Burnside Ice & Brewery

To read about this fascinating
family business, follow these links:

Burnside Ice

Old Burnside Brewing Company

Pipes in the Valley

Burnside Ice
Robert McClellan - Proprietor

Burnside Ice is a family business that is significant not only to the history of East Hartford, but that of Connecticut as well. Why? Because it is the only ice plant remaining in Connecticut, and makes its ice the old-fashioned way.
---The ice company was started by Bob McClellan's grandfather, Albert McClellan, in 1911. It eventually changed hands to his son, Clifford, and then to Bob.
---Time has changed some of the particulars from that endeavor. Back then, ice was harvested from a pond that was located on Goodwin Street. The pond would freeze over in the winter, and workers would saw it up into blocks, transport it to a storage building, and maintain it in its own cold storage for the rest of the year. People would then buy chunks of this ice to keep in an ice box, the precursor of today's refrigerator.
---As electricity came along, harvesting ice from the pond became obsolete. The ice building became its own freezing unit, where large, tapered containers were filled with water, and then frozen, producing seventy-two 300 pound blocks of ice a day. These containers are below the floor of the ice room - the floor being rectangular boards that can be opened for access. By adding more water on top of the ice, the tapered blocks eventually float free within their containers, to be lifted by ice hooks for storage.
---Now, you may be wondering, why should an ice company like this still be in business today?
---Because Burnside Ice is different. It has to do with the quality of the water, coming from its own natural and private well. The purest to be found. Even in 1911, people recognized the difference.
---A sister business, The Olde Burnside Brewing Company, takes advantage of this water also, making a Ten Penny Ale that is quite unique.
---The University of Connecticut Business Department awarded Burnside Brewery Business of the Year for Family Businesses.
---Tours of the ice plant are available by request. Call: 860-528-2200.

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The Old Burnside Brewing Company
"Brewers of Ten Penny Ale"

Taste a bit of history.
---Once upon a time, all brewing was local, a matter of both pride and accountability for the brewer, who was well-known in his locale. The product had to taste good, or he would hear about it. Consistency was important in order to succeed.
---Back then, it was not about mass production, or clever commercials. It was about quality. Taste. Dependability.
---It was also about family pride as well. Most breweries were family-run.
---Such quality and dependability can still be found today. The village brewery is now called a microbrewery, a small-run business, well known in its vicinity, where quality, taste and dependability remain a matter of personal pride. Each batch is carefully prepared to the last detail. Like hundreds of years ago, these microbreweries use their own secret recipes to produce their own special taste.
---The Old Burnside Brewing Company is just such a place. Owned and run by Bob McClellan, a visitor who tours this brewery knows for certain that the beer McClellan makes is special.
---There's reason for that special taste. One of the secret ingredients that goes into making this beer is the water. That's right. Burnside Brewery uses water from its own private well, a source so pure and fine that you can taste the difference.
---Another reason is the recipe itself, a Scottish style ale concocted by Brewmaster Ray Ballard. They call it a Ten Penny Ale, distinguishing it for quality. (In olden times, a pint of ale cost five pennies; on special occasions, a higher quality ale was made available for ten pennies.)
---Tours of the brewery are available by request. Call: 860-528-2200.

You can see their Web Site at www.oldeburnsidebrewing.com

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Proud of his Scottish heritage, Bob McClellan held his first Scottish festival in 2002. It was called Pipes in the Valley, and was a huge success. It will be held again on September 26 and 27 in 2003, at the Elk's Club in East Hartford.

This year's event will include the New England Hammer Throw Championship, a Kaber (log) Toss, bagpipe competition, and lots of entertainment, vendors and food.

You can find more information on his Web Site: www.oldeburnsidebrewing.com

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