“We couldn’t be more excited about the partnership. UConn is a venerable institution in Connecticut. It’s iconic, and we feel the same way about Two Roads,” said Brad Hittle, the brewery’s CEO.

The collaboration was forged after UConn officials approached Two Roads’ distributor, West Haven-based Star Distributors, who suggested the Stratford company, Hittle said.

“It’s been something that has been talked about for a good number of years among university leadership, athletics leadership,” Kyle Muncy, UConn’s director of strategic partnerships, said. “Especially in the State of Connecticut, there are so many fantastic breweries.”

Master Brewer Phil Markowski, center, raises a toast as he leads a tour of the Two Roads Brewing Company brewery, in Stratford, Conn. Oct. 12, 2021. Markowski and Two Roads staff were joined by representatives from the University of Connecticut for the introduction of their new TwoConn Ale.

In addition to Two Roads, UConn will also be announcing a partnership with Southington-based Kinsmen Brewing.

“Two Roads was a pretty natural fit,” Muncy said. “They’ve established themselves just like UConn as a brand outside of state boundaries.”

Hittle said the brewery and university officials had worked well together.

“We have had an incredibly positive relationship with the coordinators at UConn right out of the gate,” Hittle said. “They’re very imaginative, creative brand people.”

He pointed to the beer’s name itself as an example.

“It’s a good bar call, it says something about both institutions, in terms of the iconic aspect,” Hittle said of the name TwoConn. “That’s why we’re excited. It’s not a fabricated relationship, it’s a real relationship.”

Two Roads Master Brewer Phil Markowski began formulating the recipe in April, refining it into a lightly hopped, “easy drinking, approachable ale” with honey, caramel and pilsner malts that’s 4.3 percent alcohol by volume and meant to be enjoyed while watching a game.

“The main thing about this beer is it’s easy to drink,” Markowski said. “It’s approachable, it’s the type of beer that somebody who’s really into craft beer can still enjoy and respect. But it’s also the type of beer that those who are not still into craft beer — believe it or not, there are some — this is a beer that they will also find interesting enough but not overwhelming, not too hoppy, not too bitter.”

Two Roads Director of Marketing Collin Kennedy said the beer will launch as a draft at bars and restaurants early next month. Packaging of 12-packs and 16-ounce four-packs will begin early next year, he said.

Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick said the town is lucky the company chose the former Baird Machine Company factory as its headquarters.

“Two Roads is so key to Stratford and we’re so very fortunate that they decided to pick us versus somebody else,” she said. “They’ve expanded not only their business but others in the region and in Stratford. Anything we can do to promote economic development and drink a few beers, I’m all for it.”

“Cheers to that,” Hittle said.

The CEO noted that the brewery’s Oktoberfest celebration last month drew roughly 4,500 people, its biggest crowd ever, and hoped there would be more to come sooner than later.

“It was so uplifting, people wanted to get out and this was a place to do it,” Hittle said. “That’s what we want to keep doing more of now. We’ve got to get people re-engaged and stop being at home.”