Got Beer? New Sips and Fest Tips

This soul- and spirit-draining election season is almost over. If you’re looking for a unique alternative to the major party offerings, consider a write-in vote for Cthulhu. The cosmic creature’s last-minute run is “proudly support[ed]” by Narragansett Beer, which says #TheStarsAreRight for H.P. Lovecraft’s mythic entity to take up residence at the White House.

Meanwhile, things are moving along nicely at the Isle Brewers Guild, the new Pawtucket home of the “Hi, Neighbor!” crew; ’Gansett PR guru BJ Mansuetti told us, “The brewery construction is fully underway. We’ve received pieces of equipment for the canning line and they are working on pouring the brewhouse floor.” You can win a VIP tour of the brewery if you find one of the 250 stickers that are on 12-ounce cans in 12-, 18-, and 30-packs of Lager (details at narragansettbeer.com). And while you’re hunting for those golden tickets, be on the lookout for the fourth annual release of Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout, which is in stores now.

Speaking of stout, if you’ve grabbed this just-off-the-presses issue of Motif on November 3, then you should celebrate the sixth annual International Stout Day (yes, it’s a “real” thing: there’s a hashtag — #StoutDay — and everything). And if you’re reading this after November 3, feel free to enjoy a hearty brew anyway. ’Tis the season for dark beers to warm those long, dark nights…

Since 2000, Newport Storm has capped the year with its Annual Release – a series of “big beers that follow no set style.” This year’s model, the brainchild of brewmaster Derek Luke, is an “adult cold cocoa,” inspired by hot cocoa. Luke says, “I used real marshmallows in one of our experimental batches, but since they’re filled with preservatives, the beer didn’t ferment. That wasn’t going to work for our beer or our beer fans.” Thus, milk, sugar and vanilla were used to evoke the Fluff-like flavor; the cocoa fix comes from Bairds chocolate malt and cacao nibs from Ecuador and Ghana. Annual Release ’16 (11% ABV) will be on shelves soon. There are only 3,000 cobalt blue bombers (with a wax seal) available, so don’t dawdle.

Harpoon Brewery is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a big box o’ beer: the Harpoon 30-Pack. The pioneering Boston (and Vermont)-based brewery, which was No. 19 on the Brewers Association’s list of the top 50 US craft brewing companies, is reviving and showcasing 15 notable concoctions; they note that “each beer tells its own story about Harpoon, and about the Harpooners who brewed (and drink) them!” The tasty tale starts in 1986 with Harpoon Ale and includes Harpoon Dark (1998), Oatmeal Stout (2003), El Triunfo (a coffee porter from 2012), Hoppy Adventure (2015, a superb double IPA that will soon be available in 16-ounce cans), and brandy-two new brews: Flannel Friday (a hoppy amber ale) and Interrobang (an imperial stout – 18% ABV). The limited edition mega-case should be available at better beer stores any day now; gather some pals and toast the liquid legacy of the Harpoon crew.

Are you headed to the Great International Fall Beer Festival on Saturday (November 5)? There will be 45-plus breweries wooing your palate. Here are some must-tries to please said palate: Plan on spending a lot of time at the Flying Dreams Brewing Company table. The Worcester beermaker is helmed by Dave Richardson, who crafted a slew of medal-winning brews at the GIB competitions when he was plying his trade at Gardner Ale House. Get a sample of two newish-to-RI breweries: New Belgium (CO and NC) and Neyburyport (MA; they’re a partner at Isle Brewers Guild). And visit the proud reps from Vo Dilun’s beer family — Bucket, Foolproof, Grey Sail, Narragansett, Newport Storm, Revival, Trinity, Union Station and Whaler’s. Savor the local flavor!

And plan ahead for the first big beer bash of the New Year: the fifth annual Rhode Island Brew Fest will be at the Pawtucket Armory on January 28, 2017. Get your tickets at ribrewfest.com.

For more beer news, check Lou’s blog, bottlescansclaphands.wordpress.com, or follow @BottlesCansRI.