More Beer Near Heah: Pack a lunch and cross the border for a change

We like to keep it local in Got Beer? Land. In this edition, however, we’re daring to cross a few miles over the state line and get updates on our We Got Beer, Too! neighbors.

Two breweries are making their debuts in Fall River, Mass. One is setting up shop on the first floor of one of our fave musical/creative venues: The Narrows Center For the Arts (16 Anawan St). Troy City Brewing is the evolution of a homebrew club that was started by Keith Carvalho in 2006; he went pro last year at Shovel Town Brewery in Easton, Mass. Keith and co-founder Mike Ferreira hope to serve their first brews by December; follow their progress at facebook.com/TroyCityBrewing.

A half-mile or so away, Canned Heat Craft Beer (52 Ferry St) is having its grand opening on September 20 at its waterfront HQ. The brewery is helmed by Miles and Matthew Wilson, who hail from Tiverton, and their pal Matt Ellis; the brewery’s name was inspired by the long-running boogie band (the Wilsons’ dad’s fave) best known for “Going Up the Country.” Their name game is strong: Canned Heat brews include B-Boy Stance, Bang a Uey, Suppah and Spindle City, a nod to Fall River’s erstwhile nickname. Get more input at facebook.com/CannedHeatCraftBeer.

And Beer’d Brewing, which put Stonington, Conn, on the Better Beer Map five years ago and has spawned slews of mega-tasty IPAs (including our faves Hobbit Juice, You Like A’ Da Juice and Dogs & Boats), is nearing completion on its magnificent new facility (12,000 square feet) in Groton (sharing space with Mystic Cheese). The brewhouse will triple Beer’d’s output to 750 barrels a month, including more cans (please start sending ’em across the border to RI!). Aaren and Precious Simoncini and their crew are on target for an early October opening; the Stonington space will remain open and shift its focus to small batches and barrel-aged offerings. Check facebook.com/BeerdBrewing for the grand opening announcement.

Okay, let’s get back to the Ocean State. Long Live Beerworks is making slow-and-steady progress toward its new beer palace. Armando DeDona recently posted an inspirational progress report: “Wow, does time fly. We thought we’d be moving by now, but these things take time. Our new spot is finally moving along at a rapid pace. Honestly, the first part is dirty, rough and not glamorous, but vital. We look forward to ample floor drains, upgraded electrical, good water flow — all the things you learn are really nice to have. Our new home will be such an upgrade, not only from the production side, but on the taproom side as well. We love the community we’ve grown here. Feeling familiar, yet still exciting, is what we aim for in a our current tiny taproom and at our next home. We still have a quite a way to go, but hope to have some updates soon. Can’t wait to share the adventure with you.”

Matt Gray at Ragged Island Brewing Company tells us: “We would like to welcome our new head brewer Tony Barber. Tony comes from Union Station, where he worked for more than a year, and has previous experience at Foolproof and Coddington.” Tony is taking over for Rob DaRosa (another Union Station alum), who is thisclose to opening the doors at Smug Brewing in Pawtucket (where Bucket usedtabe).

And Foolproof Brewing Company has three new beers to woo your palate: Irish Rhode, their Jameson Caskmates collaboration beer, an imperial Irish red aged in Jameson whiskey barrels; the annual release of Peanut Butter Raincloud Porter, with more of its namesake ingredient in this year’s run; and Federal Hill Ale, a collab with chef Walter Potenza made with blood orange and saffron, which is due next week.

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