above. Afterwards we all come upstairs and the manager (sorry im horrible with names ) kindly offers us all a complementary beer for the inconvenience. Nature sure was a b**** that day but it wasn't her fault. Having a good laugh and a drink in the basement of a brewery with complete strangers during a dangerous storm, really is a highlight of this dumpster fire of a year known as 2020. Cheers to East Rock Brewing for watching out for their patrons and always being a great place to visit.

I really wanted to like this place because their location is great and I like to support local brewers, but they have continually disappointed in so many ways. Their staff is unrivaled in their rudeness and have a bad habit of shouting at & talk down to customers regarding orders, last call, and questions about their beers. They also are quite sarcastic at times, leaving me confused as to whether I'm being scolded or joked with. They have very spacious indoor and outdoor seating but both are underwhelming and uncomfortable. Outdoors resembles a parking lot with rickety benches, and indoors looks like a haphazard high school gymnasium. You're better off visiting one of many nearby breweries including No Worries, NEBCO, or Stony Creek.

Stopped in to try the new Triple pour Pilsner yesterday. Overall, I had a really good time. The beer offerings are all German in nature. It covers a good amount of styles if you are into that sort of beer. I understand that there are food trucks there from time To time. They had pretzels available at the bar when I stopped in. They were from somewhere local and they were very good. It came with a cheese sauce. I assumed it would be a beer cheese. That seems to be a popular side with pretzels at restaurants. I was surprised that it was a cheddar horseradish. I really enjoyed it. My grandmother was Polish and I ate a lot of that stuff growing up. I also a lot of people that are super adverse to it. I was pleased that they used it though. It's definitely a Central European thing. It's a nice Biergarten setup on the inside and I would recommend people in the area check it out.

Best vibes ever. Staff is out of this WORLD. Love their seasonal brews, love the atmosphere, LOVE trivia every Wednesday. Pat does an incredible job creating a fun and exciting environment. Stacy is the best; getting to chat with her is a highlight of my week. Couldn't recommend this place enough. P.S. The foosball competition is fierce, looking for more people willing to challenge the best of New Haven.

Really great seasonal beers and surprisingly good amber/marzens, huge bar top, attentive staff and great brew pub style atmosphere. Really happy to See a place like this in New Haven.

I had high hopes for this place because I spend a lot of time in East Rock. Terrible atmosphere, feels like an old gym. The bartender was perhaps the rudest server I've ever had. They stamp you like a night club to order alcohol even at 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday. And highly mediocre beer to boot. With so many great breweries in CT do yourself a favor and go someplace else

PURCHASED: Black lager TOTAL: $6 PROS: + craft beer: German-based lager! There are 2 of 15-ish selections that are hoppy. Other than that -- lager drinkers, enjoy! + spacious: It was very spacious. Long tables all over. + clean: The space is well maintained. + viewing deck: Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow patrons to view deep into the brewery where all the magic happens. + board games: Cards Against Humanity, Catan, playing cards, et cetera + shuffleboard: There is 1 large shuffleboard that is always being played on. CONS: - waitress tipped herself: on the evening that I went (05/10/19), our waitress set the tip. When she had set the tip for herself. She was blonde and had glasses. I literally gave her my credit card, she swiped the card. She handed the apple-pay device back to me to sign. I noticed it had been marked with a tip of 23%... I was turned off by this. I asked if I was able to set the tip myself. She kept the device in her right hand, she extended it out to me while I had to awkwardly navigate the device and set the tip to 15%. I enjoyed all things and would have provided a 5-star rating had it not been for this. That was real sneaky. IMPRESSION: Well-priced craft brew for $6 to $13-ish. It is a wonderful place to hang with multiple friends. Be careful for sneaky waitress

To minimize one's environmental footprint, one should always drink locally. If you are in Connecticut, the best option for some of the best beer this world has to offer is the East Rock Brewing Company. Thus it is easy to do the right thing and drink locally when the local beer is so much better than anything one could get from someplace else. You can put a deposit on a "growler" (jug) and bring it home or bring your own food to the beer hall and eat it there with your beer.

Husband loved the Dunkel! I tried the taster selection. Pumpkin was tasty. Bathrooms were clean (always a plus).

Amazing brewery in the East Rock neighborhood. It's an open space with gigantic windows that look into the microbrewery area. They don't serve any food besides the super delicious and addicting pretzels for $5. They also come with a choice of two sauces, opt for the cheese. By far the best! You are also more than welcome to bring your own food or get food delivered here, so that pretty cool. The beers are by far the best part of this brewery. They are delicious. I'm an IPA drinker, but their India pale lagers (IPLs) are great. Flights of 4 beers are $8. Great place for big or small meetups. Super excited to have found this place!

4.5 stars. I've been waiting for this place to open and it did not disappoint. Met some friends at noon on Sunday and we were the first clients of the day. Brought some subs with us and started with two flights featuring all of the available beers (4 beer flight is $8, all 8 varieties on tap was 2 flights) Some tasty brews here. My favorites were the Weisse, Helles, Pilsner and Oktoberfest (not a heavy beer). Our waitress was helpful and brought us a warm pretzel (made by G bakery - a little spendy for $5 but it did include 2 dips) one hiccup was that the dipping sauces were teeny and ice cold. The caramel was tasty but cold caramel not optimal. The space is gorgeous, great design, nice light ample seating. There are board games available too. Unsure if there are takeout menus to nearby restaurants available but that would be a help for those that didn't plan their food game ahead of time. We parked in the building garage our friends parked in the street - street was free garage was $5 but covered and physically attached to the building (garage entrance is 50 Mitchell Street). We will be back a welcome addition to New Haven!

I've been here a few times and I dig it. It's well-lit and bright during the day. Super high ceilings give the brewery a very spacious feel. Each time I've gone they've had some type of sour (meyer lemon gose or a blackberry one) so I've been a happy camper. One really positive thing I love is that someone comes around to the tables to take your order rather than having to wait up at the counter. I don't think I've been to any other brewery that does that. It keeps the counter from feeling cramped and crazy. Another bonus is a parking lot across the street! Not that East Rock is super difficult to park in, but having a free lot across the street is always a perk in New Haven. East Rock Brewery is a great addition to the neighborhood. Nice staff, cool people coming in and out, good layout, interesting drinks. It's a great place for groups and birthday gatherings as well. I think you can make reservations too if you were having a large group get together. Bring your own snacks!

A friendly and informed staff, delicious pretzels, and good-tasting brews. We are happy that we made the trip (we came from Norwich CT). We will be back and will bring friends. D. & C. Thompson

What a great new place to find a diamond in the rough. I love this place and I wish I could've stayed all day unfortunately I had to take off they do not serve food so definitely bring your own plate but I loved the choice of different craft beers.

If you like strollers and screaming happy babies, you will love this place. The beer is fine, the atmosphere is okay save for screaming happy babies. It's really not about the babies though, it's about the parents that think this is okay. Well, I had a brew and left - curmudgeon me I guess. Shame on me, I thought it was about the beer!

The beer is amazing, cute brewery! However the events aren't all that. It was really hard to hear if you sit in the back. we went for music bingo night. to preface during the rules the host did not explain that you could not use Shazam. we came out for a fun night and obviously want to win, like everyone there! who cares if you use it, bingo is a chance game, nothing with knowledge or having to know the answer. if people want to challenge themselves they do not have to use it. everyone around us was also using the help of other apps. I suggest that the host doesnt confront patrons the way he did with us. I felt talked down to when not doing anything wrong. how is it cheating if the song isn't even guaranteed to be on my card. honestly the brewery lost our business tonight and probably will not be coming back after this experience.

Fantastic selection of lagers. A very different brewery from what you typically see in this part of the country

I stopped there with my wife on a Sunday afternoon every impressed there the facilities very big a little echo with the high ceilings but I got past that after the third beer. What I really love is their logo I had to have a baseball hat with their Goat logo and as a runnerup their pretzels for $5. now, that's what I call a good Sunday afternoon. That my story and I am sticking with it.

Enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon with some friends on the patio of East Rock. You order through their ToastTab online and they will bring out your beer. They have Bavarian pretzels made in-house or you could order through their neighbor's food menu (sandwiches, empanadas, pierogis, etc). There are $8 flights (4 beers per flight) and they are mostly ales and lagers. Will be back!

I don't know what I was expecting but I was blown away with this place. It is all German style beers (yes!). The place is way bigger than most breweries with great light, airy and inviting. Plenty of group seating as well as bar seating and more private seating as well. We got 2 flights and not of the 8 beers we tried was under a 3/5 star. The pilsner and lager were drinkable and crisp in their own ways. If you like sours, the Berliner Weiss is great with some raspberry syrup. Yum! I was also just truly impressed with the busi ess model. Tees, merchandise and growlers are available for purchase when you first enter. The goat is the cutest!! I wanted all the gear. Staff were all very friendly and welcoming. Wish I worked right next store still!!! Although I'd be much poorer if I did.

Very nice tasting room in tastefully renovated old factory building. Excellent addition to the neighborhood and the city. Beers are well executed with plenty of options. Wish they had a few more ciders, but hey, they just opened. Food options are limited, so best to bring your own. They do have G bread pretzels which are always delicious. Nice selection of games to pass the time if the games on TV aren't your thing.

Beer is great, space is very nice, and the wait staff are excellent! At the moment, it's quite chilly inside the brewery, but it was rather empty when we were there so that could be why. This is going to become a fan favorite for sure!

Great games Fantastic space! Awesome beer and cider! Get pizza from the place right on the corner 369. Great pizza to go with great beer!! Nothing more to say!

What an awesome addition for New Haven. A gorgeous brewery with PLENTY of seating (including outdoor patio), exceptionally clean beer hall, family friendly, very outgoing staff, and a fantastic selection of beer. The beers were affordable at an average $6/$6.50 for a half liter. We LOVED the blackberry Gose, the Dunkel and were also impressed with the Wilson's Way and Oktoberfest. Would love to come back soon. This place is a gem!