When we went: July 24th, 2022
Where: 4 Grove Beach Road, Westbrook, CT 06498
Coastline Brewing Company opened this spring in Westbrook, and Nick and I decided to finally swing by in July. Many breweries take awhile to find their footing when they first start up, with some giving the impression that everything was rushed and not planned out, but Coastline Brewing seems to have skipped those growing pains. When Nick and I walked up to the brewery, it was clear that the founder had thought about their theme, décor, and beer selection. I can’t tell you how many new breweries I have been to that have 3 beers, all IPAs with 8 guest taps. But Coastline had brewed in preparation for their opening and had a great selection of beers from a variety of styles. They had IPAs, stouts, sours, lagers, seltzer, and cider, all brewed by Coastline.
Nick and I got to enjoy these drinks in their boating themed taproom with the tap list written on oars, the tap handles being the handles of oars, and the flights served on paddles. Their mug club is even called the “First Mates Club.” Everything was clean, and there was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. The only thing missing is cans, but the staff said they are hoping to get a canning line going soon.
Chris: With so many beers available, Nick and I each got a flight, and the first drink to catch my eye was the Maple Donut Stout which sounds like it would be super heavy and overly sweet, but they found a good balance. My favorite was the High-C sour made with cherry and lime which was a great combination of flavors. The S.O.S stout was too mild for me, but I was a fan of the C-Water cider and both the cranberry lime and grapefruit seltzers. I always thought I hated seltzers, but I’m finding that seltzers on tap taste way better than those in the can. Coastline gave me a great first impression, and I would love to go back to see what else they brew.
Nick: I don’t know what was previously in this location, but just by walking into the place, you can tell that they have done a lot of work to make it their own. The nautical theme is quite popular along the shoreline, but Coastline really goes all out. I appreciate the owner’s dedication to the decor with all the boat theme details. I also really like that they put the brewing front and center, as most places seem to put their vats in the back, but they are fully in view at Coastline. Like Chris, I loved High-C Sour and the Cranberry Lime Seltzer, but I also liked the Beach Bum Amber. I thought the light honey taste was refreshing and not exactly what I expected when I ordered it – in a good way! I really like that they make their own cider, the C-Water. I am honestly surprised that more places don’t make their own, and I am excited to try their new cider, the Mango Sunrise, next time we go.
Other cool stuff:
- Mug club
- Merch
- Growlers to go
- Plenty of events
- Dog and family friendly
What we drank:
Chris: Maple Donut (Stout) 9% – 4 out of 5
Chris: S.O.S (Stout) 5% – 3 out of 5
Chris: High-C (Sour) 5% – 4.5 out of 5
Nick: Cranberry Lime Seltzer 3.5%- 4 out of 5
Nick: C-Water (Cider) 5.6%- 4 out of 5
Nick: Beach Bum Amber (Lager) 5%- 3.5 out of 5
Brewing Persuasion: 4.5 out of 5
Feeling persuaded yet?
Brewing Persuasions 