Before stopping at a friend’s house to watch a Bruins game, I happened to visit my old stomping ground during college. From the spring of 2004 to the summer of 2005, if it were a Friday around 4pm, you could a group of us huddled at a table conversing over cheap wings and pints. There were two establishments that offered a Happy Hour special and, for my money, the ECB was the place to be. The beer is made in-house and it was the perfect entry into craft beers.
Located in the Colonial Mill Marketplace a few blocks from downtown, the ECB offers seating in the dining area, the glassed-in porch and in the warmer months you can sit outside under an umbrella. Always sit under the glass; you have the best view and it has a better atmosphere.
When it comes to food, ECB has you covered with a large menu of sandwiches, appetizers, entrees and pub fare. If I may suggest their wings: buffalo, honey mustard or, my favorite, BBQ. You could then move to the Brewmaster’s Special, which is Knockwurst and Bratwurst on a bed of sauerkraut and a potato pancake.
Ok, down to business, they do make their own beers on site and always have a solid variety to offer. This time they had Keene Kolsch, Peachy Keene Kolsch, Raspberry Wheat, Oatmeal Pale Ale, Old Castle Oktoberfest, and Chocolate Stout. They try to create beers that match the time of year and always have a few regulars on tap that can be had at any time of the year. I should make a note to come back in a few months and see if they have the Espresso Porter back on tap.
If you happen to find yourself in this corner of the state and you’re looking for a good brewpub or just a place to grab lunch and relax, seek out the Elm City Brewery. I spent enough time there to know that everything is fresh and they put a lot of time into their beers so you keep coming back.
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