At last count there were 10 vineyards in Rhode Island. Who knew? We live in wine country! Almost all of the vineyards are family run, some into the second generation. The oldest winery in Rhode Island is Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard, recently purchased by Carolyn Rafaelian, owner of Alex and Ani. The vineyard is on the same […]
It’s here: The pumpkinpocalypse. Every year at about this time the Basic in all of us rears its ugly head. Fall inevitably ushers in the advent of sharp flavors and pumpkin spiced this and that. Samuel Adams has traded in their lemon-hinted Summer Ale for the fuller bodied Oktoberfest and a multitude of pumpkin ales […]
I’ll be the first to admit I’m a bit of a beer snob. I like my beer to have a crisp hop flavor or a citrusy bouquet on the nose and a complex malt background. However, I like to think that I’m a bit more open-minded than some of my more hard-nosed kin, which is […]
Lovecraft inspires artists of all sorts, including brewers. In honor of NecronomiCon, we’re rounding up our reviews of Lovecraft-inspired brews so you can drink deep of his mythos. Just watch for errant tentacles snaking out of the can or bottle. Gansett’s Lovecraft Honey Ale This beer is, like Lovecraft’s writing, more than a little out […]
Collaboration beers are all the rage, so when Jack’s Abby and Otter Creek joined forces to create a Nouveau Pilsner, I had to give it a taste to see what makes it “Nouveau,” or “new” to those who never studied romance languages. Jack’s Abby has been quickly earning a place in the local beer scene, […]
It’s a hard truth that nothing lasts forever. I was saddened when my favorite Irish pub began to tumble downhill until it eventually closed forever. I was crushed when Pete’s Wicked Ale went under, even though it left more options for my future brewery’s name. And I was nothing short of heartbroken when Track 84, […]
It’s hot. The a/c is broken and all the exhaust fan seems to do is leave you feeling exhausted. Your friend with the pool is out of town and doesn’t want you breaking in to throw a wild pool party again after he had to hire a contractor to remove the keg that was embedded in […]
Anyone who’s had more than three craft beers in their entire life has had an IPA. The style has become such a phenomenon that not only does every single brewery have a signature IPA, even the reluctant Boston Beer Company now has at least two variations on their signature IPA, both a session and an […]
Summer is finally here and with it, early morning sun flooding in through your windows interrupting your hangover sleep, mosquitoes and unbearable humidity. With it also comes idling the days away on the beach and cooking like a piece of bacon. Personally, I could do without the sand everywhere, long lines for parking lots, kids […]
Years ago, the prospect of hitting all the best beer bars in Rhode Island was a matter of distance, bouncing between Wakefield, Newport and PVD, with a few out-of-the-way places that deserved recognition. Now I’d need to put together a top 20 list just to cover PVD. Competition is fierce, and with a new brewery opening every […]