Two Roads’ second brewery weeks from opening

Phil Markowski, right, Head Brewmaster and Co-founder For Two Roads Brewing Company Phil Markowski, right, Head Brewmaster and Co-founder For Two Roads Brewing Company Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Two Roads’ second brewery weeks from opening 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Two Roads' Brewing Company is weeks away from unveiling its new brewery, and a string of innovative beers to boot.

After 15 months of construction, founders of the Stratford craft beer giant are preparing to open their 25,000 square-foot facility, titled Area Two, on March 11. Dozens joined CEO Brad Hittle and his partners CCO Celment Pellani, Master Brewer Phil Markowski and CFO Peter Doering Thursday to see what they had in store.

“Area Two is where we are going further down the road less traveled on innovation,” Hittle said.

The $12 million barrel-aging facility sits on 2.5 acres of land adjoining the existing brewery.With a trove of barrels and several massive fermenters, Area Two also features a tasting room, outdoor deck, a private event room and more.

The brewery will focus exclusively on rare sour- and barrel-aged beers and fruity styles.

“They are highly specialty beers … so it’s going to be a much smaller operation or at least a smaller volume operation,” Markowski said, adding that what they plan to produce at the facility will account for roughly 7 percent of the volume brewed annually at the main brewery.

Along with development of Area Two, the Stratford brewery stayed busy in recent months. Two Roads added Kentucky to its list of distribution markets last week.

Now in 14 states, D.C. and in the United Kingdom, Hittle touted that the brewery produced 64,000 barrels in 2018.

Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com