Not every brewery needs a sprawling campus, a rooftop biergarten, or a parking lot full of food trucks to leave a lasting paw print on craft beer. Fat Orange Cat Brew Co. began on Aug. 13, 2016, as a tiny farm brewery in East Hampton, Connecticut, where longtime homebrewer Mike Klucznik and his wife, Sheila Mullen, transformed years of award-winning homebrewing into one of New England’s most sought-after beer brands. Klucznik traded a career as a CPA, Mullen stepped away from teaching American Sign Language, and together they built a brewery inspired by Billy, Mullen’s beloved orange-and-white cat who convinced Mike that felines weren’t merely tolerable—they deserved a brewery of their own. Billy’s mischievous spirit still prowls every can, from names borrowed from cult films and favorite songs to labels that seem to wink before you’ve even cracked the tab.
As demand exploded, Fat Orange Cat outgrew its picturesque farm setting and joined Connecticut’s innovative 12 Percent Beer Project, a cooperative production brewery where independent brands preserve their identities while sharing world-class brewing infrastructure and distribution. Rather than growing larger, Fat Orange Cat simply grew farther. Although the East Hampton taproom closed in late 2021, brewer Mike Klucznik and head brewer Carla Waclawski continue releasing an eccentric parade of hazy hop bombs, pastry stouts, playful fruited ales, and wonderfully odd experiments through the 12 Percent collective. Thanks to Orcas Distributing, those beers now wander all the way to Tacoma, where today’s Peaks & Pints Thursday Fat Orange Cat Flight celebrates one of craft beer’s enduring truths: imagination travels far better than square footage, especially when accompanied by an orange cat.
Peaks & Pints Thursday Fat Orange Cat Flight
Fat Orange Cat No Spring Kitten
5% ABV | American Pale Wheat Ale | East Hampton, Connecticut
Youth has its charms, but experience knows when to stop chasing laser pointers. Soft wheat lays down a pillowy canvas for orange zest, fresh-baked bread, orchard fruit, and the faintest flourish of spice, creating an ale that welcomes rather than overwhelms. A splash of citrus brightens the finish, rewarding slow conversations, long afternoons, and anyone wise enough to appreciate subtlety over spectacle. Not every cat needs to climb the curtains to become the center of attention.
Fat Orange Cat Baby Kittens
6.5% ABV | Hazy IPA
Every great brewery deserves a patron saint, and this one just happened to have whiskers. Billy, the orange-and-white cat who belonged to co-founder Sheila Mullen, famously converted Mike Klucznik from a self-professed non-cat person into a lifelong feline devotee, inspiring both the brewery’s name and its delightfully mischievous personality. Waves of ripe mango, pineapple, tangerine, peach, and passion fruit tumble across the palate before grapefruit and pine provide just enough resistance to remind you that even the cuddliest kittens occasionally reveal their claws.
Fat Orange Cat Weekend At Kittie’s
6.3% ABV | Fruited Hazy IPA
Apparently, even cats need the occasional tropical getaway. Pineapple arrives first, followed by juicy citrus, ripe stone fruit, and a velvety haze that wraps each sip in carefree vacation energy. A restrained bitterness keeps the fruit honest, steering the beer away from excess before slipping quietly back beneath the palm trees.
Fat Orange Cat Jalapeño Jack Hot
5% ABV | Chile Beer | East Hampton, Connecticut
Every flight deserves one glorious instigator—the beer that smiles politely while reaching for the jalapeños. Fresh green pepper leaps from the taster glass with vibrant herbal character before light malt gently cushions the chile’s earthy warmth, allowing the heat to build patiently instead of charging the room. The finish lingers with just enough fire to keep every taste bud fully awake, proving that the most memorable troublemakers rarely need to raise their voices.
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