North Branford Farm Brewery To Be Open More Hours, Holidays

NORTH BRANFORD, CT - Things are going well at the town of North Branford’s recently opened first farm brewery as the operation is already expanding its operation.

Officials recently approved the application of the owners of the Stewards of the Land Brewery, LLC and J. DeFrancesco and Son Inc. to add hours and holidays to its Forest Road operation.

New hours approved are:

Production Hours: 6 a.m.- 4 p.m., 7 days a week;

Retail Hours:

Monday – Wednesday, Closed;

Thursday - 4 p.m. 9 p.m.;

Friday – 4 p.m.– 10 p.m.;

Saturday – 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.;

Sunday – 12 p.m - 6 p.m.

Federal and State Holidays including Christmas Eve 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving 4 p.m - 9 p.m.

New Year’s Eve 4 p.m. - 12:30 am.

North Branford's first farm brewery operation and retail patron site is at 418 Forest Road.

Back in January, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve the farm brewery's special permit request and site plan. The application was brought by co-owner Alex DeFrancesco, a member of the North Branford DeFrancesco Farms family. DeFrancesco, who is also a member of the PZC, recused himself from the commission's review.

The DeFrancesco family has combined two parcels of farmland behind 418 Forest Road into one, creating a single parcel of at least 10 acres of active farm, as required by the town's farm brewery zoning text amendment approved in 2018. Once combined, the new parcel at 418 Forest Road is over 16 acres.

It can accommodate an average of 98 patrons in its first-floor Tap Room and outdoor patio area. A new addition at the back of the building will house the brewery operation and beer manufacturing facility.

Alex DeFrancesco has been very active in the movement of planting hops for beer growing in Connecticut.

DeFrancesco said since the state legislature passed legislation allowing the brewing of beer under a manufacturing permit on a farm it has been his intention to do so.

DeFrancesco has worked with Town Planner Carey Duques on making sure his plan would work with town regulations in mind. Others who want to operate similar operations can apply under approved regulations.