Danger: An ominous witch resides here indication As I ventured deeper into the dense forest, a peculiar sensation lingered in the air. The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating, as if an ominous presence watched my every move. The trees seemed to whisper warnings in hushed tones, their branches swaying in an eerie symphony. It was clear that danger lurked in the shadows of this enchanted wilderness. My curiosity urged me to press on despite the foreboding feeling that enveloped me. I had heard stories of a witch who dominated this territory, her powers unmatched and her malevolence legendary.
Witchdoctor Brewing Company
Chris and I are officially back on the CT Beer trail, passport apps in hand!! With breweries taking the recommended steps towards reopening, we decided to travel the Beer Trail to Southington and enjoy a socially distanced, outdoor beer at the one and only, Witchdoctor Brewing Company. Opened only a few years ago, Witchdoctor is located in the original Southington Tool Manufacturing building built in 1883. Today it’s a multi-use retail and office space, but all we really care about is that this building is home to a brewery that prides themselves on having a rotating line of beers on tap. From IPA’s to stouts, Witchdoctor is constantly changing up their ingredients and serving the most unique beers.
Shannon: If you like your breweries with a spacious, semi-dark lighting vibe, Witchdoctor is the place for you. They have great beer, a great space, and tons of seating and other things to do. Chris and I have been coming here for a few years now, and I don’t think there’s ever been a time we haven’t enjoyed ourselves. One of my all time favorite beers from them is their 5.4% Strawberry Malt-Shake NEIPA called Bunny Patch. As they say at Witchdoctor, this brew would make the Nesquik bunny proud. The Bunny Patch isn’t your standard milkshake. It’s a smooth, creamy, sweet beer that’ll leave you with just the right malt and strawberry taste.
Chris: When you walk into Witchdoctor you will get the feeling that the brewery loves music as much as beer. They have an indoor stage for their many musicians that they bring in, and the walls are covered in photos of concerts from all sorts of different artists (including one of my favorite bands Rammstein.) Its not just music they have in variety but beer as well; when Shannon and I went they had 19 beers on tap which is an insane number. The huge assortment of beers and styles makes this a place everyone will enjoy.
Other Cool Stuff:
- If you aren’t in a beer mood you can always buy food, wine, Avery’s Soda, hard cider, and some select liquor
- They often have live music or trivia events
- Outdoor seating
- Outdoor games (pre-Covid)
- Beer-to-go service during Covid-19
- Currently open for limited, socially distanced indoor and outdoor seating!
What We Drank:
Shannon: Pexto Porter (Vanilla Porter) 5.8% – 4 out of 5
Shannon: Nutter Your Business (Chocolate Peanut Butter Red Ale) 6.2% – 4.5 out of 5
Chris: I am Frut (Fruit Beer) 5% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Papa Chocolate’s Malt-Shake (Milk Stout) 6% – 3.5 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5
Brewer
I had heard stories of a witch who dominated this territory, her powers unmatched and her malevolence legendary. Numerous accounts of unsuspecting wanderers disappearing without a trace were whispered among the locals, adding to the mystique surrounding this forbidden place. The signs were becoming more apparent as I continued my exploration.
Job Posting for Brewer at Witchdoctor Brewing Company
Witchdoctor Brewing Company is looking for a Brewer to join our team at our facility in Southington, CT.
Duties:
- Operate brewing equipment and follow recipes to produce high-quality wort
- Monitor fermentation process, take measurements and make necessary adjustments to maintain product quality and consistency
- Cellar tasks including, but not limited to: dry hopping and transferring of beer
- Clean and maintain brewing equipment and work areas including but not limited to: brewhouse, tanks, kegs and ingredient storage areas
- Assist with packaging and labeling of finished products
- Conduct quality control checks to ensure product meets quality and safety standards
- Maintain accurate records of brewing activities and inventory levels
- Collaborate with team members to develop and improve recipes and processes
Qualifications:
- Knowledge and experience with brewing processes, ingredients, and equipment
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow recipes accurately
- Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve brewing issues
- Understanding of safety regulations and best practices
- Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $19.00 - $23.00 per hour
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
- Brewing: 1 year (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Southington, CT 06489 (Required)
Work Location: In person
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A mini-beer trail through Southington
Mike Brennan (center) tends bar at Kinsmen Brewing, which he and brother-in-law Greg Caucci recently opened in Southington. Will Siss Republican-American Greg Caucci and Mike Brennan of Kinsmen Brewing stand atop their brewhouse in their newly opened Southington brewery. Will Siss Republican-American Josh Norris, left, and Daryl Adamaitis of Witchdoctor Brewing in Southington. Will Siss Republican-American
Beer enthusiasts will soon have two more reasons to keep pace along the walking trail in Southington, where Kinsmen Brewing has recently opened its doors, and Witchdoctor Brewing hopes to open by the end of the month.
When Kinsmens Greg Caucci and his brother-in-law Mike Brennan, both 40, were tossing around ideas for a joint venture two and half years ago, they landed on their shared passion for homebrewing. Caucci, of Plainville, brought his years as a financial planner to the mix, while Brennan – a commercial photographer from Pennsylvania who is married to Greg’s sister – added an artistic element.
“We started this as a small project, but when we ran the numbers and found the space, we wanted to make it more of a showcase,” Caucci said of the seven-barrel brewery in the former Clark Brothers Bolt Factory, founded in 1854, in the Plantsville section of town.
The brewery features a long 4,500-square-foot tasting room with a peaked ceiling, a few narrow tables made of reclaimed doors, and a bar fashioned from 200-year-old Douglas fir from Old Saybrook. On the Saturday afternoon and Thursday evening I visited, dozens of folks filled with space, along with a few of their well-behaved dogs.
Some of the space remains under construction, including drinking and office areas, and until their dishwasher comes in, its 12-ounce plastic cups for Kinsmen patrons. However, the 10 serving tanks and two 15-barrel fermenters are up and running in the brewhouse positioned behind the bar.
“It was love at first sight,” Brennan said of the location. “The exposed beams and brick sold us right away.”
Another factor was the buildings location: directly off the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. The owners recently added a gate that allows walkers to step right off the trail and into the tasting room.
Caucci and Brennan brought another member into the fold before they opened: their head brewer, Bob Bartholomew. He worked for more than two years as a brewer at Banded Horn Brewery in Maine before joining the Kinsmen team.
It’s Bartholomew’s recipes that create the brewery’s opening line-up. The 21.3 American India Pale Ale (named for the mile marker on the trail) is tropically fragrant with a pleasant grapefruit touch, while the Bowl Cut Double IPA (named for the unfortunate hairstyle favored by Caucci in his youth) is soupy and nearly sour with an overpowering mango flavor from the Mosaic hop. For balance, they offer the mild Clark Bros. American Porter with biscuit notes as well as Roast, an American Coffee Stout with intense aroma thanks to Columbian coffee provided by Cold Brew Coffee Co. of Cheshire.
The owners said plans are afoot to bring in Sauced, a catering company, that will have a permanent kitchen just outside of the tasting room for pizzas, grinders and salad.
Now open Thursday through Sunday, Kinsmen is planning to expand to have Wednesday evening hours.
“Were overwhelmed with support of the brewery,” Brennan said. “We announced 18 hours before we opened and had 35 people on line. Nothing but social media word-of-mouth.”
Call the Doctor
About three miles north, or a 50-minute walk along the Heritage Trail, you’ll get to Center Street’s Factory Square, the complex that houses the under-construction home of Witchdoctor Brewing.
Owner and brewer Josh Norris, 34, gave me a quick tour of the 5,500-square-foot space, which needs to undergo final inspections before it can open to the public. The tasting room had lots of natural light pouring through large windows, a variety of rustic-looking tables that give it a café-style look, and a small stage where acoustic acts who play their own music can perform.
Norris, an Ohio native with mechanical engineering experience, started the business with his wife Allison and head brewer Daryl Adamaitis, 30, who has brewed at City Steam in Hartford.
Witchdoctor has been on the beer scene for years as Norris has featured his work at beer festivals around the state. Norris said he plans to start with a four-tap line and a lineup that includes a rye pale ale, an oatmeal amber, a kölsch and a Belgian saison.
“We’ve been looking for about a year and a half, and it was the best site,” Norris said of the location, which formerly served as a toolmaking factory.
Witchdoctor plans to have food trucks available to pair with their beers twice a week, and plans to have prepackaged foods from Paul Gregory’s, a nearby restaurant.
Why take the risk and go pro? “I was getting good at brewing,” Norris said. “My brother has been a bar manager for 20 years, and my sister is involved with wineries in Virginia. They were telling me how great my beer was and better than anything they had there, and that I should open a brewery. I always had that entrepreneurial spirit.”
Other Connecticut breweries that opened recently include Counterweight Brewing (23 Raccio Park Road, Hamden) and New Park Brewing Company (485 New Park Ave., West Hartford). With very little fanfare, Breakaway Brew Haus opened this month at 5 Steele Crossing Road in Bolton, according to a Facebook post.
Southington could see a third brewery if Stargazer Brewing finds a suitable location, according to reports.
Overshores Brewing, which I wrote about in my last column, is celebrating its third anniversary from noon to 4 p.m. on April 29 at their brewery (250 Bradley St., East Haven).
Until next time, sip well.
Kinsmen Brewing Company
409 Canal Street, Plantsville
Witchdoctor Brewing Company
168 Center St., Southington
Menu for Witchdoctor Brewing Company in Southington, CT
Witchdoctor Brewing Company in Southington, CT, is a American restaurant with an overall average rating of 4.6 stars. Check out what other diners have said about Witchdoctor Brewing Company. Don’t wait until it’s too late or too busy. Call ahead and book your table on (860) 356-3042.
Other attributes include: beer.
For a similar meal experience, check out Paul Gregory's and GameCraft Arcade as an alternative.
Got a favorite dish here? Let us know, and leave a review!
Would you recommend this restaurant?- Recommend
- Do not recommend
Strange symbols etched onto tree barks and moss-covered stones were scattered throughout the forest, marking forbidden paths and serving as a chilling reminder of the witch's presence. Undeterred, I followed these eerie markers, my heart pounding in anticipation of what lay ahead. Suddenly, the sounds of rustling leaves and cawing crows filled the air. A faint glow emanated from a clearing up ahead, where a dilapidated cottage stood, its windows cracked and overgrown with ivy. The air grew colder with every step closer, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over me. Stepping cautiously into the clearing, my eyes fell upon an old, weathered sign leaning against a mossy wall. Inscribed in faded black letters, the warning read, "Danger: An ominous witch resides here." Every fiber of my being screamed at me to flee, to leave this forsaken place and never look back. But my curiosity, my insatiable thirst for adventure, pushed me forward. With bated breath, I pushed open the creaking door, revealing a dimly lit interior shrouded in mystery. The room was cluttered with shelves lined with dusty spell books and jars containing strange concoctions. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and the echo of ancient incantations. In the corner, a black cauldron simmered, emitting an eerie green glow that pulsated with otherworldly energy. A cold gust of wind whipped through the cottage, extinguishing the lone candle on a nearby table. Panic gripped my heart as shadows danced wildly across the room, their sinister presence seeping into every crevice. The witch's lair had been disturbed, and her wrath was about to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting intruder. As I turned to leave, a bone-chilling cackle echoed through the room, freezing me in my tracks. The witch had awakened, her piercing gaze fixated on me. With a wave of her gnarled hand, the door slammed shut, trapping me inside. In that moment, the gravity of my foolishness struck me with full force. The warnings, the symbols, the foreboding aura—all had been there to protect me from the clutches of the witch. Now, I found myself at her mercy, a mere pawn in her wicked game. My only hope now was to outsmart the witch, to find a way to escape her clutches and return to the safety of the outside world. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to fight for my life, and never again underestimate the sinister power that resides within the darkest corners of this world..
Reviews for "Confronting the Menace: Danger Looms in the Witch's Territory"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Danger an ominous witch resides here indication". The first thing that struck me was the lack of originality in the storyline. It felt like I had seen it all before and there were no surprises or twists to keep me engaged. The characters also fell flat for me. They were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. Overall, I found the film to be predictable and underwhelming.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Danger an ominous witch resides here indication" is easily one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The acting was terrible, with some of the most wooden performances I've ever witnessed. The dialogue was laughably bad and there were so many plot holes that it was hard to keep up with what was happening. The special effects, or lack thereof, were another letdown. It felt like I was watching a low-budget film from the 80s. I would highly recommend avoiding this film at all costs.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Danger an ominous witch resides here indication", but sadly it did not live up to my expectations. The pacing was all over the place, with moments of intense action followed by long periods of boredom. The scares were also lacking, and I found myself more bored than scared throughout the whole film. The ending was especially disappointing, as it felt rushed and unresolved. While the cinematography was beautiful, it was not enough to save this film from its numerous flaws.
4. Michael - 1/5 - "Danger an ominous witch resides here indication" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was convoluted and confusing, and the script was filled with cliched dialogue that made me cringe. The acting was subpar at best, with performances that lacked any sort of emotion or believability. The film also dragged on for what felt like an eternity, with no real payoff at the end. I would not recommend this film to anyone, as there are far better options out there.