Meet Rhode Island's Craft Breweries - How Many Have You Sampled?
GoLocalProv Business Team
Meet Rhode Island's Craft Breweries - How Many Have You Sampled?
With taglines like “Artfully Crafted, Boldly Consumed,” which was coined by Smug Brewing of Pawtucket, the industry flourishes on creativity and innovation.
SLIDES: Meet Rhode Island's Breweries BELOW
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor the past ten plus years, the industry has been in hyper-growth nationally, and in Rhode Island, there are now 24 regulated breweries in the state. It is a growing number but a fraction of Massachusetts who has 200 licensed craft breweries.
Industry Hits a Speed Bump
The first chink in the industry in Rhode Island was the announcement by highly respected Nick Garrison of Foolproof Brewing that he was selling his company.
“Hey everyone, some news to share with you all today. First off, don't worry – we're still brewing and selling delicious beer. These are complicated and difficult times for the beer industry, and it's time for a change for me and my family,” wrote Garrison.
“Thank you for all of your love and support over the years, and most importantly, thanks to my team – the greatest group of individuals I've ever had the pleasure of working with. It's been an honor and a privilege to get to share my passion with each and every one of you, and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for Foolproof. All the best, Nick,” he added.
Innovate and Diversify
Among the oldest pure “craft” brewers in Rhode Island is Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., which claims it is “Made of Sea & Spirit.”
Derek’s Luke’s company is now in its 20th years and has been a constant innovator.
The company has expanded to produce spirits, currently produce gin, vodka, amaro, single-barrel rum, moonshine, and whiskey.
Bart Watson, Ph.D. and Chief Economist of the national Brewers Association, tells GoLocal that to succeed in this industry in 2020, “This is going to vary by business model, size, and place. If there is a common thread, it’s differentiation. With more breweries than we’ve ever had in the U.S. (and more every day), what makes yours stand out? Even local isn’t enough for many breweries, as there are lots of other local options in many locations.”
SLIDES: TAKE A LOOK AT ALL 24 BREWERIES BELOW
Rhode Island's Craft Breweries - 2019
"At Long Live, we’re all about the beer – and chill taproom vibes. Our space is about community: where you’re bound to run into an old friend, or make new ones."
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BEER
We brew every drop of beer we serve here. We constantly evolve our menu because we never stop exploring what’s possible – and revisiting favorite profiles from the past. Most of our product is available only in the taproom – so come often to enjoy the latest.
We are hop-focused, but continue to explore the spectrum of styles that we love to drink. We’ve introduced over 40 new beers in 2018, and will be rolling out an expanded facility + barrel aging program in 2019, along with new partnerships and events that celebrate the collaborative nature of Providence.
"Located just below the tuxedo shop, our brewery warehouse, our tasting room and outside deck are open to the public 3 days a week with food trucks or local restaurants offering a selection of food Thursday – Saturday. Come join us for one of Providence Brewing specialty drafts or signature core beers. We’re located in North Providence, Rhode Island, in the heart of the ever-growing beer scene."
The Beers
"The Providence Brewing Company, the Providence Brewery, and the Urbn Beer brands are more than just creating uniquely handcrafted, signature small-batch craft beers. We're also about our responsibility to the community in which we're a part of."
PHOTO: Providence Brewing Company
"It started with a simple question around a fire at Lafayette Campground in the White Mountains of New Hampshire:
What do you want in a job?
It didn't take much thought for me to determine that my current employment was not what I wanted to do long term and for me to create a quick list of "wants":
- I want to enjoy coming to work every day
- I want to employ and support people who are passionate about their jobs
- I want to create a brand and product that resonates with a local audience
- I want to give back to the communities where we do business
What I kept coming back to was that I wanted to translate my love of beer, brewing, friends, and family into a profession. I wanted a brewery...and lucky for me, I have a supportive wife.
When Lops Brewing opened on July 27th, 2019 it was a culmination of an 18-month journey, transitioning from concept and planning to final execution."
“At Smug, we only use the highest quality, premium barley, and grains from top malt houses around the world.
We seek out the most unique and sought after hops from the U.S., New Zealand and Germany. We want the best, so we can give you the best.
The end result is a uniquely original bold flavor in every single beer we brew”
LineSider Brewing Company, LLC
Owned by former New England Patriot Dan Koppen, LineSider Brewing Company’s goal “is to provide East Greenwich (and the surrounding area) a destination brewery and casual social gathering space to build our community and enjoy artisanal, hand-crafted beer brewed in small batches. Expect 8 to 14 different beers on tap at any given time – all brewed here on site by our Brewers, Jeremy Ruff, Koppen, and Rich Wallace.
With a constantly evolving tap list, food truck appearances, and plenty of space to enjoy our beer (including an outdoor courtyard), we hope you’ll stop in to enjoy a pint (or two).”
"Apponaug Brewing Company is located in the historic Pontiac Mill. We believe that nothing connects people like sharing a great beer and a delicious bite. More than just another brewpub, Apponaug Brewing is our vision of a Third Place, an essential refuge apart from the daily hustles of home and work. This is a community where you can meet up with good friends or make unexpected ones while experiencing the energy of a working brewery.
Beer is the soul of Apponaug Brewing and creating great beer in our 10BBL (310 gallon) Brewhouse is what we are all about. Our Brewers proudly draw from the rich history of brewing to create fresh takes on classic styles and unique flavors -- all served direct from the tanks. We have a full kitchen and eats to complement our beer selections. Don’t like beer (yet!), we have a selection of crafty spirits and wines."
Newport Vineyards & Winery LLC
"Welcome to the (new) Newport Vineyards. A beverage and culinary destination that blends together award-winning wine, fresh craft beer, farm to table dining experiences and unique events situated on over 100-acres of preserved farmland. Experience a touch of Napa just minutes from Newport."
Taproot Brewing
"Taproot Brewing Co. was born in 2018. Equipped with a state-of-the-art seven-barrel brewhouse, the brewing team of owner John Nunes and brewer Kevin Beachem, focus on unfiltered hop-forward beers made in small batches and meant to be enjoyed immediately for the ultimate freshness.
Come for the beer and nosh on our farm-focused menus, artisanal cheeses, or house-made pretzels – for an afternoon overlooking the vines. Or join us upstairs at Brix for our dinner hours, where Taproot beers will be flowing paired with Brix’s signature scratch fare."
“The sun was in my eyes so I thought ‘I need my shades on’.” The name was initially chosen as a place holder with made-up spelling to get the business started, but it won us over and never changed.
Co-owners, Chip and Josh wanted an original name, but couldn’t come up with anything. On the absolute date where Chip was driving to Providence and it was time to register the brewery officially, it came to him in a blinding - of sorts- vision. The placeholder name has since stuck and the sun in our eyes has driven us to have our Shaidzon.
The connection between the two owners came long before. It started with fires on the beach around the turn of the century. The Shaidzon team first came together in the coastal village of Matunuck, RI through a mutual friend. Their paths went in separate directions for a number of years, but they stayed in contact and reconnected. A fortunate circumstance presented itself and with little hesitation, and a lot of work, the duo formed the Shaidzon Beer Company."
Bravo Brewing Company just opened in September of 2019.
"Bravo Brewing Company features locally crafted beers spanning both New American and Traditional Craft ales and lagers. Bravo Brewing Company also makes bubbly, delicious beer alternatives, such as craft root beer, ginger beer, sparkling waters, and kombucha. Bravo Brewing Company is committed to being the gateway to craft by making our taproom approachable and inclusive, and ensuring there is something on tap for everyone whether you are new to beer, a microbrewery enthusiast, or a big brand loyalist."
"Community Bruin Company is smallest Nano-brewery in the smallest state in the US having a capacity of a one-half barrel. The plan is to be small enough to experiment with some 5-gallon homebrew sized batches of beer to sample in the tasting room, as well as increase the volume to a more marketable sized half barrel of production so customers may purchase some beer to go."
"Twelve Guns Brewing is an open to the public tap room and brewery, operating in the beautiful city of Bristol, Rhode Island.
We get our name from the early Rhode Island Naval vessel, the U.S.S. Providence. Serving in the Revolutionary War under the Continental Navy, the U.S.S. Providence boasted Twelve Guns."
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island
Finding our home at 63 Canal Street came to be a big part of who we are. Built toward the end of the 1920s as The Westerly Macaroni Factory, grain once again courses through the building. We have been fortunate to meet many local residents who still recall the days of purchasing their fresh pasta here.
After WWII, the United States Post Office ran their parcel service out of the building until 1989 when NAPA Auto Parts moved in. After their relocation in 2010 the building was once again available for purchase.
On April 4, 2011, Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island moved in. After seven short months the renovation was complete and grain was once again brought to the building, now to brew the first batch of Flagship Ale on 11/11/11.
THE NAME
Sit on any beach in New England and enjoy the views of rolling waves, glistening waters and grey sails on the horizon… it is truly inspiring. Those grey sails inspired us to keep moving forward, and here we are.
Brewing great beer is our passion. We want to share that passion with you. Please visit our facility at 63 Canal Street in Westerly to see where it all began and sample our fine brews.
The Ravenous Brewing Company is proud to call the City of Woonsocket home. Established in October 2012, it is situated in the northern end of Rhode Island. We are lucky enough to bring the first brewery to this region of the State, and provide another choice to the passionate beer drinkers of New England. We are a family owned business and appreciate the help and support that we have received from all of our friends and family.
Our brewery is very small in scale, and is what would typically be categorized as a “Nano” brewery. Our Ales are made with small equipment that requires true physical involvement from the brewers with each and every batch of beer produced. Though labor intensive, our passion and dedication for quality goes into every batch of Ravenous Ale that goes out into the market. Our batches of beer are forged by hand and truly qualify as handcrafted, artisan ales.
Our goal is to spread the love and appreciation of local beer to everyone, and to work with our local businesses in every way possible. We look forward in seeking “green” alternatives to our brewing process so that we can provide great beer to our fans, while conserving energy and contributing to the preservation of our environment. As members of the community, we feel it’s necessary to stress the importance of drinking responsibly and encourage all of our drinkers to do so.
PHOTO: Ravenous Brewing Company
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Company
It all starts with a love of beer. Our founders Derek Luke (Master Brewer) and Brent Ryan (Master Distiller) cut their teeth on the beers of Maine’s early craft brewing pioneers while college-ing in Waterville. Derek had already been experimenting with home brewing and by his junior year had managed to strike up a formative relationship with nearby brewery, Oak Pond Brewing Co. He’d frequently cycle the 25 miles up the road just to haunt their production floor until they figured he may as well lend a hand. Short bottles would make their way back to Colby and this early fascination and excitement about craft brewing began to thrive.
There will be beer
Through a combined spirit of curiosity, entrepreneurship, naive optimism and thrill seeking the decision to start a brewery (née Coastal Extreme Brewing Co.) was planted in 1999 on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island. Of course, we’re skipping detours through years of more home brewing, house painting, aerial skiing, cycling, North Carolina, sailboats, Ocean City, teaching physics, restaurants, British Columbia, and ice cream trucks, but that’s for another time.
We brought our craft beer wagon to Rhode Island at a time when beer was mostly yellow fizzy. Everybody loved the “idea” of an amber ale as long as we didn’t bump their national favorites off the taps.
"At Foolproof, we think about beer a bit differently. To us, beer is not just an alcoholic beverage but an experience that should be thoroughly savored and enjoyed. That’s why when we brew each beer, we think about specific life experiences and what style of beer would be absolutely perfect for that particular occasion. That’s how we came up with the concept of “experience-based brewing.” Each of our beers serves as a tribute to a sacred beer drinking experience—whether you’re watching a baseball game, relaxing at home on a rainy day, or just catching up with friends at the local pub, Foolproof’s goal is to create a unique and fulfilling beer experience for you. Cheers! And remember, it’s Your Life. Your Beer."
"We opened the doors of our first location in West Kingston, RI in February of 2013. Three and a half years later we took the 20-minute trek north to Warwick, RI. Our new brewery is a 15,000 square foot beast with over 5x our West Kingston production capacity. This new facility features a 2,000 square foot barrel aging and wood cellar for sour and wild ales, as well as a 3,000 square foot tasting room and retail area complete with custom art installations, bar, furniture, and a small retro video arcade. In the spring, we plan on adding an outdoor patio to the lineup."
PHOTO: Proclamation Ale Company
Founded in 2011, Whalers Brewing Company is a project by Josh Dunlap and Wes Staschke. We brew beer we like to drink, and we only drink good beer.
About Dunlap
Shortly after being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, and while working as a commercial fisherman, Josh decided to make good on a longstanding dream to start a brewery. Now he spends his days making beer, with an eye towards higher ABV, barrel aged, and hoppier styles.
About Staschke
Wes started brewing in 2008 while attending college, and after graduating with an engineering degree, continued to develop new recipes at home. Moving to Rhode Island in 2013, he began working on his own brewery before joining the Whalers team. Wes favors lighter, more sessionable beers, as well as his growing love of sours.
PHOTO: Whalers Brewing Company
"Located in our historic barn, we are proud to be Rhode Island’s first farm brewery. A visit to Tilted Barn Brewery allows you to tour the brewery, walk through the fields to see, touch, and smell the ingredients that go into your beer, and relax in a century-old barn while enjoying the fruits of our labor. Our small batch, hand-crafted ales are best enjoyed fresh and in season so be sure to make the trek early and often for a true farm-to-pint experience."
Sons of Liberty Brewing Company
"At the Sons of Liberty we believe being American means taking a stand without compromise and fearlessly pursuing your dreams no matter what stands in your way. We founded Sons of Liberty Spirits to revolutionize and redefine American Whiskey and we are well on our way.
We started with a couple questions: "Why is no one distilling single malt whiskies from the beers we love?" and "Why are there so many seasonal beers, but no seasonal whiskies?" With a spirit for innovation, we set out to create a line of whiskies the world had never seen.
Today we are proud to lead the rebirth of American Whiskey by challenging century old traditions with American Single Malt Whiskies born from distinctly flavorful beers and the first-ever seasonal line of whiskies."
Isle Brewers Guild is a craft beer cooperative designed to deliver control and customer service to our brewing partners.
Due to increasing demand within the craft segment, the need for additional capacity remains a fundamental issue for craft brewers.
Isle Brewers Guild will be working with established mid to large-size craft breweries looking to expand their capacity, sales, and distribution. Isle Brewers Guild is a Partner Brewery, where brewers will brew their beer under the care and supervision of their own brewmaster, in a state-of-the-art facility offering a wide range of brewing and packaging services.
Our goal is to provide for our partner brewers an efficient brewing solution with better control and customer service.
"It started in December 2017 with the goal of always making the best beer we could. We focus on well-hopped IPAs, simple yet sophisticated Lagers, and unique and interesting barrel-aged beers. Our beer list, like life, is always changing. Stop in and grab a growler to go or get cozy in our tasting room and play some cornhole with friends.
We are a kid-friendly environment, but we are unfortunately not dog-friendly."
Ragged Island Brewing Co., LLC
"Ragged Island Brewing Co was founded in 2017 by the Donovan, Almeida, and Gray families. Their friendship and passion for business combined with John Almeida’s excellent homebrews sparked the idea that is now Ragged Island.
Owners Matt and Katie Gray are devoted leaders whose focus on quality product and friendly service make Ragged what it is today.
While several of John’s original recipes are regularly featured in the brewery, Head Brewer Tony Barber brings skills he developed over years working in the industry to keep the tap lines flowing with a diverse and constantly evolving lineup of beer.
Ragged Island products can be enjoyed in the Taproom five days a week and customers can also find us on tap in Rhode Island at bars and restaurants across the state."
"Our mission is to source the finest ingredients to brew the best beer. We work with amazing farmers around the Northeast who are truly growing some of the most fantastic hops, barley, and wheat in the United States. Sourcing directly from farms, we're able to help drive an amazing resurgence in sustainable agriculture in the Northeast, farming practices that put quality and flavor first and foremost.
With roots in home brewing back in the 90s, brewer Jon Cadoux set about combining his love for beer with an ethic for sustainability. Whenever possible, he would go out and find ingredients from local organic farmers for his homebrews. It was a defining day when Jon discovered that you don’t need to sacrifice flavor for sustainability, but that better ingredients actually made the beer more delicious.
Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to find good people on brew days to experiment and enjoy the fruits of their labor. From longtime friends to college buddies, and even his brother, a kinship was forged to share in this quest to make delicious organic beer. Many of those people are still part of the company today."
"Homebrewing supplies, winemaking supplies, local ingredients, and gifts. We take pride in YOUR beer. Everything you'll need to make great beer and wine, from Ale Yeast to back issues of Zymurgy. We take pride in YOUR beer.
Charlie Papazian's words are our mantra. Had a beer but can't find it anymore? Want to experiment with a new ingredient or a new style? Find a recipe and give it a shot, what's the worst that could happen?"
