Stratford-based Athletic Brewing Co. will officially cut the ribbon this month on what is being dubbed the largest, non-alcoholic craft brewery in the land.
Company Co-founders Bill Shufelt and John Walker are hosting a private event in June for the grand opening of their new Milford brewery, located at 75 Cascade Blvd.
The grand opening will feature tours of the 150,000 square-foot production facility, a meet and greet with the co-founders, live music, food trucks and, of course, award-winning brews.
Athletic Brewing Co. opened its first brewing facility/taproom at its Stratford headquarters at 350 Long Beach Blvd. back in 2018, along with a smaller production facility based in San Diego in 2020. The company specializes in making non-alcoholic craft beers, without compromising taste, and no hangover to boot.
Last month, Athletic Brewing partnered with the national restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings. This summer more than 1,000 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across the U.S. will add Athletic Brewing’s flagship beers to the menu – Run Wild IPA and Upside Dawn.
Buffalo Wild Wings’ Director of Beverage Strategy and Innovation Jason Murphy said the partnership is a win-win.
“We’ve noticed many of our patrons looking for non-alcoholic options more than ever before, and they are looking for a beer that lets them socialize, share a meal and enjoy the game with family and friends without alcohol,” Murphy said. “We know that having Athletic on the menu at B-Dubs will really enhance the experience for some of our fans.”
Shufelt agreed. “Great food, great beer and great sports make any occasion better,” Shufelt said. “It’s great to see Buffalo Wild Wings make Athletic beers available nationwide to support consumer demand.”
Speaking of demand, Athletic Brewing, just four years after opening in Stratford, surpassed 100,000 barrels, a feat that only a few dozen of the nation’s thousands of breweries have achieved, according to company officials.
