Outer Light Brewing Company — Restaurant in Groton

Outer Light Brewing Company: Good Vibes, Forgettable Beer

We spent the weekend brewery-hopping between Mystic and Niantic, and while Outer Light Brewing Company has its fans, it didn’t quite hit for us. Tucked away in Groton’s industrial pocket, the taproom has that classic warehouse-meets-beach-town aesthetic—high ceilings, garage doors, and a laid-back crowd. It's the kind of spot you want to love, but for us, the beer just didn’t deliver.

We tried the Juicy Bull$#!t and Hoppy Beerday—two New England IPAs with fun names but fairly average execution. Juicy had the haze but lacked punch; Hoppy Beerday wasn’t bad, just kind of… there. I usually judge a spot by whether I’d go in for a second round. In this case, we didn’t.

We did consider swinging back on Sunday—Father’s Day—for their free cookout and a kid-friendly pint glass decorating activity. But if we’re honest, the draw was the event, not the beer.

That said, service was solid. The staff was friendly, upbeat, and even gave us a few good restaurant tips in the area. No complaints there.

Outer Light feels like the kind of place with potential. The name’s great, the vibe is easygoing, and it clearly has a loyal local following. But if you’re chasing standout brews, there are stronger contenders nearby. Still, if you’re in Groton and need a low-key hangout, it’s not a bad place to stop—just maybe not the one you’ll be raving...

This review is a part of my quest of visiting all CT breweries. This was my first visit to Outer Light.

The place consists of a small indoor space and a small patio for warmer months. The atmosphere inside is cozy. You can see the tanks where beer is being fermented. No food options are available except pretzels, and no food trucks were onsite during my visit. So it is better to bring your own food. There were dogs inside, so the place is dog-friendly. The bartender was very welcoming.

This brewery has a nice selection of beers available and it spans multiple styles: Lager, Stouts, different Ales and IPAs. You can order a flight of 4 beers to try everything. I appreciate that Outer Light experiments with beers and not just brews safe choices - beers like Ghost Ship (which contains ghost peppers) was fun. For this review I tried all the beers they had to offer. My favorites were Papa Dukes (Polish style pilsner) and 2024 Bourbon Barrel Aged Pitch & Roll (Imperial stout). Both are solid choices within their respective styles.

I enjoyed my time in this brewery and I recommend...

It may be in a somewhat rundown looking parking lot a bit off the beaten trail, but this brewery is far from a let down. The space is fairly compact, but features nice high tables good for small groups and a garage door that opens on nice days so you almost feel outside. The brews here are tasty regardless of style, and there are quite a few different styles. The Lonesome Boatman which you are most likely to find in restaurants and pubs in the area is a delicious refined redish amber ale that is easy to drink and goes well with food. The staff is quite nice and can help find the right beer for you. The decor is a nice mix of brewery and surf shack too. It’s a nice place to hang out and...