Derby In The Running For National Title, ‘Best Small Town Beer Scene’

DERBY — Something exciting is brewing for the state’s smallest city.

Derby is on tap to potentially be crowned the best small town beer scene” in the U.S., and you can make that happen by casting a ballot online. 

USA Today is hosting the competition, where a panel of beer experts selected 20 American towns, each with a population under 30,000, to vie for being the best place to enjoy craft beer.

In addition to Derby, the competition includes small towns in Colorado, New York, North Carolina, and South Dakota.

Readers can vote for Derby (once a day, FYI) by visiting this link.

The contest is part of the 2021 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards.’ Readers can vote until March 16. The winner will be announced March 26.

A small write-up featured on the website highlights Derby’s favorite places for suds, including Bad Sons Brewery on Roosevelt Drive, The Hops Company on Sodom Lane, and The Dew Drop Inn on North Avenue.

Andrew Baklik, a bartender before he became Mayor Rich Dziekan’s chief of staff said it’s a thrill to be nominated.

This is very cool. Derby has so many great places to grab a cold one and enjoy the company of friends and family. The real credit goes to the local bars and restaurants for creating an atmosphere that is inviting to people from all over not only Connecticut, but throughout New England and the country.”

Officials said it’s also a way to boost morale. Bars and restaurants have been struggling under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 600 establishments (at least) have gone out of business since last March in Connecticut.

Baklik asked for some Nutmeg spirit to boost Derby’s chances of coming out on top in the competition.

We could really use the support of our surrounding municipalities and the rest of the state to get Derby into the top spot,” Baklik said. Barstool Sports has already recognized New Haven as the Pizza Capital of the United States,’ so if Derby can be honored as the Best Small Town Beer Scene’ in the country. I can imagine that people may plan entire vacations to visit the area for pizza and beer.”

Craft beer, once a niche, has established itself as something that is here to stay. A number of Derby bars embraced the scene early, particularly The Dew Drop.

Baklik also said Derby’s bars have been busy supporting each other to truly build a local scene.

With Dew Drop Inn’s stellar reputation for wings, Bad Son’s partnership with Roseland and THCs partnership with Zuppardi’s, there is a lot of synergy and positive press surrounding the Derby food and beverage scene,” Baklik said.

Baklik gave a shout-out to other great spots contributing to Derby’s culinary landscape including Riverwalk Social, Apollo Pizza, Tipsy Tomato, A.M. Bagel, Retro Grub & Pub, Phoenix Vietnamese, Fratelli’s, Italian Pavilion, the Valley Diner, Reid’s BBQ, Twisted Vine, River Rock Tavern, Mattei’s Deli and the soon-to-open Quail & Ale near the intersection of Division Street and Route 115.

Bad Son’s Head Brewer Mark DaSilva already knows Derby is a great beer town, and is excited for the rest of the country to discover that, too.

As far as what makes Derby a great beer town is what I call the Derby Hop Triangle: Bad Sons, Dew Drop and THC,” DaSilva said. The three of us take beer very seriously. When a true craft beer enthusiast walks into one of our places and sees the quality and diverse selection we all have on tap- mine brewed in house-they know that they can keep coming back and never be bored with what’s on tap.”

DaSilva said the local establishments have become destination spots.

Believe it or not we get people from all over the country that come here on beer road trips,” he said. They all say they saw the logo and name, and had to see the place and try the beer.”

Dew Drop owner Jay Carlucci can’t wait for Derby to potentially snag bragging rights for boasting the best beer scene. 

I’m psyched, especially because I’ve seen the beer industry grow tremendously through the years,” Carlucci said. I’m happy for the city, for the newer places coming into Derby and for THC and Bad Sons because they just have great reputations.”

Like The Dew Drop, THC is no stranger to racking up awards, nabbing consecutive Best Beer Bar’ by Connecticut Magazine since first opening in 2015. Owner Umberto Morale said the prospect of Derby being recognized as the best in the country is certainly brewing up excitement.

I’m already extremely proud of Derby for being nominated in the Top 20…winning will be an added bonus,” Morale said. I hope that our success in the past few years is a catalyst for other business owners to come to Derby.”

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell lauded Derby’s bar-restaurant scene.

We marvel at their spirit of innovation in bringing national attention to our community,” Purcell said. Connecticut’s Craft Beer industry continues to be a major boon to the state’s economy.”

Purcell noted that there are more than 110 breweries across Connecticut, collectively pumping some $3.1 billion annually to the economy.

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