USA, CT: Armada Brewery lands on the Fair Haven peninsula

The Armada has landed on the Fair Haven peninsula, the New Haven Register reported on April 28.

Armada — as in Armada Brewery — is now open and welcoming patrons in a rehabilitated portion of the 19th-century former Bigelow Boiler factory at 190 River St.

Owner John Kraszewski, who has been distributing his beer selections since 2017 from a facility in East Haven, said he always wanted to open a taproom.

Kraszewski said he found the perfect place in the Civil War-era brick building restored by G.L.Capasso. The Capasso restoration business remains his next-door neighbor.

The first floor of the two-story building has two long, family-friendly communal tables where there is a bar in front of a giant mural of the Savage Queen, the name of one of his popular double IPAs.

The project is a family affair with the artwork created by his wife, Alexandra Ivanova.

Since he had a soft opening at the Quinnipiac River-adjacent site April 16, he said the response from friends and his neighbors in Fair Haven has been “phenomenal.”

Longtime fans came through as did nearby residents excited about a gathering place in Fair Haven that for many is walking distance.

The larger production facility is in East Haven, where the brewery has distribution routes around Connecticut, as well as to Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Soon, the brewery also will produce a selection of beers on site just for the facility.

Kraszewski described them as “experimental beers, mixed fermentation beers and collaboration beers” that will add to the core menu of 12 beers, with seasonal favorites showing up throughout the year.

The most popular at the River street site, at the moment, is Sacred Throne, a Helles lager. This was followed by the Savage Queen double IPA, which is the number one distributing brand — essentially the flagship beer.

Among the seasonals are the Herbalist, released this spring; the Lord Chancellor, released in the winter; an oatmeal stout and Knights Executioner, released once a year in January, among others.

On Thursday afternoon, the brewery had a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in an event attended by city officials who had helped the business get off the ground.

A group of them, including Mayor Justin Elicker, had a short pour of Savage Queen to welcome the new business.

In keeping with the fantasy Dungeon and Dragons-type backstory depicted on the beer labels, the ribbon was cut by Kraszewski with a sword.

“It is not very sharp,” Kraszewski cautioned the crowd.

The Savage Queen is part of a broad marketing fantasy storyline, based on Medusa, with the beers taking on the names of the characters.

Steve Fontana, the city’s deputy director of economic development, said he met Kraszewski about four years ago after reading an article about him, in which he said he wanted to make New Haven “a craft beer mecca.”

“As an economic development director, that was music to my ears,” Fontana said.

Fontana, who describes himself as a craft beer nerd and aficionado, said he saw an opportunity for a real partnership and collaboration.

“Thank you for bringing your Armada to dock here in New Haven,” Fontana said.

The site of the new brewery is the first business to be up and running on several open acres on River Street.

Plans for an ambitious media production company, Jaigantic, to be led by actor Michael Jai White, still are in discussion as they work toward a land disposition agreement with the city.

A proposal for the New England Brewing Company to move its production to River Street fell through when an agreement was taking too long. It now is planned for West Haven.

Elicker said Armada is a great place to enjoy this unique section of the city. He said the brewery is a kid-friendly environment.

Kraszewski said the second floor will be for adults only and features a variety of seating with small tables and a large central bar.

The Armada has an agreement with Zuppardi’s Apizza of West Haven to provide three kinds of pizza for patrons: cheese, sausage and pepperoni. Pies will be sent to the brewery frozen, to be baked on site.

Elicker predicted the whole area will be “wildly different” five years out, with development possibilities and continuation of the Mill River Trail.

“I am bullish about the future of this south part of Fair Haven. It is truly a beautiful spot with its view of the water,” Elicker said.

He said he got to know Kraszewski over the years as he donated his own time and money to community events, going back to the New Haven Land Trust when Elicker was running it.

“It is emblematic of the type of person that you are and the values that you have. We are really excited that you are here,” Elicker said.

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