Brewery set for indoor, outdoor expansion
Nod Hill sees success
The Nod Hill Brewery is constructing an indoor event space and outdoor biergarten this spring after getting approval from the town.
Nod Hill — located at 137 Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield — was looking to further its mission toward sustainability, and after COVID-19 restrictions forced operations outside in 2020, founder Robert Kaye said its demand heightened.
“It was so wildly successful and the people really enjoyed it that we said maybe we should look to do this on a more permanent basis,” Kaye said.
Kaye had already been approved to build an indoor dining space in 2019 but the pandemic halted his progress. In the 2020 aftermath, he decided to tack on an outdoor biergarten to the spring construction plans. The brewery will break ground in early spring and Kaye expects both projects to be completed in June, however, the opening date depends on where the state stands with COVID.
The biergarten will be seasonally staged in a meadow on the property taking up approximately 7,100 square feet, 4,200 of which are designated for seating and the rest for lawn games such as cornhole, Jenga and a ladder toss between the spring and fall. Kaye plans on situating a beer trailer, portable food trucks and porta-potties around the seating in the center.
The table umbrellas and string lights running through the field will all be solar-powered by the brewery building. Kaye also plans on occasionally hosting live music for patrons and supplying ambiance music on other days. Music will cease at 10 p.m. and lights have to be powered down by then as well per the town’s noise ordinance, Planning and Zoning Director Richard Baldelli said.
The Planning and Zoning Commission flagged one concern during the application process that could have made or broken Kaye’s expansion.
“The commission’s main concern is that there will be zero stack-up of cars onto Route 7. Cars have to get off of Route 7, there can be no patrons or persons on Route 7,” Baldelli said.
Nod Hill is situated along Route 7 where on-street parking is not possible, leaving its options limited to the 86 spaces the brewery’s site provides and accommodating approximately 160 patrons, Baldelli said.
Kaye was able to procure
an additional 75 parking spaces off-site, which resolved the commission’s concern and boosted Nod Hill’s capacity to about 318 people, although capacity varies between weekdays and weekends.
In addition to the weekday factor, the Planning and Zoning Commission requires the brewery have a parking attendant on the premises whenever capacity hits or surpasses 100 people, regardless of the day of the week.
When looking at the property’s meadow, Kaye noticed the field was well overgrown and thought just carving out a space for the biergarten would leave it looking “unfinished.”
“We’re a very sustainable brewery and we realized this could be a great opportunity to put together a pollinator pathway through here,” Kaye said.
A pollinator pathway is an eco-friendly environment designed to protect and support native species often connected through corridors in the town. Nod Hill will transform roughly 19,000 square feet, including the property’s wetlands, into a pathway.
Nod Hill is collaborating with the Woodcock Nature Center and other local organizations to map out a blueprint for the project, which will be ready by the spring of 2026.
Woodcock Nature Center President Jana Hogan said it takes time to convert a meadow because they can’t control how plants will grow and adapt. Part of the pathway plan entails removing invasive species and reintroducing native species that will create a natural habitat to support the surrounding ecosystem.
“The invasive species will take over the native plants and they have no beneficial properties for the environment,” she said.
Hogan hopes the area will be a “beautiful environment” where people can read informative signs and learn about Ridgefield’s native ecosystems.
“The idea is to create more of an educational center with it so people can learn about native plants and so on. I think the two kind of marry themselves together very nicely,” Kaye said.
I was asked to write this article by someone I met, and got to know quite well, while volunteering for ARC (Association of Religious Communities). My first inclination was to decline since I am not a writer nor am I one to necessarily open up about my spiritual side/religion. I can’t quote scripture, and to be honest, I am not as faithful at attending Sunday services as I should. But despite it all, I agreed to write this because I wanted to share how giving of my time has led to fulfilling me spiritually.
It was not until I was married and joined the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield that I began to understand the benefits received from volunteering one’s time. That feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment you get when you have worked hard, and in so doing, you have made someone else happy; having brought joy to someone’s life. While I had volunteered for various organizations in high school and college, I came to the conclusion that these experiences were different. The end goal of these projects certainly benefited others but, my takeaway back then was not so much how others benefited but, the good time I had had with friends working on the projects and having participated in a corporate sponsored project.
Over the past several years, I have become more aware of how the smallest of gestures can impact others and, for that matter, me. Whether cooking a meal for someone who is not feeling well or cooking a meal for a church event, to coordinating a fundraiser
for mission outreach, each, big or small, contributes to the greater good.
While I have participated in many mission oriented projects, one project in particular which has had the greatest impact on me is volunteering for ARC’s sponsored food pantry named “Comida” (Spanish for food) in Danbury. This amazing organization, through donations from area grocers, individuals, civic and religious organizations, affords the needy to come and pick-up food, at no cost, in a non-threatening and anonymous environment.
This amazing experience came about through my wife’s desire to get my son more engaged in the community. Since my son, at the time, did not have his license, I agreed to also assist. Our role was simple, every other week pick-up food items, deliver them to ARC and set it up for distribution for the next day. A rather rote, certainly un-inspirational job you would think. But this role opened our eyes to so much more.
Over a number of weeks of pick-up and deliveries my son and I not only became more comfortable in our defined roles but, most importantly, we became more aware of the true need that existed (and continues to exist) in our local community.
While conversing with two instrumental members of the Comida Program, Jo Gabriele and Don Lavallee, as we went about unloading boxes and setting up the food items, we heard of the number of individuals this pantry served; of the amazing contributions made by community organizations and individuals and most importantly, we heard heartwarming stories of some of the families.
It’s funny how we evolve as we get older. I guess there is truth in “with age comes wisdom”. In an age of “it’s all about me” I have gone down a completely opposite path. I believe it is more about others than myself. Being focused on my surroundings and the needs others I find fulfillment and peace. In my small way, I am working toward emulating Christ.
While I am not one to quote scripture, this particular passage from the gospel of Mark 10:45 inspires me: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
My journey toward being fulfilled spiritually really has come, and continues to come, from understanding the importance of giving back. When you are engaged you not only become part of the bigger picture; you get to witness the impact of your contribution. It may be as little as putting a smile a someone’s face. While it may sound self-serving, you feel good / fulfilled. In the end, we are all in this together. In serving one another we are working towards the greater good; what God is asking us to do.