Make Plans for a Suds-Soaked Season

Here’s a roundup of last-coupla-weeks-o’-summer news and a guide to big (and small) doings when the leaves start falling:

The folks at Revival Brewing have been mega-busy at their Cranston laboratory: An Oktoberfest offering, Helena (7.5% ABV, 30 IBUs) – a German-style lager made with seven malts – is out now in four-pack tallboys and will be kicking around through the fall. A collaboration with Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards – Rosé IPA – debuted last week. Grapes from the Little Compton farm were used with champagne yeast and cider yeast to create what the Revivalists call a “dry, wicked aromatic, slightly hazy, yet bright ale” (7% ABV, 30 IBUs). It’s available statewide at bars, stores and the tasting room. And Revival’s first-ever beer, which debuted in 2011, is making a triumphant comeback — Neverbetter Double Black IPA (8.5% ABV, 85 IBUs). The Cranston crew says that the revived (seewhatwedidthere?) roasty concoction has “tones of coffee, vanilla, wood and citrus mixed with herbal notes from Chinook, Sorachi Ace, Nugget and Cascade Hops – it’s a more complex creature.” Neverbetter shall be released in four-pack tallboys. Alla that should be plenty of enticement to head to Revival on Friday, September 7 to celebrate National Beer Lover’s Day (yep, another one of those no-one-knows-who-launched-this-day-but-we’ll-play-along-anyway) with a special tour and tasting event. Check facebook.com/revivalbrewing for particulars.

Ragged Island is ready to unveil two seasonal treats any day now: Oktoberfest and a cleverly named Russian Imperial Stout – Five Tsar.

And Smug Brewing Company, which is setting up shop where Bucket Brewery usedtabe in Pawtucket, is making progress. Brewer Rob DaRosa and his partner Stephen David tell us that they’re “working around the clock on the brewery to get it just they way we like it.” They’re hoping to acquire their brewer’s license next week and have fingers crossed for a grand opening the last week of September or early October. Good luck to them!

Okay, let’s roll out the barrel of beer-soaked events on tap:

The last hurrah of the summer is at McCoy Stadium on September 15. The PawSox Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival hosts 20 breweries and the same number of mobile eateries; get tix and more info at milb.com/pawtucket/events/food-truck-craft-beer-festival.

Shaidzon Beer Company is all-in on the Okto-festing: Lagerfest will run from September 28 through October 28 at their West Kingston HQ. They’ll showcase a traditional pilsner, Buffalo Czech, along with a new Oktoberfest and other diverse lager styles, plus live music on Saturday afternoons on the outdoor patio. Get updates at their Fbook page.

Beer On Earth will present its Oktoberfest party on September 29 from Noon – 9pm. Head to North Kingstown for BOE’s Oktoberfest Lager, fall seasonal beers, soft pretzels from Great Harvest Bread Co. and German sausages provided by the VFW (beeronearth.com).

Oktoberfest 2018 at the German American Cultural Society (78 Carter Ave, Pawtucket) is on September 29 (noon – 11pm) and September 30 (noon – 5pm). It’s the most authentic seasonal soiree in the state, with beer and brats and wursts and music and folk dancing and oompah-powered revelry (gacsri.org).

The 6th Annual Stadium Beer Fest, a fundraiser for the plush theater on Monument Square in Woonsocket, will take place on Thursday, October 4 from 6 – 8:30pm. The classy bash features unlimited sampling from breweries and vineyards; check the list-in-progress and get tix at stadiumtheatre.com. An Oktoberfest Tap Takeover kicks off at Norey’s in Newport on Friday, October 5 at 4pm, with world-class German beer flowing until it’s gone (generally about 2 weeks). And on Saturday, October 6 (noon – 8pm), the 26th annual Oktoberfest! will be at Bold Point Park in East Providence (the first 24 were at the Newport Yachting Center), with a solid mix of German beers and local and regional offerings, plus food and entertainment (riwaterfrontevents.com/international-oktoberfest).

We pestered and cajoled and pleaded with the Beervana Fest crew to share some details about the 10th annual extravaganza, but they’re keeping the details tightly sealed in the beer cellar. We do know that the state’s best fest is on Friday, October 12 (6:30 – 10pm) at Rhodes-On-the-Pawtuxet, there will be unlimited sampling of more than 250 beers from stellar local and national and international wizards and tickets will sell out. So go get ’em now at beervanafest.com.

And Foolproof Brewing Company’s annual Haunted Brewery Ball & Pig Roast will kick off Halloween Week on Saturday, October 27. The ghoulish gathering features special cask offerings, food and macabre merriment. Tickets go on sale soon at facebook.com/FoolproofBrew.

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