Where it all Began

Little Red Barn Brewers is really a story about how two brothers and their high school friend worked on transforming their dreams into reality. The Hop Brothers, Matt and Nate Day, have been friends since birth. They caught the craft beer bug shortly after Matt received a Mr. Beer kit for Christmas. Although the early beers would not stand up to their current standards, the pint-sized dreams began. Shortly after getting a Mr. Beer kit, the Hop Brothers began brewing with Greg Hoffman, whose life experiences made him the ideal mentor for the gang. Greg taught the brew crew the importance of precision, sanitation, documentation, passion, and perhaps the most important life lesson of them all, enjoy what you do, for our time on this rock is short. It wasn’t tough to get Nils Johnson involved with the club – he was often heard proclaiming, “free beer, count me in”. What he lacked in training, he more than made up for with his experienced taste buds. The LRB quickly outgrew making their nectar on the kitchen stove; it was time for a new home. Nils’s parents, Nils and Gail Johnson, donated the use of an old horse barn located in Barkhamsted, CT for this purpose.

History was Made

On March 9, 2013, the brew crew produced their first batch of beer at the now historic Little Red Barn. Without the Johnson’s generous donation, the brew crew’s dreams may not have been realized. If you see them in the tap room, buy them a pint. The Little Red Barn Brewers researched numerous towns in the Northwest Corner. During the summer of 2017, the LRB selected 32 Lake Street, Winsted, CT as their future home. They quickly realized the Little Red Barn Brewers LLC was not building their brewery, but rather the brewery belongs to the community. The support of the community, businesses, and town hall has been overwhelming, and it’s exciting to be part of the revitalization of a once-prosperous town. Winsted is more than just a town, it’s the gateway to both the Litchfield Hills and the Berkshires. Little Red Barn Brewers LLC will be “Brewing up Good Times” in Winsted, CT starting the winter of 2018.

The original “Little Red Barn”. See, we’re not kidding!

Our Hand Crafted Brews

Black Muddy River – When you can’t decide between an Irish Red and an Irish Stout, you mash the two together – the mad scientists at the LRB did just that and here’s the result. Very roasty, very dark amber, earthy, smooth, and lightly hopped. A brew that will satisfy any leprechaun! ABV 5.6%

Cow Tippin’ Copper Ale – A great blend of malt and hops, smooth and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness, perfect for whatever the day brings… even if it’s just some good ol’ Cow Tippin’. ABV 5.6%

Light in color and malt character, our Kountry Kolsch style is a refreshing drink with a hint of citrus accompanied by a slightly dry, crisp finish. Make this your new “light” beer for summer drinking! ABV 4.5%

Our “Everyman’s” Porter is an American style beer with a roast malt flavor, driven by the use of dark grains accompanied by moderate hopping with a bold lingering taste after the first delicious sip! ABV 4.8%

Freshly squeezed NEIPA – juicy, hazy, and creamy. Everything you want in a New England IPA. A blast of Citra hops provides a citrus flavor you’ll love without the bitter finish of a standard IPA… the citrus tastes so fresh that after a few sips your mouth will think the Little Red Barn is in Florida! ABV 5.0%

Hay Loft ESB – English version of a Pale Ale, more malt flavor and a bit nutty. Lightly hopped, dark gold color, and low in alcohol. A balanced beer with a clean finish. ABV 4.5%

l‘ll Have a Nutter Brown Ale – A light-bodied ale of deep amber to brown color, this easy drinker is low in alcohol and light on the palate. It just kind of begs for a nutter pint! ABV 5.0%

Lawn Chair IPA – Pull out the lawn chair and sit back with a bit of hoppy goodness!! ABV 4.6%

Mad River Pilsner – A light beer, lightly hopped, with a classic Pilsner taste. Float down the river with this crisp relaxer! ABV 4.5%

Our Amber Waves of Rye is a hybrid ale, and focusing on the addition of rye malt and just the right amount of hops gives this amber ale a smooth finish and just enough edge to please the craft beer enthusiast! ABV 6.0%

Oatmeal Stout – The subtle roast flavor is balanced by the sweetness of chocolate and caramel, while the oats provide the classic smooth taste that oatmeal stouts are known for. A perfect winter warmer! ABV 5.1%

Rammer Rescue Red – This malt-forward Red Ale is well balanced. Caramel and toffee flavors, a bit of roastiness at the end, medium bodied with minimal English hops. This beer is as smooth as it looks – rescue one from the kegs today! ABV 5.6%

Roll in The Hay DIPA – Our double IPA is loaded with Chinook and Amarillo hops that pack a punch, but thanks to its sweetness it won’t knock you over. Don’t Roll in The Hay without it. ABV 7.0%

Squire Tavern Ale – Our recipe is inspired by Tony Simmons, founder of Pagosa Brewing, Old Richards Ale. This was first created for Ben Franklin’s 300th birthday. In 2006, the American Homebrews Association asked breweries nationwide to brew this beer, so all could raise a pint to honor this true American. We put our own Little Red Barn Brewers twist on this classic beer and Squire Tavern Ale was born. ABV 7.2%

This beer has been described as having a complex aroma with a pleasant, malty, corny, and slight nutty character enhanced by a slight molasses undertone which adds a bit of spiciness. At 7% ABV, this beer will get any American Patriot through the unpredictable seasons of New England.

You Did It!

The LRB would like to THANK ALL OF YOU for your incredible support of our Kickstarter Campaign! With the contributions made by family, friends, and all of our supporters, we have crushed our milestone goal of $15,000 and have closed our campaign by raising over $34,000 towards Winsted’s Brewery! This just shows the excitement and the commitment of everyone in helping to bring positive changes to Winsted! CHEERS TO ALL OF YOU!

Events

There are currently no events scheduled, unless you would consider
opening a brewery an event. In that case, this event will run 24/7
until the doors open! See you all very soon!

Interesting Beer Facts

At any given time, 0.7% of the world population is drunk. It means 50 million people are drunk right now.
It’s beer thirty somewhere!

162,719 pints of Guinness beer are wasted each year due to mustaches.

Cenosillicaphobia

the fear of an empty beer glass.
Terrifying phobia indeed.

LRB Brew Crew

Nils Johnson

Co-Founder, President

Nils caught the craft beer bug early in life. It wasn’t because of its superior taste, it was out of necessity. It’s legal to buy the ingredients for beer under the age of 21. So in the interest of science, the ingredients were bought and the beer was made every three weeks during one summer break.

After those early experiences, Nils took a hiatus from beer. He attended and graduated from Northwestern Community College and went on to have a 25-year career in transportation. His first job, and one he held for 20 years, was working for Lippincott Van Lines, Winsted, CT. Nils’s support for the community has been evident by his two decades of volunteering with a local fire department.

How did working in transportation prepare Nils for making beer? The honest answer, not at all. This is why the Hop Brothers are in charge of that. The business side of beer, now that’s something his experience has prepared him for. Throughout the years, he had to watch cash flows, interact with customers, write HR polices, route trucks, and has dealt with numerous federal and state agencies. These skills will translate nicely into this venture.

Nils has often been associated with Beerman – many think he is this super hero. Research has shown Nils often wears glasses and Beerman does not, so he has been eliminated as being the alter ego of the defender of Craft Beer.

Nathan Day

Co-Founder, Head Brewer

When Nathan’s brother got a Mr. Beer kit for Christmas, he invited Nate over for their first attempt at home brewing. The seed was planted and the next month Nate got his own 5-gallon brewing kit. After a few solo brews, he was thirsty for more knowledge. Nate turned to his friend and bandmate, Greg Hoffman. Greg was once an avid brewer of beer and, after conversing with Nate, his love and passion for brewing was rekindled. It was at this time that Nate thought it would be a great idea to form a brew club as a way to foster their passions. Under Greg’s tutelage, Nate began to learn how to build a beer and soon shifted his focus from crafting songs to crafting recipes. Close friend Nils Johnson joined the club and they quickly outgrew Greg’s kitchen… they moved to the Little Red Barn and eventually made the decision to chase a dream. Focused and determined since that day, the Brew Crew is close to realizing that dream.

Matthew Day

Co-Founder, Marketing, & Assistant Brewer

Matthew began brewing beer about 7 years ago after receiving a beer brewing kit from his wife for Christmas. Brewing quickly became much more than a hobby as he and his brother (Head Brewer Nathan Day) quickly upgraded their equipment and began experimenting with the many varieties of craft beer. For the past 2 years, Matt has been brewing at a feverish pace to keep up with the numerous private parties and events where the Little Red Barn Brewers have been sharing their brews. Matt has been in charge of the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for the brewery. Matt also works in the IT department at The Hartford Insurance Co. where he has been for 17 years.