Brewery Plans Big Next Step With East Granby Expansion

EAST GRANBY, CT — A new chapter is brewing at the former Almost Famous Brewing space in East Granby, where Luppoleto Brewing says it plans to move the bulk of its brewing operations this summer.

In a statement updated April 6, Luppoleto said it is taking over the former Almost Famous site and plans to begin with a collaborative transition before a full handoff later this year.

Luppoleto was founded by Jennifer and James Wright. The brewery is currently based on Main Street in Windsor Locks, where it says it chose its home in part because of downtown revitalization efforts and its walkable location near the train station and airport.

The company says the East Granby move would mark a major expansion for the brand. It said it expects to brew alongside the Almost Famous team during the transition so it can learn the equipment and adjust its recipes to the larger brewing system and different water.

Luppoleto said it had already been looking for a bigger location when it learned the East Granby space was becoming available. The company said the site’s proximity to Windsor Locks made it worth a closer look, and one meeting was enough to convince the team to move forward.

Under the current plan, the Almost Famous crew would reopen in mid-April with a limited lineup of its own beers along with Luppoleto collaboration beers. Luppoleto described that phase as “Almost Luppoleto,” with the space and staff staying familiar while drink options begin shifting toward the future lineup.

The company said it is aiming for a full “passing of the torch” in June, when the East Granby location would become fully operated by Luppoleto. It said official opening dates for both phases are still pending local permits and approvals.

The East Granby location it plans to take over is the former Almost Famous Brewing site at 17 Kripes Road, East Granby.

Luppoleto said some familiar faces may still be behind the bar after the transition. The brewery also said it is working to add on-site food and will share more details as plans move ahead.

For customers, the brewery said Almost Famous gift cards, coupons and beer passport offers would need to be used before June. After that, Luppoleto said it would not be able to honor those offers because it purchased the brewing equipment, not the Almost Famous business itself.

The brewery said it plans to keep live music at the East Granby site, though likely less often than Almost Famous had hosted. It also said it wants to hire beertenders and is interested in retaining current staff members who want to stay and are a good fit.

Luppoleto said dogs would be allowed on the patio if they are leashed and well behaved, but not inside once food service is added. The brewery also said food trucks could still appear at times, especially during summer events, though a kitchen build-out with a food vendor is expected to make on-site food the main option.

The company said pinball machines are gone and are not part of the current plan. Pool tables are also not expected right away, with that space instead being eyed for Luppoleto’s indoor bocce concept.

The brewery says its name, Luppoleto, means hop farm or hopyard in Italian. It says the name reflects James Wright’s Italian and agricultural heritage, as well as the couple’s early decision to plant 60 hop plants years before opening the brewery.

Luppoleto said its Windsor Locks taproom will remain open for now. The company said it hopes to keep both locations distinct while expanding its footprint with more beer, more activities and a much larger gathering space in East Granby.