East Hartford Brewing Group is bringing back the Ten Penny Ale, a pioneer brew in the modern Connecticut craft beer industry.
East Hartford Brewing Group is bringing back the Ten Penny Ale, a pioneer brew in the modern Connecticut craft beer industry.
The company bought East Hartford’s Olde Burnside Brewing Co., which closed in 2019 after 18 years in operation. Among the assets East Hartford Brewing purchased is Olde Burnside’s flagship product, Ten Penny Ale, an amber-hued Scottish ale.
Olde Burnside operated as a distribution-only brewery, and East Hartford Brewing is currently brewing and self-distributing beer from its 776 Tolland St. location, business development manager Allie Dubinsky said. But East Hartford brewing is working toward offering outdoor on-premises service by July, and hopes to one day open an indoor taproom.
“The town has been really receptive, and people are really excited to have another brewery in East Hartford,” Dubinsky said.
While distribution is currently East Hartford Brewing’s sole revenue source, Dubinsky said she thinks the taproom will become the most important money generator once it’s up and running.
Right now the company has five employees and sells an average of 300 cases of beer per month, Dubinsky said. The self-distribution model makes sense for East Hartford Brewing both because the profit margins are better, and because it helps the company form relationships with bars and package stores.
“They know they can call or text me any time of day,” Dubinsky said. “It’s that personal touch.”
