E-Malt.com News article: USA, CT: Thimble Island Brewing Company to open brewpub in Old Saybrook in January

Locally brewed beer, fresh prepared “really good food” and a friendly, family-oriented dining experience is coming to Old Saybrook, the owner of this brewpub says.

According to The Register Citizen, Thimble Island Brewing Company, opening at 75 Main St. in January, will offer food and drink and be geared toward families, much like the company’s flagship location in Branford.

“A lot of our folks are typically more family oriented and Saybrook is kind of looking for that,” said Justin Gargano, president and CEO of Thimble Island Brewing Company.

Most of the patrons coming in, he added, “they come from a sports event, or they just want to do something on a Thursday or Friday night.”

The brewery will occupy the former Denali building downtown, which was most recently the home of Gargano Pasta & Italian Market, owned by Gargano’s brother, Joel Gargano.

The timing is right for a brewery there, First Selectman Carl Fortuna said, adding that residents have been hankering for a spot just like this since he was elected in 2011.

“Since I’ve been in office, for 12 years, people have repeatedly asked me if, somehow, we could get a brewpub in town,” he said.

Fortuna said the new business will be “filling a hole on Main Street.”

“I think it’s going to be very active. I think it’s going to be very successful,” he said. “I just think it’ going to be a huge hit.”

Jennifer Donahue, director of economic development and communications, echoed this.

“I think it’s going to draw a lot of people to Main Street, and they’re so centrally located that it’s really nice to have that kind of exciting, new business coming to our Main Street,” she said.

“It's a beautiful location and they have that outdoor patio, so it’s perfect for encouraging indoor and outdoor dining, when the season is right, so it’s just a really nice location and this business will really compliment it,” she said.

Gargano said he has been looking for a second location for “well over a year.”

It was synchronicity, when his brother closed his Italian restaurant and market at the site. Gargano said he knew he had found the perfect spot.

“I just couldn’t let that beautiful place go to waste and I felt the need to jump on it,” he said.

Thimble Islands will serve the brewery’s popular beers, including Hero Pilsner, Sea Foam American Pale Ale and Sea Mist New England IPA, as well as Thimble Island Foxon Park hard soda in classic cream and white birch flavors.

These brews and libations will come from the Branford facility, while the Old Saybrook beers and ales made onsite will be “research and development, test batches.”

“This would just be any trials or things that we’re looking to bring to the marketplace or based upon what the market’s currently clamoring for, we’ll be producing out of there,” he said.

The food offerings will mirror those that are on the menu in Branford — from salads, Miso wings, Buffalo chicken mac and cheese, shrimp tacos, flatbread pizzas and specialty sandwiches.

These include the Thimble Smashburger, two 3-ounce Salt Marsh Farms grass-fed beef patties, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, Thimble Island Brewing Co. (TIBCO) sauce and a sesame bun and Spiced Chicken sandwich, crispy buttermilk chicken, slaw pickles, house hot sauce, TIBCO Sauce and sesame bun.

The offerings, including the rolls, are all made in-house, except the French fries, said Gargano.

The brewery will be taking over two floors. The restaurant, bar and brewing area will occupy the 4,000-square-foot first floor, while the 3,000-square-foot basement will be dedicated to prep work and catering.

Work is going on now at the site, including the addition of a 34-foot mahogany sapele bar with seating. There will be additional seating on the outside patio.

Gargano said he will be filling a need in town.

“I think you have a younger generation that’s coming in and they don’t necessarily have a place to go that’s as unique as this one,” he said.

This business owner is looking forward to the opening.

“I think between just bringing our food concept over and then also having all the actual trials that we’re doing there, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

He said, also, “people are kind of hungry” for supporting local business.

“Local is king,” he said. “Just like they go to a farm stand and buy local produce, I think they want to know where their beer comes from and if you can pair that with really good food, what I call almost fancy fast food…I think there’s a business opportunity there.”


05 November, 2023