“Springfest” continues Nod Hill's mission to support sustainability with family-friendly events

Nod Hill is celebrating Mother Nature with a series of environmentally-themed, family-friendly Sunday events called Springfest! As a 100% solar-powered brewery we have strived to make a commitment to sustainability in all facets of business.

Springfest events below - tickets & registration for all events can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2p8jhz59

April 24 - Composting Class with the HRRA & Curbside Compost, 12:30pm, free

May 1 - Norwalk River Valley Trail walk & nature scavenger hunt with licensed arborist Douglas Zitnay, 11am, free (followed by lunch & a beer in the Biergarten)

May 8 - Gentle Yoga with Sarah Zitnay, outdoors at the Hickories farm, 11am, $28 includes a beer after class

May 15 - DIY Seed Ball-making Class with Dina Brewster of the Hickories, 12pm in the Biergarten, free

May 22 - Build-Your-Own Bluebird Nesting Box with Woodcock Nature Center, 3 Seatings in the Biergarten 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. $30 per kit, $5 per person.

Springfest is an expression of our mission to support sustainability and community. Events are centered around our 6,000 sq ft Biergarten, which opened to the public last summer. Flanking the Biergarten is an equal-sized pollinator-friendly wildflower meadow, which features native, non-invasive plantings. The upcoming events highlight our partnership with local organizations such as the Woodcock Nature Center, the Hickories Farm, the Norwalk River Watershed Association, the Pollinator Pathway, and the Norwalk River Valley Trail.

“We’re striving to make a difference.” says Nod Hill co-founder Sarah Zitnay, “We’re enhancing our natural surroundings for creatures that need more habitat, running on solar power, supporting environmental groups, and offering community-based activities centered around nature and neighbor. Our motto is Brew with Wonder, Drink with Joy and we are looking to expand that joy to the wonder of the natural world and what being in nature does for the spirit.”

Since April of 2019, Nod Hill has been 100% powered by solar energy - the first brewery in the state to run entirely on renewable energy. Installed on the roof of their building is a 287kW photovoltaic solar array that offsets 100% of Nod Hill’s electrical usage and pushes at least 5,618 kWh per year back into the power grid. “Since we make beer on a fully electric brewing system, the impetus to go solar was there at the beginning” said co-owner Robert Kaye of Redding. “Doing so really set us on a path to always be asking how our business could be more sustainable in every manner of operation.”

Since opening the Biergarten, we have partnered with local chef Jeff Taibe, whose On the Fly food truck specializes in Southeast Asian-inspired dishes - and is always on-site whenever the brewery is open.

Tickets & registration for all Springfest events can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2p8jhz59

The Taproom and Biergarten are open Wednesday & Thursday 4-9pm, Friday & Saturday 12-9pm, and Sunday 12-7pm (Biergarten is weather-permitting).