Craft Brewery Welcomed on the Shoreline

The Connecticut Shoreline now has bragging rights to the only Belgian style brewery in the state, with Overshores Brewing Company. You are cordially invited to its Grand Opening in East Haven.

It's a great time to be drinking craft beer in America. According to BonAppetit.com, “It used to be that American craft brewers took cues from Belgium, Britain, and Germany. Now the industry has come full circle, and breweries worldwide are looking to the U.S. beer scene for inspiration.”

The craft beer movement has produced many satisfying brews across America, but for a while Connecticut was lagging in its offerings. Now at last you can find an excellent and satisfying Belgian style brew in Overshores. Currently producing 5 beers in its East Haven location, Overshores Brewing Company is catching more attention as its distribution widens across the state and country, and even internationally.

Founded by Madison resident, Christian Amport, Overshores was partly the result of Amport’s frustration with Connecticut’s craft beer scene, or lack of it. He decided to do something about it. Amport was born in Madison, and though he grew up in Wilton, he summered in Madison since childhood. It wasn’t until he left the state to attend college in Vermont, followed by several years on the west coast, that he grew to appreciate the great beer culture native to other places. When he eventually returned to his home state several years ago, he realized the beer community was lacking.  

Amport says Belgian style beer is often characterized by its yeasty flavor and tanginess. Though by nature, Belgian ales refuse to be categorized by standard attributes, they vary immensely, and this is part of the intrigue and fun when tasting.

From their website, “Overshores Brewing Company is dedicated to the Belgian style of making beers. To be ‘Belgian’ means to never compromise on taste, richness, strength of alcohol, and enjoy total freedom in choosing ingredients. If it makes the beer better and more interesting, put it in.” This is the philosophy that has abided each recipe.

At Overshores, you can request a personal tour as well as take a seat at the bar, and learn a bit about what you’re drinking from Christian, or from his colleague, Brian Cox, Overshores’ lead brewer. They have toggled with recipes and come up with some smooth results, both dark and pale, that have won some well-deserved attention. The Overshores Blanc de Blanche is a recent gold-medal winner at the 18th Annual Great International Beer & Cider Competition held last month in Providence RI. The Blanc de Blanche is Belgian style wheat beer, brewed with small amounts of coriander and dried orange peel. A total of 710 beers and ciders from breweries across the U.S. and from around the world entered the competition.

An easy-going guy, Christian Amport is totally serious about the beer he is crafting at Overshores, and his attention spills over to the name and labeling. “There are a lot of gimmick-y names out there, and I knew I wanted something timeless, with class, something that would be remembered.” The name is inspired from the Madison waterfront, as in the Overshore rocks near the coastline off Neck Road. And the marine flag logo - simple and memorable - is likewise inspired by the seaside location of Connecticut’s Shoreline.

The Overshores facility is conveniently located off of Route 95 in East Haven. Amport shopped for a location knowing the brewery needed to be in a town with sewer lines to accommodate the tremendous amount of wastewater produced in the brewing process. Another benefit of the location is that it has well water, which is much preferred to the highly chlorinated city water common in other areas. He said the folks at Town Hall in East Haven were extremely welcoming and it made his decision to locate there a no-brainer. The best part is that there is plenty of room to grow. There are currently two fermenters in operation, with room for 18 more.

While Overshores is being shipped to restaurants and retailers around the state and country, there is a pub right on the premise for local folks to come out, kick back and savor a glass of Belgian beer. The pub carries other labels as well as their own, as a basis for comparison and enjoyment in order to round out the tasting experience.

In Madison, you can get your hands on Overshores at the Madison Wine Shop, and at Moxie Resaurant, both on Wall Street.

Overshores is celebrating its Grand Opening on Saturday, December 13 from Noon to 4 PM, and the general public is invited. Amport is hoping to welcome new fans from the Shoreline community and beyond. In addition to tours, there will be live music, food trucks, giveaways and some limited edition beers. Admission is free, and a good time is guaranteed! Best advice of the week? Don’t sit this one out.

M
Submitted by Milford, CT

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