Origin Beer Project of Providence took the top hops spot at Motif’s 2025 Food Truck & Drink Awards held at 195 District Park on September 14.
“It feels humbling,” said co-owner and head brewer Cheyne Tessier as he held the plaque proclaiming “favorite overall brewery” for the establishment he and his wife, co-owner Erika, founded in 2020. “As a brewery, we feel that we are now being seen by the general public, and that’s good.”
Tessier said the most rewarding part of his craft is “trying to create something from multiple ingredients that can be wildly inconsistent.” That’s because, like with other agriculturals, the quality of hops depends on the weather and other variables every year. His personal favorite beer is Slow Joy, an Italian-style pilsner.
His was among several brewery and distillery stations set up in an impromptu beer garden in the Park.
The Guild PVD Beer Garden, which runs from May to November in the Park, was nearby. It’s run by The Guild, a brewing cooperative in Pawtucket. Co-founder Jeremy Duffy says his brewery offers a wide variety of styles, from stout to double IPA “and everything in between.” His favorite is Warren G., a New England-style double IPA.
Back at the vendor tables in the roped-off area, manning the table of Tapped Apple Cidery and Winery of Westerly was John Wiedenheft III who said his son John IV and grandson John V were also in the family business, of which much ado is what’s in a name, to mangle Shakespeare. Tapped sells ten ciders and seven wines.
“They run the shop,” he said of his son and grandson. “I do events and tastings. I love talking to people.” His favorite cider is First Bite. “It’s catchy,” he added.
Appropriately, Grey Sail Brewing Company and South County Distillers, also of Westerly, had a table next to Tapped.
Owner Jennifer Brinton said that Captain’s Daughter, a double IPA, put her company on the map. Underscoring that, Captain’s Daughter garnered the top spot in the double IPA category this year. “My favorite is Dave’s Coffee Stout brewed with Dave’s coffee, which is made here in Rhode Island,” she said.
To order a beer at Tragmar Ale Works in Bristol, it helps if you speak Celtic, jested Mike Godet, one of the owners and co-founders. For instance, the Irish red ale Goibniu is pronounced guv-new and is named after the son of Tragmar, the ancient Irish “thrower of axes.”
Goibniu won favorite ale/saison, with Morrigan taking favorite stout/porter, and Hollow Hills was named favorite New England-style IPA.
No surprise, the brewery’s logo is an axe with ancient Celtic script on the handle. Also no surprise, it opened on St. Patrick’s Day weekend this year. “After only six months,” commented another owner and co-founder, Chris Kerr, about the awards, “This is not bad at all.”
Crook Point Brewing Company of East Providence opened in December 2023 with a couple of beers on tap, and now offers nine, along with cocktails concocted with its in-house seltzer, according to Nicole Robinson, who was stationed at the table. She said Crook Point kicked off a Cali IPA the day before. “I wouldn’t say it’s floral, but it has a nice juiciness to it,” she commented.
Two IPAs at Crafted Hope Brewing Company of East Greenwich get their names from RI statistics: 37 Wide is the width and 48 Long is the length of the Ocean State. “We also have a killer black IPA which is roasty with a hops finish,” said Megan Zimmer, noting that the brewery opened on Black Friday in 2024.
The distillery and blending house O’Brien & Brough of Bristol came away with “favorite vodka/gin” with its Lime Rock Gin, and “favorite bourbon/whiskey/rye” with its Cherrystone Rye.
Said house distiller Eric Callahan, “Cherrystone Rye will be our flagship whiskey.” It’s a blend of four whiskeys: its own, along with Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas.
And a balmy evening was just perfect for sampling spirits and beers, and ciders within sight of PVD’s Pedestrian Bridge.