A brewery in Oxford, Connecticut, my old stomping grounds? Started by a military veteran? Now that’s two reasons to talk about Cavalry Brewery’s offerings.
Unless you live in the rural peacefulness of Oxford, Connecticut, or live nearby, you probably haven’t heard of the town. Sure, there was that one incident back in 2001, when Oxford was the home of the only person to die from an anthrax-laced package. But what town wants to be known for that? Now, Cavalry Brewery is putting Oxford on the map in a much more memorable light with their Nomad stout and Hatch Plug ale.
Tasting local brews can be fun due to the unexpected amalgam of flavors from particular ingredients, brewing techniques, and the brewer’s general preferences. Sometimes, I end up with a beer smelling of barnyard funk. But in the case of Cavalry Brewery’s Hatch Plug ale, I met with a crisp amber brew that was pleasantly malty. Their Nomad stout provided a thick body of bitter chocolate and even a hint of vanilla bean on the nose, without being too bitter to drink with food, as is the case with Guinness.
On their website, the owner relates that after returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, he became a “casualty of company consolidation” and started the business. I’d hate to thank downsizing for anything, but in this single case, I must realize that such an evil turn of events led to such luck for beer drinkers.
