Got Beer? New Brews Keep Rolling Off the Lines

Our carrier pigeons have arrived with a fresh batch o’ beer news:

Michelle Kirms, the head brewer at Grey Sail Brewing, says, “Our next Wheelhouse Series beer will be a New England IPA called S.O.S., dry-hopped with Vic Secret, Bru-1 and Topaz; it will be around 6% ABV. The small test batch I brewed for it is called Rising Hope; people can get a taste while it lasts at the brewery. Proceeds are being donated to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

“I also have my three-barrel pilot system officially up and running with shiny new tanks! Cooking right now are a 100% saaz pilsner and saison 2-ways, for which I took the same base beer and split the fermentation between two different yeast strains. These will be brewery- and taproom-only and available soon.

“We will also be brewing the next Rhode Island Brewers Guild Passport beer here on August 20 (style TBD) on the pilot system. I plan to have that beer kegged up for the Ocean State Beer Fest [see below], so people can get a taste of what they will get after visiting all the local breweries!” Get updates at facebook.com/GreySail.

Chip Samson at Shaidzon Beer Company tells us, “We just released Yeast of the River Nile, a Belgian-style golden ale. The name is a take on the Augustus Pablo album of the similar name. It is a smooth-drinking ale, with a good balance and light yeast-driven spiciness. And we will have a new release of Little Bella, our dry-hopped blonde ale, in cans and on draught on August 17.”

Nick Garrison at Foolproof Brewing reports, “We’re planning to release our Jameson Caskmates collaboration beer on September 7. Irish Rhode is an imperial Irish red aged in Jameson whiskey barrels. Limited quantities will be available, and the beer will also be featured at the Jameson’s pavilion at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver next month.” Check facebook.com/FoolproofBrew for more intel.

Ragged Island Brewing Company has made great strides since it opened 17 months ago – and they’re just getting warmed up. They will moving down the road apiece from their Portsmouth HQ to the current home of the Island Garden Shop. Co-owner Matt Gray and his crew plan to install a 30-barrel brewhouse and canning line, and grow hops, fruits and other beer-ready crops on the spacious 37-acre site. “We are really excited about the potential of preserving this beautiful agricultural property and expanding our business right here on Aquidneck Island,” Gray says. But don’t change your GPS settings yet: The permit-securing and construction and tons of other tasks need to be done; the new place won’t be ready till fall 2019 (best case scenario). Cheers to the Ragged Island crew!

Psst: Beer events are kinda hot ’round here! Brew At the Zoo, which is happening on August 25 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, sold out a coupla weeks ago, and tickets for the 4th Annual Ocean State Beer Fest, to be presented by the Rhode Island Brewers Guild at Proclamation Ale on September 9, vanished in less than 24 hours. We always tell you not to dawdle re ticketed events, so you should secure your admission to the PawSox Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival at McCoy Stadium on September 15 (milb.com/pawtucket/events/food-truck-craft-beer-festival) and Beervana Fest at Rhodes-On-the-Pawtuxet on October 12 (beervanafest.com) NOW so you don’t have to post a sad emoji whilst crying in your beer when the tix are gone.

And we encourage you to give a Pint for a Pint. In August, everyone (21-and-older) who donates a pint of blood at the Rhode Island Blood Center will get a coupon for a free pint of brew at Whalers, Foolproof, the Guild or Newport Craft Brewing (and be entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the New England Patriots’ home opener on September 9). Get more encouragement at ribc.org.

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