Labyrinth Brewing, Manchester CT

16 July 2024

This was my first visit to Labyrinth but, sadly, also my last as they’re closing their doors this weekend. After six years in business, the “numbers just don’t work” anymore. I wish I’d found the time to go there sooner as what I had was really, really good.

They’re in a great space; these photos show only part of the area with seating and just one end of the bar.

I arrived right at 4:00 when they opened as I assumed that even though it was a Tuesday, they’d get busy very quickly given this was their last week in business. I was right! But I was able to get a seat at the bar before it filled up and I started with a Helles Awaits (Helles Lager, 5.4%), a very tasty beer. I find some of this style to be too “pushy” but this one was just perfect and I took home a 4-pack of it to enjoy. I probably should have grabbed a case.

Ritual Pizza provides food out of a kitchen in one end of the space and they have quite a variety of pies on offer including several that are vegan. I decided on the Sausage Pie and was delighted to see the thin crust and very fresh ingredients; the red sauce actually tasted of fresh tomatoes. It was accompanied — once the Helles was gone — by their 6.5% Hazy IPA, Turbo Love Juice, a very good example of this style.

I was actually surprised by how much of the pizza I ate, a tribute to its goodness; I only took 2 slices — a quarter of it — home with me and I’d expected to take half.

In spite of only having a single visit here, I’m going to miss this place — it’s a fine example of what a brewpub should be and it was obvious from the other people present that they had a large and loyal following. Sadly, this is a tough business and after Sunday, they’ll be gone.