When we went: November 19th, 2021
Where: 266 Bridge st, Groton, CT 06340
Outer Light brewery company (OLBC for short) opened in Groton in the spring of 2015 and has been a favorite of the community ever since. Unlike all the other breweries near Mystic, you can actually get parking when you arrive at the taproom. That has to do with their location being in an industrial park and next to the now closed Galaxy Roller Rink. Like many breweries that are in this type of area, the outside isn’t much to look at, but the inside has some surfing themed decorations. While the taproom isn’t large, there is a good amount of outdoor seating and a decent amount of indoor seating. During the warmer months, the garage door that acts as one of the walls of the taproom opens up to let in some fresh air.
Chris: This was not the first time I had been to Outer Light, but I have never been particularly impressed with this brewery. I have visited four different times, and I have never seen a sour on their menu, and their online tap list doesn’t show any either. I understand that every brewery doesn’t need to make every type of beer, but sours are so popular that it seems weird not to make any. That isn’t to say their beer isn’t good, but I have not personally liked many. I did like their Bluebird Blond Ale made with blueberry, pomegranate and lactose. I am a sucker for anything with a good blueberry taste to it, and I have liked the trend of adding lactose to beers. While I do not like IPAs, I do like when breweries work with local businesses and communities to come out with specialty beers. OLBC is coming out with Walk Your Horses NEIPA to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mystic Bascule bridge. Maybe trip number 5 will change my mind about the place.
Nick: Craft brewing as a business is just as much about building a following and establishing yourself in a community as it as about making beer. OLBC has done a lot to build its brand in the Groton area and has a strong following with the workers at Electric Boat. They have certainly been able to build that into success as they purchased the old roller rink next door with the intent of expanding their business there, although Covid seems to have delayed or possibly changed those plans. However, I do not like OLBC’s beer. Some of the people my wife works with love this place, but I do not find any of their beers to be particularly good and none stood out to me. I do not typically like Coffee Stouts, but I thought the Libation Propaganda wasn’t bad. And I wanted to like the Bluebird and Orange Rainbows more than I actually did.
Other cool stuff:
- Trivia nights
- Merch
- Cans to go
- Food trucks
What we drank:
Chris: Bluebird (Blonde Ale) 5% – 4 out of 5
Chris: Peanut Butter Pitch & Roll (Stout) 8.8% – 3.5 out of 5
Chris: Orange Rainbows (Sour IPA) 5.7% – 2.5 out of 5
Nick: Libation Propaganda (Coffee Stout) 5.5%- 3 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 2.5 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 