‘Quirk Works Brewery and Blendery’ Coming to Danbury

Is there room for a second brewery in Danbury? The former owner of the 'Bull and Barrel Brew Pub' in Brewster, Rick Cipriani, seems to think so.

I talked with Rick on May 3 while he was waiting for zoning approval from the city of Danbury, and on Tuesday, May 11, the zoning commission unanimously approved his request. He's shooting for an opening date for this September and expects to employ between 10 to 15 permanent employees over the course of five years.

Quirk Works Brewery and Blendery will be located on Triangle Street in downtown Danbury and includes a 3,600 square foot space that can accommodate 200 to 400 patrons.

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I asked Rick, "What's going to make this brewery unique compared to others?" He told me he wants to "push the envelope" by using cutting-edge ingredients to brew some "quirky" and "weird" blends. Cipriani also plans to incorporate local artists on his beer cans and feature one to two new brews every two weeks.

There was a time during the seven years that Rick owned the Bull and Barrel in Brewster when he crafted a special brew for Lou and me based on our specific preferences. I asked him if his brewmaster could concoct an ale with the slight hint of mango, which became one of the more popular beers on tap at the Bull and Barrel. The following video is Rick Cipriani describing the "Ethan Brew".