Thomas Hooker Interviewed by Sonia Baghdady and WTNH Channel 8

Hooker Day Parade

In case you haven’t heard the Hooker Day Parade is back baby!  That’s right the wacky parade is returning to Hartford this Sunday after a six year hiatus!  Brilliant move by the city we say!  Originally started in 1991 by Mayor Mike Peters the Hooker Day Parade was created to honor Hartford and it’s founder Thomas Hooker and bring some excitement into downtown.

“We wanted to shake up the buttoned-up insurance professional part of downtown,” Hartford City Clerk and Hooker Day Parade co-founder Dan Carey said.

The parade somewhat mimics the journey Thomas Hooker took with his 100 followers when they left Boston and wandered through the woods ending up at Hartford.  Except in this version people dress up in crazy costumes, only walk a few blocks and generally make fools of themselves!

Hooker Parade 2001

Unfortunately Thomas Hooker Brewing won’t officially be present.  Our request to have the Hooker Beer trailer in the parade was denied.  It was a last minute decision by the city to even have the parade so you can bet we’ll be pushing hard for more involvement next year.   We’re encouraging all of our loyal fans to dawn their Hooker shirts and hats and take to the streets anyway!

We’d also argue that there’s no better way to pre-party or post-party a Hooker Parade than with genuine Thomas Hooker Ales and Lagers!  Show our founder some respect!  Pick up a six pack at your local package store, stop by the brewery on Saturday and get some growlers to go, or stop by at a bar afterward.

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When: This Sunday October 26th @ 3pm.

Where: Starts at High and Allyn streets and ends at Mayor Mikes restaurant.  Guess who happens to carry Hooker Beer….Mayor Mikes!! If they’re too packed just cruise over to the Pourhouse or the Pump House.  Check out the hooker beer locator for more hooker beer friendly post-party locations (mayor mikes zipcode 06103).

Anyone can jump in the parade and crazy costumes are encouraged!!  There’s also going to be live music by the Hartford Arts Council and lots of goodies and giveaways.  Take pictures and send them to us and we’ll put them up on our website!

For more details and history on the parade check out this article from the Hartford Advocate

Thomas Hooker Homebrew Contest Winners

The results are in from the 1st Annual “So You Think You Can Brew” Thomas Hooker homebrew contest. We received a ton of quality homebrews and anyone who sampled the entries at the Thomas Hooker Brewfest can attest to that.

Our panel of BJCP certified judges chose Patrick Marsh’s Dry Imperial IPA as the Grand Prize winner. Patrick will assist with the brewing and bottling of a 20bbl batch of his delicious IPA which will then be sold at select retailers throughout Connecticut (we’ll keep you posted on that!). Patrick also fattens his wallet with $1,500 in cash! Runner up goes to Timothy Phelps and Mike Eyre’s Roggenbier. They take home $500 in cash for their award winning rye beer. The attendees of the Thomas Hooker Brewfest voted for Marco Tirillo and Dave White’s “Dirty Water Brown Ale” as the winner of the $1,000 People’s Choice prize. The people have spoken!

• Grand Prize: Patrick Marsh – Dry Imperial IPA
• Runner Up: Timothy Phelps & Mike Eyre – Roggenbier [Hillside Brewing]
• People’s Choice – Marco Tirillo & Dave White – Dirty Water Brown Ale

Grand Prize - Patrick Marsh (Dry Imperial IPA)

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Runner Up - Timothy Phelps & Mike Eyre (not pictured) Roggenbier

People's Choice - Marco Tirillo & Dave White (Dirty Water Brown Ale)

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and attended the brewfest. We had an awesome time and can’t wait to make it even better for next year (stay tuned).

For more photos of the brewfest visit the album over at the Hooker Gallery

Tags: home brew contest