The Thread City Hop Fest, a food and craft beer tasting event, took place at Jillson Square Park in Willimantic on May 19. Attendees enjoyed samples from more than 60 breweries, cideries and distilleries from throughout New England while WildRice DJ Entertainment provided the musical backdrop. Organized by Willimantic Brewing Company on behalf of Willimantic Renaissance, Inc., proceeds benefited local charities, including The Windham Region No Freeze Project; Horizons, Inc.; Click Inc.; Covenant Soup Kitchen; Willimantic Renaissance, Inc.; Holy Family Shelter; First Baptist Church; Grow Windham; Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum; Windham Textile and History Museum; The America Museum; Windham Area Interfaith Ministry; CATS Northeast; and the CT Brewers’ Guild.
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- The annual Thread City Hop Fest took place at Jillson Square Park in Willimantic on May 19.
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- Tyler Mills, Black Hog Brewing.
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- Glenn Hellthaler, Thomas Hooker Brewery highlighting Thomas Hooker #NoFilter New England IPA.
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- Joseph Bartelson and Dylan Garrison, Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company.
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- Dylan Gailvis, Heineken showcasing Heineken 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Beer and Heineken Silver.
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- Litchfield Distillery Brand Ambassador Tia Hrusa showcasing Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Blueberry Vodka.
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- Collin Brady, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery highlighting Zero Gravity Jaws Czech-Style Pilsner.
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- Steve Turpak, Stormalong Cider highlighting Stormalong Blue Skies Blueberry Cider.
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- Greg Dwire, Sales Supervisor, Mancini Beverage – Northeast Beverage division showcasing Traveller Whiskey and Christina Dwire highlighting Cutwater White Russian.
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- Kurt Delaney and Corey Mayo, Outer Light Brewing Company.
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- Sara and Zach Washbond, East Rock Brewing Company.
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- Tomas Nenortas and John Kodis, Quiver Spiced Honey Spirit.
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- Mike Vieira, Thimble Island Brewing Company.
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- Ryan Snow and Corey Johnson, Still Hill Brewery.
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- Julie Melnyk, Whalers Brewing Company.
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- Valerie Syme, Wormtown Brewery showcasing Wormtown Be Hoppy IPA.
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- Mark DaSilva, Bad Sons Beer Co.
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- Dion Hall and Jessica Rice, Two Roads Brewing Company.
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- Westford Hill Distillers’ Griffin Ryan highlighting Westford Gin and Couio DaSousa showcasing Westford Rhumor.
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- Marissa Bentivoglio showcasing Lawson’s Little Sip IPA and Joe Orsini highlighting Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA.
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- Jesse Springer, New England Brewing Co. showcasing New England Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA and Sea Hag IPA.
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- Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island Brand Ambassadors Ben Pratt showcasing Grey Sail Sea Maiden Enchantingly Light Ale and Jessica Pratt.
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- Veronika Freeman, Downeast Cider showcasing Downeast Original Blend.
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- Lori Chapman, Brand Ambassador; Jennifer Mardorf, CTBeer.com; and Kevin Mardorf, CTBeer.com.
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- Jaclyn Gunn and Michael Esposito, Counter Weight Brewing Company.
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- Tiffany Taylor and Teresina Cambiotti, New England Cider Co.
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- Ravi Patel and Michael Miglietta, Other Desi Beer Co.
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- Kyle Fortier, Jeff Browning Jr. and Aileen LaMontagne, Brewport.
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- Tim Saimond, Beer’d Brewing Co.
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- Dan Cowell and Heather Wilson, Hop Culture.
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- Zach Yommer, Elicit Brewing Co.
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- Jon Ladd, Back East Brewing Company showcasing Back East Ice Cream Man New England IPA.
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- Jessica Wolfer, Kevin Staehly and Angie Koning, Yankee Cider Co.
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- A pour of beer at the Thread City Hop Fest.
