In our previous “Got Beer?” outing, we were waiting for Governor Raimondo to sign S-0620, the bill that increased the brewery sales-to-go allowance to 384 ounces, up from the former US-lowest 288 ounces (which is still the limit in Alabama and South Carolina). Gina got the pen out on July 15, and you can now purchase 24 16-ounce cans-to-go (we broke the news on the blog listed at the end of this column). But, as we’ve noted quite often in this space, the ounce-cap is hindering the growth of the 401 breweries. The crew at Tilted Barn Brewery offered this perspective:
“We feel [the small ounce-limit boost] will likely make it difficult to return to negotiations for a proper increase after this … one was just granted. We also felt the need to educate our customers who may be unfamiliar with the limitations we face as a RI brewery, especially compared with our New England neighbors. Since most of us are visual learners, we thought a picture may help. [It] shows what customers are allowed to purchase at breweries for all six New England states: VT, NH and MA: unlimited; ME: 5+ cases; CT: 3 cases; RI: 1 case. If you disagree with this disparity, voice your opinion and contact your local senators and representatives to let them know!” Go to rilin.state.ri.us to get the contact info and get involved!
Lops Brewing had its grand opening last week in Woonsocket (122 North Main St). Sean Lopolito debuted his first five beers and celebrated his long-awaited ribbon-cutting; at lopsbrewing.com he noted that it was “the culmination of an 18-month journey” and fulfilled his wish to “translate my love of beer, brewing, friends and family into a profession.” Cheers to Sean and his team!
Let’s get festive (again)! In our previous “Got Beer?” outing, we guessed – incorrectly – that tix for the fifth annual Ocean State Beer Festival would sell out before the issue hit the streets and the html hit the web, since they went poof in a few hours in 2018. But as we type this edition of “Got Beer?” tix are still available! Color us gobsmacked! On Saturday August 18, get your oompah on at Foolproof Brewing’s seventh annual Augtoberfest. Jester-branded steins will be filled with the fest’s namesake märzen (and many other top-notch offerings) at the Pawtucket biergarten, and you can revel in the German spirit with music, food and all kindsa carrying-on from 3-7pm. Hit foolproofbrewing.com for tix. The Rhode Island Brewers Guild’s showcase event will be at Grey Sail Brewing in Westerly on September 8. Head to ribrewersguild.org and follow the link to the ticket site (but we’re in that temporal time warp again, deadline-wise, so… ). But we are certain that tix for the Brew At the Zoo bash at Roger Williams Park are all gone. Maybe the RI brewers should rent a llama or giraffe.
We didn’t scare up too much local beer news for your early August perusal; most of the brewers were too busy chopping down trees to get fresh wood for the fifth-anniversary beers they’ll be whipping up for the Ocean State Beer Festival. But our pals Chip and Josh at Shaidzon Beer Company told us that they’ll be re-introducing No Days Off on August 9. The New England IPA debuted soon after the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl victory in honor of their efforts and the mantra expressed a few years ago by their head coach. The beer is double dry-hopped with 100% Citra hops; it shows with a hazy golden complexion, pronounced citrus aromas and flavors launching out of the glass. Go get some!
For more beer news, check Lou’s blog, bottlescansclaphands.wordpress.com, or follow @BottlesCansRI on the Twitter machine.
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