STONINGTON WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
Two Hours to Your First Tiny Tree: Bonsai Bar at Beer'd Brewing Co., Stonington
A hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop where attendees pick, pot, and take home a bonsai in a guided two-hour session — useful for anyone planning an evening of craft, learning, and a take-home plant.
Two Hours to Your First Tiny Tree: Bonsai Bar at Beer'd Brewing Co., Stonington.
Adventure brief
Two Hours to Your First Tiny Tree: Bonsai Bar at Beer'd Brewing Co., Stonington
Set inside Beer'd Brewing Co. in Stonington, Bonsai Bar stages a compact, social workshop: in two hours you choose a tree, learn basic bonsai technique, pot it in a ceramic container and leave with a living souvenir and follow-up support. The format is intentionally straightforward — beginner-focused instruction, all essential materials provided, and an evening framed around a local taproom atmosphere.
At the heart of Stonington, Connecticut, a short walk from harbor-front streets, Bonsai Bar @ Beer'd Brewing Co. - The Mill invites beginners and plant lovers to make a tiny tree in two lively hours. Located at 22 Bayview Ave, this workshop pairs hands-on horticulture with the easygoing atmosphere of Beer'd Brewing Company's taproom—bring a friend and a local pour to sip while you pot.
The event is straightforward and well-equipped: every ticket includes a young tree you choose, a ceramic bonsai pot, tools to borrow (shears, a chopstick, and soil bin), and two hours of instruction that cover trimming, wiring basics, and ongoing care. The instructors guide groups through repotting, pruning, and shaping techniques so that absolute beginners walk away with a healthy starter bonsai and the confidence to keep it thriving. After the session, ongoing support is available through Bonsai Bar's Tree-iage program, a practical touch that makes the workshop more of a beginning than a one-night hobby.
What makes this offering stand out in a coastal New England town is the way it bridges craft culture and living craft. Beer'd Brewing Co. is already known locally for bold, creative flavors and a welcoming taproom; the Mill location offers enough room for social learning without losing the intimate feel of a neighborhood gathering. The hands-on format, paired with the tactile satisfaction of potting a tree, contrasts with the region’s outdoor attractions—harbors, salt marshes, and rocky shores—by channeling that same attention to small-scale natural detail indoors.
Practical details are crisp: workshops run two hours, start promptly, and require attendees to arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in, order a drink, and pick their tree and pot. Events are ticketed per person—no sharing a tree—and the venue enforces an Under 21 policy: 21+ only. Refunds are not issued unless Bonsai Bar cancels a class for insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen reasons.
This class suits people curious about plant care, travelers looking for a calm, creative evening after exploring the Connecticut coast, or locals seeking a social craft night. It’s an easy, low-impact way to bring a bit of living art home and to connect with a local business that has become part of Stonington’s community fabric. Whether you want a new hobby or a unique souvenir, a Bonsai Bar workshop at Beer'd offers a memorable, hands-on way to spend an evening in this coastal town.
Materials and instruction are included, so you can pack light. Bring any personal medications and a small tote if you plan to transport soil or your new pot by foot or transit. Check the event page for dates and arrive 15 minutes early to settle in, choose your tree calmly, and be ready.
Route Schematic
Workshop Flow — A Simple Sequence
A sequence of brief stops guides you from arrival to take-home plant in a roughly two-hour block.
Check-in & Settle
Arrive and get checked in; use this time to grab a drink before the workshop begins.
Choose Your Tree & Pot
Participants select a small tree and a ceramic bonsai pot to work with during the session.
Hands-on Instruction
The core of the workshop: guided trimming, potting and basic bonsai technique using shared tools and supplies.
Wrap-up & Take Home
Final adjustments, care tips and enrollment in the Tree-iage support program before you leave with your newly potted bonsai.
Note: this workshop is subject to the operator’s age policy — the event is designated for attendees 21 and older; space is limited and the session format is classroom-style, so expect a seated, table-based activity.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands-on Bonsai for Beginners
In a focused two-hour session you’ll pick your tree and receive step-by-step instruction to trim, style and pot it — the workshop is designed so participants walk away with their own tiny bonsai and the basics to care for it.
Local Taproom Setting
The event takes place at Beer'd Brewing Company, a neighborhood brewery that foregrounds bold, creative beers — the setting lets attendees pair a relaxed taproom atmosphere with a focused craft session.
What You Get — Materials and Ongoing Support
Tickets include a tree you pick, a ceramic bonsai pot, two hours of instruction, and access to ongoing Tree-iage support; the workshop also provides shared tools and materials to borrow during the session.
What the day feels like
What the Evening Feels Like
The workshop moves at an economical pace: check-in, a brief orientation, selecting your tree and pot, and then a concentrated period of trimming, potting and styling under instructor guidance — all framed as a social, approachable two-hour session where attendees are encouraged to bring a friend and a drink of their choice.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this workshop suits — and who it excludes.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The workshop runs for two hours; plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to check in and grab a drink before the session begins.
All materials for creating the bonsai are provided; attendees are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice if desired.
Tickets include the tree and ceramic pot to keep, two hours of instruction and access to the Tree-iage support program; the workshop also supplies shareable tools such as a soil bin, shears and a chopstick for digging.
The event takes place at Beer'd Brewing Co.; confirm the venue’s entry and age policies in advance.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Can two people share one tree/ticket?
No. Events are ticketed per person; every attendee must have a ticket because space is limited in the venues.
Are Bonsai Bar workshops 21+?
The operator’s policy states 21+ only. Some venues may be family friendly, but confirm the venue’s under-21 policy directly.
Are drink tickets included in the price of a ticket?
No, drink tickets are not included in the workshop price.
When should I arrive to the event?
Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled event to get checked in and grab a drink; workshops start promptly as scheduled.
What's included with a ticket?
You keep the tree you pick and the ceramic bonsai pot, receive two hours of instruction and ongoing Tree-iage support; tools and supplies such as a soil bin, shears and a chopstick are provided to borrow during the workshop.
How this guide was prepared
This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.
- Verified: 2026-09-12T12:12:50.742Z
Some booking links may generate revenue for ADV Guides or The Adventure Collective.
Availability, pricing, schedules and operating details can change.
Trip details and contextual sources were reviewed by ADV Guides Editorial.