This Small Connecticut Brewery Just Named One of the Best in the USA

Tucked away on a historic farm in Branford, Connecticut, sits Caius Farm Brewery, which just walked away with a silver medal at the World Beer Cup, a global showdown where the planet’s top brewers duke it out for hops-fueled glory.  Not only did Caius Farm Brewery win a silver award at the 2025 World Beer Cup, but USA Today also ranked them at No. 5 on their "10 Best New Breweries in America" list.

The winning beer is called 'Elagabalus' under the category, 'Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout.' Other beers on tap include Alcibiades (Imperial Pale Ale), Artemisia (Cross Continental IPA), and Herodotus, which is crisp, bold, and incredibly complex. Discover all of Caius Farm Brewery's concoctions at caiusbrewery.com/on-tap.

Named after its founder, Caius Mergy, the brewery leans hard into the historical theme. Beer names like Caligula, Cleopatra, and Caesar grace the rotating tap list, and the rustic barn taproom feels like a gladiator’s lounge. Caius Mergy is one smart dude and a local guy who's passionate about brewing, farming, and ancient Roman history. He obtained his Master's in Classical Archaeology from the University of Oxford, UK. The brewery is built right into a 19th-century barn on his family’s Branford farm.

Local beer lovers have already caught on. On any given weekend, you’ll find Branford locals, Yale professors, and craft beer nerds from as far as Boston loitering around the brewery’s fire pits, sipping from tulip glasses and trying to pronounce “Elagabalus.”

Want to try it for yourself? Caius Farm Brewery is located at 101 North Branford Road, and yes, it’s worth the drive. Just be sure to bring your ID, your taste buds, and maybe a toga.