8 Fabulous Craft Beer Finds in Rhode Island
July 9, 2021
Revival Brewing Company
Revival Brewing Company in Providence is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, but founder Sean Larkin is a bonafide craft brew legend in the Ocean State. He served as Chief Brewing Officer at Trinity Brewhouse in Providence for a decade and was a consultant for legendary Narragansett Beer before opening Revival with partner Owen Johnson. They’ve developed more than 30 brews together and are known for “making beers the way they should be: bold, furious, and full of passion.”
Whalers
Whalers is brewed, canned, and kegged right on site at their impressive facility on the historic Palisades Mill campus in South Kingston. Their taproom is the place to be as they not only offer glass, flight, and howlers (32 oz. growler), but you can and play corn hole, giant Jenga and pool there too. You can also BYO food or have some delivered right to the taproom. Can’t imagine not bringing your four legged friend? Dogs are welcome. Families too, before 6pm.
Newport Craft + Distilling
Since its founding in 1999, Newport Craft has grown by leaps and bounds – including adding a comprehensive distilling business. Every IPA, pale ale, amber ale, sour, stout and spirit is brewed, canned and/or bottled from its welcoming Newport campus. You can tour the facility to watch where the magic is made, hang in the tasting room where you can still see the happenings in the facility, or perch yourself on the outdoor patio where there’s ample space to spread out, relax and sip.
Tilted Barn Brewery
Tilted Barn is Rhode Island’s first farm brewery. As the name implies, the small batch, hand-crafted ales here are made and tasted inside an authentic New England-style post and beam barn. Founders Matt and Kara Richardson founded Ocean State Hops in 2007, the state’s first commercial hop farm, on Exeter farmland tended by Kara’s family for more than five decades. The fruits of today’s labor are enjoyed via the many different offerings here and best enjoyed with the spoils of the many food trucks that visit!
Buttonwoods Brewery
One of the newer breweries in Rhode Island, Buttonwoods is centrally located in Cranston and crafts some amazing IPAs, lagers and barrel-aged beers, among other ales. Made in an old mill building, the brewery has opened “The Annex,” a tasting room and pick-up spot where folks can enjoy their latest creations. Your must-try is the Lionheart, a Saison-style beer that’s little fruity, a little spicy, and made with locally grown hops. With fun events including trivia and movie nights, Buttonwoods is always “hopping.”
Grey Sail Brewing
Rhode Island’s southernmost brewery, Grey Sail has a brewery, taproom and beer garden on their Westerly campus. In the tasting room, you’ll appreciate the architectural details of the tasting room which was built in the late 1920s as “The Westerly Macaroni Factory.” Mark it’s 10th year in business, Grey Sail’s Brewing’s year-round beer offerings include Flying Jenny, an extra pale ale; Captain’s Daughter, a double IPA and more.
Proclamation Ale Company
Located in Warwick, Proclamation Ale likes to push the envelope by constantly testing new beer styles and techniques. The result is usually unique, delicious beers and the proof of demand is in their meteoric growth over the past eight years. They call their 2,000 sq. ft. room filled with large oak foeders and oak barrels ‘Oakville’ and it’s where they have mastered fine-tuned sour and wild ales. It’s a fun brewery to visit with trivia and food truck – and always a new concoction!
Ragged Island Brewing Co.
In just five short years, Ragged Island Brewing Co. has grown from a small tasting room with a one barrel system to a 37 acre farm with a beer garden, large events and plenty of room to roam. Owners Matt and Katie Gray are working toward opening a fully renovated a 3,600 square foot post and beam barn on the property but in the meantime, you can enjoy no less than a dozen awesome Ragged Island ales.
