Marketed as “Westbrook’s liveliest new outdoor gathering place,” Quarryside at Rock Row featuring Lone Pine Brewing opened in mid-August behind Market Basket on the edge of a 20-acre, 400-foot deep quarry that I am embarrassed to admit I had no idea existed.

The sprawling venue, complete with a large free parking lot, features a massive sturdy tent with lights strung underneath; a second tent with walls and space heaters is planned for the colder months – Quarryside plans to be a year-round venue. The tent has comfortable solid wooden cornflower-blue picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, a foosball table and a few standing tables made from barrels. Just outside the tent is a sizeable playground perfect for toddlers; it has the usual equipment as well as a giant Connect Four game and a climbing dome. There are also a few wooden swings quite popular with adults, not to mention the obligatory cornhole setup.

A small stage for live acoustic (for neighborly purposes) music is on the other side of the tent and has a separate seating area, allowing fans to focus on the band up close while those who prefer to chat can do so in the tent but still hear the music. The band performing while we were there was Pejepscot Station, a bluegrass group out of Topsham that was so talented we looked up their website to learn more. Quarryside has live music Thursdays through Sundays.

To place your food and/or drink order, you walk to one of several small sheds/containers, where extremely friendly and helpful staff guide you through Lone Pine’s many beer options. If they don’t have what you want on draft, they might even grab a can for you from the giant refrigerated container a few steps outside. As beer lovers likely know, Lone Pine is one of the state’s largest craft breweries and has won three Great American Beer Festival medals, and one Gold World Beer Cup medal. Lone Pine’s full beer program, including flagship brews and special releases, can be purchased there.

If beer isn’t your thing, you can choose one of the three Archer Roose canned wines: a sauvignon blanc from Chile, a Malbec from Argentina or a rose from France. We were surprised at how pricy the wine was: $9.75 a can. It was ice cold and not bad, though. The beers, which come in plastic cups, were around $9. We tried the Blueberry Sparkler (a sour) and a can of Time and Temp (a light lager). Food options included two flatbreads ($13-$17) and two sandwiches, but the staff told us the food menu is likely to be “switched up” in the near future.

Children are welcome at Quarryside – in fact, my drinking companions included an infant. (Before you call the authorities, relax – she stuck to milk.) We were easily able to navigate the gravel ground with her stroller. Dogs, however, are not allowed, except for service dogs.

Bathrooms are larger, nicer versions of port-a-potties, and it was the first time I’d seen a wheelchair-accessible one. Quarryside is still figuring out what kinds of activities it wants to offer, but there has been talk of an ice-skating rink, yoga classes, outdoor films, seasonal festivals and fairs.

I suspect that over time, as word spreads, Quarryside will become a popular gathering spot. For now we each gave it two thumbs up – except for the baby; one of her thumbs remained in her mouth.

Retired diplomat Angie Bryan writes about Maine’s cocktail bars while making as many puns as her editor allows.

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