Classic and great New England Brewery. They are focused on what's in the can!…read more Industrial location. Cool and welcoming bartender. I had a SUBDuction and some pale ale named after a Navy ship. The Subduction was outstanding and can stand w/ the top tier of NEIPA. They have other alcoholic drinks for non-beer drinkers. I've been reliably informed they were good. No food and nothing delicious close. My guess is they bring in food trucks on busy nights. Will recommend and come back when in the area.

4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here. Skip to the end to see my rating scale…read more The big three things I look for most in a brewery are dog friendly area, decent food availability, and of course, quality beers. We didn't explore the food options around the area as we were just passing through, but it's in an area with multiple takeout options so you can always bring your own stuff in. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. It's a blue collar brewery - the customers and staff are clearly my kind of people. A couple of shipyard welders stopped by our picnic table outside to visit our dog and chat a minute. So the vibes are great - a place that I'd no doubt be a regular at if I didn't live 9 hours away. Solid beer selection and my flight didn't disappoint. I could have easily spent an entire evening there sipping on any one of them. It's located in a strip mall, so it's not in something like a gorgeous woodland or seaside setting, which is the only real reason I stop short of a five-star rating. But for sure, I'd happily drive a half hour out of my way to have a couple of beers here again. My rating scale: 1 - Just don't 2 - You'll survive, but there are better choices close by 3 - Good choice if you're in the area 4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here 5 - I'd try to convince my wife to drive an hour just to come here

The Niantic Public House is tucked away behind the Black Sheep restaurant off the main road in…read moreNiantic. The interior is very spacious, with plenty of high top tables. It's a bit loud and when we were there there were young children running around inside. There is a limited amount of non-Beer drink selections if you do not like beer. Obviously this place is for beer drinkers, but I was hoping for a few more non-beer options so that my beer loving husband could enjoy the beer. The bartender was very kind and understanding and offered me samples of the 1 hard seltzer and a blueberry cider that were available on tap (they also had sangria). I did have the cider that was decent, I'm not usually a cider fan but this one didn't have that tang most hard ciders have that I don't care for. My husband said the IPA beer that he had was very good. They have an outdoor seating area as well.

Niantic Public House & Brewery: Solid Beer, Great Vibe, but the Bar Setup Needs Help…read more Final stop--or technically, our first--on our Niantic-to-Mystic beer crawl was Niantic Public House & Brewery, conveniently located near our Airbnb. The town was buzzing with tourists, and we caught the tail end of a local car show just up the street. The scene had great small-town energy, and live music was just setting up when we arrived. Bonus points for easy parking behind the building. The space has a cool, industrial vibe with bold murals from local artist Jacob Cullers giving it some character. The taproom itself is big, open, and welcoming, with plenty of seating at the bar and throughout the space. The décor isn't exactly cohesive, but it has personality--and for a laid-back beer hang, that works. We tried Mystery of Juiceboxin', a super juicy New England IPA brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops (juiceheads, this one's for you), and D.S.D., a stronger, bolder Imperial IPA. Both were solid pours and easy to enjoy. I ended up going back for a second, which--if you've read any of my brewery reviews--you'll know is my personal barometer for whether a place is worth the stop. The vibe here is clearly geared toward community--super family-friendly, casual, and unpretentious. The live music was a nice touch too. J.C. Revival, a local duo, was playing that afternoon and added just the right amount of energy without overwhelming the space. Now... let's talk about the service. The bartenders themselves were friendly, upbeat, and doing their best--but the layout of the bar is absolutely killing them. Glassware is at the front, taps and sinks are in the back, and it felt like they were in a constant loop just trying to fulfill basic orders. Even on a slow day, service was sluggish simply because of how inefficient the setup is. You could see how hard they were working, but the system they're working within just doesn't make sense. A bar remodel focused on flow and function would go a long way here--not just to improve speed, but to take some pressure off the staff, who really were trying their best. Bottom line: The beer is worth the visit, the space has charm, and the energy is welcoming. But if you go, pack a little patience. Here's hoping they invest in a more functional bar setup--because with better service speed, this place could be a standout.

Beer'd Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in Stonington, Connecticut in November 2012…read more It was founded by husband and wife Aaron Simoncini and Precious Putnam. After enrolling in a class entitled "Beers of the World" in college, Simoncini became very interested in craft beer and soon began homebrewing. It was during this time that he gained the nickname "Beer'd". Eventually with his now-wife Putnam, Simoncini set out to open his own brewery. The couple set up shop at the Velvet Mill in Stonington. The historic building was originally home to the American Velvet Company, which operated from 1892 to 1996. Today it is a multipurpose building that is home to a thriving community of small businesses and artist studios. When Beer'd originally opened in the mill, they had just a 100-barrel system. The brewery quickly became notable for their small-batch high quality IPAs. In 2018, Beer'd opened a secondary facility at the Airport Business Park in Groton. This new 12,000-sq-ft space expanded their production capacity to 6,000 barrels. An adjoining 60-seat taproom (dubbed "Beer'd Brewing @ The Silo") opened at the Groton facility in January 2020. To differentiate the two taprooms, the original location in Stonington is now often referred to as "Beer'd Brewing @ The Mill". I recently visited Beer'd @ The Silo. Although they are one of my favorite Connecticut breweries and I've visited their Mill Taproom multiple times, this was my first visit to the Silo Taproom. Unlike the OG taproom which is more family-friendly, the Silo Taproom is intended to be exclusively for the 21+ crowd. It's a pretty nice space too. I pulled up a seat at the bar and looked over the draught menu. Throughout my visit, I enjoyed short pours of "You Like 'A Da Juice" (New England IPA), "Matter of Time" (New England IPA), "Roulette" (Russian Imperial Stout), and "Heavy Weight-Of-Sound" (Triple IPA). They were all excellent, but the last one was my favorite! I'm honestly not sure which taproom I prefer. If you've got little ones or furry friends with you, then head to the Mill. If you prefer a more adult exclusive experience, then head to the Silo. Either way, I plan on enjoying Beer'd beers for years to come!

Went here for an after work going away gathering. We were the only ones in the place (at first),…read morebut others funneled in while we were there. Absolutely LOVED the beer choices, as did everyone I was with. I would say Beer'd has the largest selection of REALLY good beers. Generally I find it hard to experience more than 1-2 beer options that I like at any local brewery. (They brew their own right there). Nice job! They should advertise it more, especially as a place for folks who just want to hang out with friends. ! I have been to their summer event with food trucks and games and tatoo artists, and it was a really fun event. Can't wait for another one! Also try their location in Stonington at the Velvet Mill. They have lots of great events there, and it can get lively because of the other businesses inside (including food.)

I drove about an hour to check out this brewery, and it was totally worth it. The atmosphere was…read morelaid-back, welcoming, and just the kind of spot you want to spend a casual night with friends. We kicked things off with a few craft beers, the variety was impressive, and it was fun sampling different styles I hadn't tried before. While sipping, we jumped into their trivia night, which was such a blast. It had just the right mix of fun and competition (and maybe a little friendly arguing over answers!). Dinner came from a Mexican food truck parked right outside, tacos and beer are a combo I'll never say no to. Once trivia wrapped up, we stuck around and played some board games they had available. It turned into one of those unexpectedly awesome nights where time just flies. What really stood out was the vibe, dog friendly, super chill, and filled with people just enjoying good drinks, food, and company. I'm already thinking about when I can make the trip again.

Really liked this place. Last minute stop after work hard all day at another event with my friends…read moreand co workers. Spacious, friendly. Patrons and Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Had their purple haze and it was worth it! No food menu so Friends Ordered in pizza . Worth a stop in. Bathrooms were bright and clean. Plenty of parking too

A fantastic intimate, yet roomy venue for live music. Service was outstanding, staff was friendly…read moreand professional and food was delicious, but be sure to save room for dessert...The Cakes are Out of this World Good! It's on Bank St in New London, so be mindful of your surroundings, otherwise, a great place to unwind and have a good time!

After a Second Chance, I'm Officially Bowing Out This was my…read moresecond attempt at giving The Social Bar a fair shot, and unfortunately, absolutely nothing has changed. You would think a spot would be packed for Sunday brunch, but we walked in to a completely dead restaurant--just two couples sitting at the bar. We got seated, but it quickly became clear that the bartender (who I assume was also the manager) was the only person working the entire front of the house. The Service & Wait To say the service was slow is an understatement. It took so long just to put in an order that we were highly tempted to walk out. The only reason we stayed was because we had an hour to kill. While the bartender was genuinely friendly--and even nicely gave me the last of the batch he had mixed--the good attitude simply couldn't make up for the agonizingly long wait. The Drinks & Food The Mimosa: It was a premixed blend that was about 90% orange juice and 10% champagne. The Fries: The lone bright spot of the meal. They were nicely seasoned and easily the best part of the experience. The Side Caesar Salad: I really wanted to love the Caesar dressing because it actually tasted homemade. Sadly, it was so incredibly overloaded with salt that I'm genuinely shocked I'm not blind. After two strikes and two back-to-back fails, I'll sadly have to bow out from giving this place a third chance. There are too many other spots to choose from to waste time on slow service and unexecuted food.

First impressions mean a lot more than you think. We all felt uncomfortable here. The venue itself…read moreis nice but I feel like it draws the wrong crowd. For example: there was a fight in the parking lot that had workers running out to intervene. It was so bad the police had to be called. The snacks are frozen; the beer was good. On the plus side they have a couple free Chex mix dispensers. First impressions matter - we would definitely not come back.

I have been here about 3 times. Had not returned only because the service had been rough before. I…read moream sure some of you had experienced it before but I will recommend you give them another chance. I remember standing waiting for about 20 minutes for a beer more than once before and not able too. We had order food that never came and we had to leave. But now they have enough staff and they are quicker. They also implemented a better ordering system and I think that made all the difference. This place always looked amazing inside. The decor and look inside is pleasant and just goes with the music; and the name. They have a great selection of beers and although they are not super cold it is good. This is not your typical bar & Grill; so no they don't have a kitchen. For FOOD just know they have limited menu of items. Pizza and pretzels are made in a quick small oven by the bar. But I have to say it was good. I had the margarita pizza and we ate it all. Eat before you come or just know these are snacks. They have a band playing and we loved it. I always end up dancing here. They usually have a band playing Fridays, Saturdays and sometimes Sunday. So check out their Facebook page for updates. It is a great hangout place for after work or meeting up friends.

Great beer selection. Great atmosphere. It's loud, rowdy, people were playing classic NES games on…read morea projector in the back at one point. Came here with missus and friend. Friend is REALLY into beer. He ordered for the missus and I. Every selection was great. The bartenders were attentive and informative and based on our previous choices steered us towards picks that would appeal to our specific taste profiles. This is a place I'd go with friends to just unwind. Yes it is very loud. But that's good when you've had a long week and you just want to let loose. Definitely a favorite and I'll miss this place when I eventually have to leave Connecticut.

Amazing space! We went last night to see Neva Dinova and were thrilled to see them in this intimate…read morespace. (Max capacity i74 people). The sound was great and the stage area though tiny, was big enough! They has a huge selection of beers, cocktails , canned bevs and even some great NA options. 10/10 lived this place.