E-Malt.com News article: USA, CT: Urban Lodge Brewing Co. to hold ribbon cutting event in Hartford on October 12

Urban Lodge Brewing Co. is the latest addition to Hartford's Pratt Street, making its official debut Thursday, Oct. 12 with a ribbon cutting event at 3 p.m. It's the second location of the brewery for owners Michael Gerrity and Ryan Fagan, who opened their original spot on Manchester's Purnell Place in 2019, the CT Insider reported.

The new space at 88 Pratt Street features two floors with multiple bars, lounge-style seating and a full kitchen, serving burgers, sandwiches, salads, tacos and shareable snacks.

Gerrity said he and Fagan signed the lease 16 months ago in the space that was once Sweet Jane's, a restaurant and music venue. The South Windsor native said he and his business partner, who grew up in Manchester, used to spend weekend nights in the capital city, visiting former clubs on Allyn Street. They were also fans of Vaughan's Public House, which is now their Pratt Street neighbor.

"We all love Hartford. That was the night out," Gerrity said. So when friends connected to Hartford's business scene suggested they consider a second location in the city, they were intrigued.

The project came together with the help of funding from Hartford's Hart Lift program, which provides property owners with funds to help incentivize small businesses to lease their vacant spaces, Gerrity said. He said he's thrilled with the activity happening on Pratt Street, the brick-lined pedestrian-friendly area home to restaurants, retail shops and special events like open-air markets and salsa dancing socials.

"To know that every storefront on this street is leased, that's impressive," he said, noting that more apartment buildings are also in the works. Hartford Flavor Company, a local distillery with a production facility and tasting room on Arbor Street, also plans a cocktail lounge and restaurant a few doors down from the brewery, and Urban Lodge uses its vodkas and Wild Moon botanical liqueurs in its cocktails.

Like its Manchester original, Urban Lodge's Hartford location features more than a dozen of its beers on tap, in rotating varieties like IPAs, pilsners, fruited sours and darker options like an Irish ale, a vanilla porter and a milk stout. Seasonal cocktails include a Purnell's Pumpkin Patch, a nod to the Manchester location with spiced rum, Hartford Flavor Company's Wild Moon chai spice liqueur and Fruitful Mixology's pumpkin spice liqueur blended with pineapple juice. A Sweet Jane's mule nods to the former venue, with Tito’s vodka, Hartford Flavor Company’s vanilla vodka, caramel syrup and ginger beer, garnished with a Cow Tail candy. The bar also offers wine, sangria, cider, hard seltzers and canned cocktails.

Executive chef Corey Wry, who oversees the food program in Manchester, is also directing the kitchen in Hartford. The menu features appetizers like wings, nachos with beer cheese, giant brioche pretzels and buffalo chicken empanadas, along with burgers, sandwiches, tacos, hot dogs, salads and sides of fries with seasonings like sea salt and cracked pepper, "Rajun Cajun", salt and vinegar and Asiago and roasted garlic flavors.

Wry is the former owner of Manchester restaurants Corey's Catsup & Mustard, Pastrami on Wry and CW's Chops n' Catch, and he's been friendly with Fagan and Gerrity for years, Gerrity said in August.

"We have always admired his culinary skills, commitment to the community and strong work ethic," he said. "When you add a major component to your business, it’s really centered around the people who make it happen, not just wanting to open a kitchen. You can buy all the equipment, but without a great team, there is no business."

Gerrity said it was important to them that the Hartford location would be open to serve lunch, offering another option to residents and downtown workers who may be returning to the office.

"The way we look at it, is that we really want people to always feel super welcomed...that there's a community feel when you walk inside, there's just something for everybody, a very relaxed atmosphere," he said.

The brewery officially opens Thursday at 3 p.m., and will be open this weekend on Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Its official hours will be Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 10 p.m., Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.


12 October, 2023