I made a visit to this brewery over the weekend to visit some friends who live in New Haven. It's a great space, cool location and nice people. On this particular Saturday the place was packed, so much so we had to wait an hour to secure seating at a picnic table so we could have food delivered. Now here is where the beer nerd in me comes out, along with several other friends who were visiting the brewery for the first time who agreed with me. They beers weren't good at all. I tried their single IPA first called Cranky and it had a very thin body (almost adjunct lager-like) and barely any hop character. The same for the Big and Little Cranky IPAs, the nitro porter was respectable but nothing special. I later sampled the black lager that someone filled a growler with and it was fine. The best beer we had all day was from one of the guest kegs. Maybe it's my big city bias of the people in the burbs but I find it funny that so many people would flock to a place like this that is making mediocre (at best) beers. I guess some people just want a fun local place to hang out and there are still a lot of people who prefer milder flavored beers but I fear for breweries like this once more and more start popping up that make more quality beers. I feel the same way about a brewery that opened in the town I grew up in called Broken Bow. They sell out of everything they make and the place is packed all the time but when I had a chance to sample their beers I had to dump out almost every one I tried. Any locals have an opinion on Stony Creek or know of other breweries that have a devout local following but don't make very good beers? At least make good beers by BA/RateBeer and general beer nerd standards?
I agree completely with your assessment. I live 10 minutes away from Stony Creek, and I absolutely love it (at least in the summer, I haven't been back since September). It has a really awesome outdoor area, great views, and a nice laid back vibe (plus cool lawn games). I love that they generally have a nice food truck outside (Caseus is my favorite by a long shot- I would go to Stony Creek over the summer just to get a grilled cheese). When I was there in the summer it was always crowded, but never as packed as you're indicating it was when you went. All of that said, their beers just aren't good. When I go, I either get what is on Nitro (the flavors are more muted regardless and it doesn't fill me up as much) or a guest beer. I've even had wine there on a few occassions. When I go, it is for the location and vibe, not the beer. I think locals are either (a) uninitiated into the world of melt-your face off, flaw-free IPAs and just want an unoffensive pint or (b) don't care about the taste of the beer and just want a local place to hang out.
I agree that the beers are pretty bad but its a really cool space, especially in the summer. It's pretty great to drink and play cornhole right on the water. At least in CT, breweries have become a weekend hot spot for the casual beer fan, the ones that have full pours anyway.
I agree. I live within walking distance and have only been once. Beer just isn't that good, really cool spot though.
The thing they're good for? Exposing people to local beer; expanding their taste a little bit. People who usually drink macros or Sam Adams (that's fine!) are discovering this place as a destination...go and have fun while drinking beer. They say, "Wow I didn't know this could exist in CT." The disappointment, as everyone has said, is that their beers aren't...stellar. But! Their market is not people on BA or beer geeks; their market is people (who still are the vast majority) who like to have fun and drink beer. Stony Creek doing guests taps is commendable. Interesting thing: many new breweries in CT are more local hangout, local bar type places. Come hang out, have some beer, have some fun. They're not looking to be the highly sought after whalez type place. And it's working for many of them so far.
Great spot, beer is mediocre at best. I think they may be aware that the beer is bad because they now have two "guest taps". Last time I went one of the guest taps was Kent Falls. That was a nice surprise.
I also live about 10 minutes from stony creek and absolutely love the brewery. While they arnt setting the world on fire with their beers, the location and vibe there is the best of any brewery ive been to so far. It is the place to go to in the summer to chill out, bring some food, play some games and drink some brews. The shoreline has been missing a spot like this for some time, and they are filling that void very well. I do like big cranky, and I can tolerate just about everything else they make, but we are spoiled in this area when it comes to IPAs. If we lived down south, or in the midwest im sure wed be singing the praises of their beers. They have the stiffest competition of anywhere in the world when it comes to IPAs, so it doesnt surprise me that most, if not all, of us turn our noses up to their beers. If you havent been, I highly recommend going there in the summer. It is an excellent spot to go and have a day at, and the beer wont hold you back from enjoying that.
I'm also walking distance away so I'll chime in. Cool summer spot, gets crowded fast. Diverse crowd, definitely not a bunch of beer geeks. If you want a seat or a game, best be there at opening or be prepared to wait. Caseus food truck is the best, and Frank's brick oven pizza is second. Nice back deck and outdoor area. Bring sunscreen. Beer is definitely more beginner oriented. It's enough to get the majority of beer drinkers coming back and enough to not repulse some regular craft drinkers. For example even their DIPA, Big Cranky, is a sweeter, maltier beer (although they have tweaked the recipe recently to add more hops, especially Mosaic). Some of their beers, like Nitro Pale Ale and Crum, are straight up flops. Unfortunately I live too close to the brewery, so in the summer they blast music which is a bit obnoxious when you're there, and even more so when you can hear it back home. Thankfully they close early...
I've only had the beers, never been to the place. I hated all the brews, but I might have to check out the spot. (But I'll definitely be imbibing from the guest taps)
