Our last two Got Beer? dispatches went long on Beervana (what a night!) and Genesee Cream Ale (local sales soared after our mash notes!!), so we’re overdue for a big batch o’ beer news:
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island (GSBRI) will celebrate its seventh anniversary on November 11 – the time, it flies! The accomplished brewery helped jumpstart the 401 beer explosion and launched Captain’s Daughter, one of the state’s first buzz beers, in 2014. GSBRI will be making merry with a three-day extravaganza at their Westerly HQ. Head brewer Michelle Kirms rolled out the deets: “On Friday, November 9, there will be an Anniversary Triple IPA release at 3pm. Cans are brewery-only and limited draft is being sent to distro. We also will have oysters on Friday night. On Saturday, November 10, a SUPER-limited beer release at noon – the launch of our Small Craft Advisory Tall Boy series (brewery only 16-ounce four-packs). For this beer, I took the last runnings of our Anniversary Ale and brewed a mini-batch on the three-barrel pilot system. It will be a 6% ABV, primarily Citra version of the Anniversary Ale. On Sunday, November 11, we’ll unveil our bourbon barrel-aged Black Mast Stout – a single batch that won’t be brewed/released EVER AGAIN. Some will hit distro, but we recommend getting it here.” There will also be food vendors (and the house pizza) and live music (weather pending).
But wait, there’s more! On Friday, November 16, Grey Sail will host a charity event for the local chapter of Stand Up For Animals (SUFA), featuring a re-release of Mahoney Is Brown Ale, which Michelle “brewed last year for my dog who passed away. This time around we will be adding the Wakin’ Up Waggin’ coffee blend from Dave’s Coffee, which also is dedicated to a lost pup of the owners of our local bookstore. The beer will be draft-only, and we will sell specialty growlers to-go. All proceeds of the sales of the beer and glassware will be donated to SUFA. We also are running a canned food/toy drive; for each donated item, customers will receive a raffle ticket for prizes donated by local establishments.” Get updates at facebook.com/GreySail. And cheers and congrats to Jen and Alan and Michelle and the entire Grey Sail crew!
Shaidzon Beer Company – helmed by Josh Letourneau (former Grey Sail brewer) and Chip Samson – is gearing up for its first anniversary on the day after Thanksgiving (November 23). The celebration will be graced with a new batch of Lowland Villager, a saison made with sage (from their West Kingston neighbors at Petals Farm) and peppercorn. Chip says the “light yet robustly flavorful saison makes for a great Turkey Day food pairing” and will be available before the holiday. Get updates at facebook.com/shaidzonbeerco
Foolproof Brewing just shipped a fresh batch of Vanilla Espresso Raincloud Porter. Revery Russian Imperial Stout will be out any day now, and the latest edition of Forecast – Chapter 5, a New England Breakfast Ale – will premiere at their annual Barrel Reserve Night on December 8. Tickets will be on sale soon via facebook.com/FoolproofBrew
Ragged Island Brewing Company is making progress toward establishing a grand new brewing mecca in Portsmouth. The town approved a change to the local zoning law to allow “farm brewery” to be listed as an acceptable use, which opens the door to purchase the Van Hof Nursery in the coming months (other zoning matters and final design plans also need approval). Co-owner Matt Gray says, “Our goal is establish a hop farm on the land as well as build a new structure to house our brewing and taproom activities [featuring a 30-barrel brewhouse and canning line]. [We] are very excited about the incredible potential this has for our business and our community.”
‘Tis the season for Narragansett Beer’s Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout, which is available now. And the Hi-Neighbor! folks will host the Made On Honor Market at The Guild in Pawtucket on November 17 and 18, with more than 65 makers, artists and small businesses (and beer). Find out more at narragansettbeer.com
For more beer news, check Lou’s blog, bottlescansclaphands.wordpress.com, or follow @BottlesCansRI.
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