MENTION craft beer and places like California, Colorado and Oregon, where start-up breweries have thrived for decades, come to mind; not so Connecticut, where small-batch brewing has lagged behind. But with four new breweries — and two more preparing to release beers by year’s end — the way we think about the state’s locally made beer is finally poised to change.

“We’re going to see a lot more breweries in Connecticut,” said Justin Gargano, founder and president of Thimble Island Brewing Company, in Branford. “There’s a great opportunity in this market.”

Thimble Island offers just one beer, an amber-colored American ale, which made its debut in the summer. “We could shoot ourselves in the foot if we over diversify, by not being able to produce consistent and abundant enough products,” said Mike Fawcett, Thimble Island’s brew master.