When I Went: July 16th, 2021
Where: 12 Water Street, #1A, Mystic, CT 06355
Barley Head brewery in Mystic opened in 2017 in what used to be a jewelry store. Its location is set in the basement of an old brick building not far from the Mystic drawbridge. My brother and I went here for the first time in July and were struck by how unique the taproom was. It is definitely the smallest taproom I have ever been in, seating only around 10 people. The indoor seating is a tight but comfortable space that is decorated with local art. They also have plenty of outdoor seating so don’t worry about not finding a table.
Barley Head is located at the edge of downtown Mystic and does not have any parking. Be prepared to spend lots of time finding street parking, or you can pay to park at the art museum lot. There is plenty to do within walking distance though, including restaurants, local attractions, and another brewery, Bank & Bridge. My brother and I used this opportunity to try the famous Mystic Pizza only a block away (we weren’t impressed). When it comes to the beer available, Barley Head had 8 available when we went which is pretty impressive for how small their space is. Of those 8, there was a decent variety in styles with plenty of sours. I was not blown away with any of their beers, but I did like all 4 beers I tried. Definitely swing by this spot when you come to downtown Mystic.
Other Cool Things:
- Flights
- Art events
- Book club events
- Open to outdoor food
- Ice Cream beer floats!
What I Drank:
Chris: Obscurus Nitro (Stout) 7.7% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Sunfish Kettle (Sour) 4% – 3.5 out of 5
Chris: Water Street Razz (Fruit) 5.8% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Water Street Blood Orange (Fruit) – 4 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 3.5 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 