When Chris Went: October 10th, 2020
Where: 16 Business Park Drive, Branford, CT 06405
If you live in Branford you probably know where Thimble Island Brewing Company gets its name, but if you are like me and didn’t grow up near the Long Island Sound then you might not know that it is named after a series of islands right off of the Connecticut coast. The next piece of information you need to know is that the brewery is 4 or 5 miles inland from the islands where it gets its name. Despite not being able to see the ocean, the brewery sticks to the nautical theme with tentacles painted on the walls and their logo being a square knot. The idea for Thimble Island brewing began as an interest in homebrewing which eventually led them to sell their beer to local bars. In 2013 they ended up at their current location and have been going strong there for seven years. In fact, they recently reopened after some indoor renovation of their taproom and rentable event space. The taproom has polished concrete and hardwood floors, plenty of tables and high tops, and a very bright area with a nice mural of tentacles opening a beer can. Outside they have added a ton of picnic tables accompanied by JJ’s Food Truck.
Chris: My brother and I went to Thimble Island right after they reopened in what would normally be peak Oktoberfest season. It was also peak pumpkin-flavored-everything season so I got their Dark Pumpkin Porter. I am not usually a pumpkin person, but this beer was pretty good. It was not an overpowering pumpkin flavor so that really complemented the roasted malts taste. My favorite beer is still their Vanilla Coffee Stout which is available at almost any package store. My roommates and I can find it even though we are no where near Branford. The brewery was busy when we went but we felt pretty comfortable with all the safety measures that were in place. The indoor and outdoor tables were safely spread apart, and the servers came to each table to avoid crowds at the bar. Now that it has gotten colder, they have added heaters to their outdoor picnic tables. P.S. their urinals are old kegs, just thought everyone should know.
Shannon: I’ve always had a sweet spot for Thimble Island since visiting the taproom for the first time a few years ago. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing their new renovation, but from the pictures that tentacle mural is everything! While Chris’s favorite Thimble Island brew is the Vanilla Coffee Stout, my personal favorite is a little beauty who goes by the name Bon Voyage. Coming in at a cool 5.5%, this beer is the perfect brunch choice. A take on their super dry Brut IPA, Bon Voyage is packed with fresh oranges and champagne, giving it a strong tangy flavor. A second variant of this beer is the Bon Voyage – Rosé Brut which is brewed with strawberries and hibiscus. Sadly though Bon Voyage is no longer in production, so you’ll have to be on the look out for a beermosa elsewhere.
Other Cool Things:
- Annual seafood and brew festival
- They offer mini kegs, growlers, and crowlers
- Cool taproom art and even cooler can art!
- Merch available online and in the taproom
- Event space available
- Dog friends allowed!
- Socially distanced indoor and outdoor seating
What Chris Drank:
Chris: Dark Pumpkin (Porter) 5% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Olivia (Sour) 5% – 3 out of 5
Chris: Vanilla Coffee (Stout) 7% – 4.5 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 