Though many would not expect much from the nation’s tiniest state, Rhode Island has a plethora of excellent brewers. Rhode Island has a wide range of options for both casual and serious beer consumers, ranging from tiny nanobreweries to a corporation that previously held the distinction of New England’s largest brewery. Not bad for a state that just makes up.004% of the United States’ landmass!
1. Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
This enterprise, which is located in the lovely town of Newport, focuses on a lot more than artisan beer. While the staff began brewing in 1999, they began experimenting with distilling in 2006, recreating spirits using recipes from local historical archives. Today, the factory produces a wide range of cane distillates, including gin, vodka, moonshine, and a rum produced utilizing a method common in Newport during the 1700s. The brewery’s beer offerings are broad, such as the new Watermelon Freez, a tart Berliner Weiss style, and Iron Horse, a seven-month barrel-aged double IPA.
2. Crooked Current Brewery
This Pawtucket-based nano-brewery, which first launched in 2014, prides itself on being the “smallest brewery in the smallest state.” The brewery, which operates out of a living room-sized space, gives guests a selection of beers from a constantly rotating seasonal menu. Traditional tastes like Irish red ale and imperial stout are available, as well as more experimental flavors like eggnog milk stout and Neopolitan brown ale. Stay updated for caricatures of local state legislators gracing the walls, a lighthearted homage to Rhode Island’s political corruption image.
3. Grey Sail Brewing
Grey Sail Brewing has been in operation in Westerly since 2010, drawing influence from New England’s strong maritime history. Captain’s Daughter, a strongly hopped Double IPA, and Dave’s Coffee Stout, a brew that combines locally roasted coffee, are among the year-round beers available at the brewery, which is housed in a refurbished 1920s-era macaroni factory. Grey Sail also hosts “Cheers for Charity,” a monthly fundraiser for non-profit groups in the area.
4. Whalers Brewing Company
Rhode Island Magazine named them “Best Brewery in Rhode Island.” Since its inception in 2011, this South Kingstown brewery has created waves every month in both 2017 and 2018. Whalers provides a rotating beer list on tap, in a half-growler, or as part of a flight out of a taproom filled with cornhole, pool tables, and human-sized Jenga sets. The Monchito, a sour brew with pia colada aromas, and the Wanderer, an IPA with a robust citrus taste, are two current standouts.
5. Narragansett Brewing Company
While many of the distilleries in Rhode Island are relatively new, Narragansett dates back to the late 1800s, with its first opening in 1890. The Cranston-based brewery erupted onto the scene, eventually becoming New England’s largest brewing business by the 1910s. After surviving both prohibition and World War II, the company experienced enormous success until large-scale strikes and financial difficulties led to the brand’s death. Even though the brewery was demolished in 1998, Narragansett was resurrected in 2005, reintroducing the beloved beer to Rhode Island. The firm now provides a lemonade shandy, a watermelon shandy, and a dry-hopped blonde ale, in addition to the classic Narragansett Lager from 1890.
6. Trinity Brewhouse
Trinity Brewhouse, located in the heart of Providence, has a full eating menu as well as a wide selection of beers. Locally sourced water is blended with a variety of ingredients and brewed in-house, with the result making its way into their changing beer roster. The bar normally has seven beers on tap at any given time, with its Long Cast NEIPA and Belgian Wit being two of the more popular options right now. Food trucks, wine, cocktails, and a range of beers from Trinity and other local brewers are available in the new Trinity Beer Garden in nearby Biltmore Park, which is open to the public.
7. Proclamation Ale Company
Proclamation Brewing Company, situated in Warwick outside the Rhode Island Mall, offers a wide range of beers in its 15,000-square-foot brewery. A barrel-aging wing, a tasting room, numerous vintage arcade games, and a rotating food truck lineup ensure that no one goes hungry on their site. The eye-catching labels make the huge and varied beer menu easy to appreciate, but don’t skip the Flummox pilsner, Full Gamma triple IPA, and Down Side Up sour ale.
8. Tilted Barn Brewery
Tilted Barn is the first “farm brewery” in Rhode Island, located in the small town of Exeter. All of the beer is made in a century-old barn on the picturesque property, with hops and other vegetables produced on-site included in the recipes. jack., a pumpkin ale brewed with farm-raised pumpkins, and Bramble, an American blonde brewed with locally foraged blackberries as one of its key ingredients, are among the company’s offerings.
