Want to See a New Brewery in Connecticut?

By Jaimie Cura

Josh Norris is hoping Witchdoctor Brewing Company will put a spell on you. But first, he needs help in getting his business off the ground with a Kickstarter fundraising project.

“Our goal is to start with a 15-barrel brewhouse,” he said.

As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, Witchdoctor Brewing Company’s Kickstarter project raised $4,879 and still has a long way to go — $30,000 by 8:52 a.m. Wednesday, August 6. The only way the project will be funded is if the entire $30,000 is raised by that deadline.

“We are asking for $30,000 to help fund a brewhouse, fermenters, other important pieces and building modifications that will allow us to use all of this great equipment,” Norris wrote. “We are going to use every bit of ingenuity and creativity that we have to stretch these dollars to their maximum potential.”

Location

Norris set his sights on South Windsor as the location.

“The town is dedicated to encouraging small business growth and new excitement for its populace,” he wrote on his Kickstarter page. “Part of the Witchdoctor culture will be to do our best to be as “green” as we can. One of our goals is to adopt as much used equipment as we can.

“This will help us cut costs and help other businesses expand. We will use our ingenuity to make our processes as efficient as possible, such as using steam for most of our heating needs. We also intend to develop relationships with farmers to make use of our spent grains as feed for their livestock.”

The Team

Norris’ team includes wife Allison Norris and brewmaster Daryl Adamaitis, who worked at City Steam Brewery for four years as a brewer.

Flagship Brews

Third Eye Rye Pale Ale is an American style deep golden colored ale with a rye spice and a citrus /floral hop flavor/aroma, Norris said. Three different hop varieties and three specialty grains give this beer its flavor and aroma.

Pauper’s Porridge Oatmeal Amber Ale begins with a malt profile that provides caramel and biscuit flavors. Oats are added to give it a velvety smooth mouthfeel. This is all balanced out with a bit of hops to keep the sweetness at bay, he said.

The Mission

“The beer we produce will be immediately available in our taproom, where we aim to provide a relaxing and laid back beer drinking experience,” Norris said.

Pints to drink at the taproom, growlers to go, local food, regional art and music — that’s all part of the vision Norris has. But the ultimate vision is one of seeking happiness and sharing it with others.

“We will use our creativity to create a rotating line of brews that our patrons will love in a variety of styles both well-known and unique with surprising ingredients,” he said. “We feel that living your passion, whatever that may be, is very important to happiness in this life.”

Visit the Witchdoctor Brewing Company Kickstarter page for more info on the company and how to donate. If the project receives full funding, contributors will receive rewards for their donation.

(Photo: Brewmaster Daryl Adamaitis at work. Credit: Witchdoctor Brewing Company)