NORTH STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT

Inside a historic maroon-shingled Colonial edifice above North Stonington’s riverside rapids, SHUNOCK RIVER BREWERY & VILLAGE CAFE is stationed at an inconspicuous intersection merging residential neighborhoods.

Opening its doors November 29, 2019, Shunock Brewery added a wood-fired pizza oven a year hence. A cozy nanobrewery with small left side brew tank section across the diminutive six draught bar, its windowed frontage features several barrel-top tables while the waterside covered deck provides Edison-lit wood benches for further capacity.

An old hardware store converted into a friendly local cafe, SRB offers casual rustic Americana. Vintage mushroom boarding consumes the chestnut-columned interior and olden wood cabinets adorn the bar.

During my March ’22 one-hour journey, ate green peppered onion-topped pizza with wife while imbibing six approachable suds.

Dry citrus-spiced Eldorado Pale Ale let subtle lemon rind and yellow grapefruit bittering contrast tangy tangerine and mandarin orange misting above musky wood-toned herbage.

Utilizing local pumpkins, moderately maple syrupy North Stonington Pumpkin Ale picked up daintily autumnal cinnamon-sugared nutmeg seasoning for its brown-sugared pumpkin pie dalliance.

Easygoing IPA, River Monster Bitch, brought mild Mosaic-hopped lemony yellow grapefruit bittering to lightly pined Simcoe hops and dry pale malting.

Lactose-laden milkshake IPA confection, Orange Creamsickle, hid its vanilla-creamed orange tartness and lemon meringue piquancy behind dry hop astringency.

Local honey paraded thru lightly maple molasses-sapped Honey Maple Brown Ale, leaving nutty mocha remnants.

Dark chocolate glazed dewy English-styled Cocoa Nib Stout, picking up faded maple walnut coffee tones and sweet hazelnut snips.