NewSylum Brewing Company is anything but your typical “rehabbed industrial garage/factory/warehouse space” brewery. It’s located on bucolic 100-acre former campus of Fairfield Hills Hospital -- a state-run psychiatric facility. The grand and spacious taproom has Vermont Danby marble floors (and matching faux walls), dark-grained wood columns, tall arched windows and a vaulted ceiling to give the place a church-like ambiance. All are remnants from the 1930s building past use as an executive dining hall for the hospital’s nurses and doctors. A repurposed marble bar sits in front of 12 tap lines that include wine and local cider along with house brews. A wood-fired pizza oven not only creates some nice crisp homemade pies and pretzels for patrons but serves as a display piece. Outdoor tent seating is available, and a large patio is being built for 2021.
THE STORY
NewSylum Brewing Co. owners Mark Lennon, David Kingsley and Mark Tambascio – all experienced beer geeks – planned to be a taproom only operation when they opened in spring 2020. Limited indoor dining regs imposed due to COVID-19 forced them to pivot, so that summer they added outdoor seating and contracted with a mobile canning company to offer curbside pickup of its awesome ales and such. The beers, as well as the facility, have been winning great praise. Head brewer Watson is a longtime award-winning home- and pro-brewer. Assistant brewer Linari had been an assistant brewer Oxford’s OEC Brewing. Tambascio, a respected beer judge and homebrewer, co-owns the Newtown’s My Place restaurant, one of Connecticut’s first true beer bars.
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