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Outer Light Brewing, from left, Matt Ferrucci (founder), Tom Drejer (founder), and Tyler Cox (head brewer). Photo courtesy of Outer Light Brewing

Groton, Conn.-based brewery Outer Light got a taste of the spotlight Tuesday when celebrity chef Bobby Flay paired its beers with his culinary team’s food at a private dinner held at Mohegan Sun’s branch of Flay’s Bar Americain on Tuesday in Uncasville, Conn.

The three-course dinner, according to an Outer Light press release, started off with a beer cocktail featuring Lonesome Boatman Red Ale. The first course of curry mussels and shrimp with wild rice waffles was paired with Fogg Spiced Saison. Outer Light’s Black IPA was paired with a braised pork shoulder with pumpkin grits for the second course. The third course put together the Libation Propaganda Coffee Stout with pecan pie, along with Come Sail Wit Me Belgian Witbier in the ice cream.

Outer Light has been on tap at Bar Americain  for several months, according to brewery co-founder Matt Ferrucci. “Many of [Flay’s] management team have been at the brewery to sample Outer Light’s lineup because they had been hearing positive reviews,” Ferrucci wrote to me in an email. “The connection was equal parts serendipity, and relationship. Our distributor Levine [of Norwich] helped solidify our relationship with the management team but in the end it was the beer that closed the deal.”

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Bobby Flay. Photo courtesy of Outer Light Brewing

Along with being known as a chef and restaurant owner, Flay has served as host on several television shows, including “Throwdown! with Bobby Flay” and “Beat Bobby Flay.” Management at Bar Americain was not immediately available for comment.

Outer Light started pouring for the public in April. It’s currently distributed on draft in eastern Connecticut and along the shoreline. Representatives said that the brewery hopes to begin distribution in Hartford in December and distribute in bottles early next year.

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