Happy New Beer! 2019 brings new places and faces

The new year has ushered in some “new” places to get your beer on. Let’s start with the evolution taking place at Revival Brewing Company. On New Year’s Day, Sean Larkin and his hearty crew took over the upstairs space at 505 Atwood Ave in Cranston that was formerly Brutopia. Revival PR guru Mat Medeiros said, “Everything in the tasting room downstairs was moved up – the games, merchandise and can sales. The new hours are Monday – Wednesday noon – 8pm, Thursday noon – 10pm, Friday and Saturday noon – 11pm, and Sunday noon – 9pm. We’ll have more taps and offer food, too. To start, there will be a limited menu offered Thursday through Sunday. Guests can expect to see bites like smoked short ribs and waffles, fish tacos, and vegan chicken (aka seitan) and grits.” Revival will unveil three fresh brews this month: Jenn’s Mocha Stout (a collaboration with ’HJY ) will return, along with a new version of Bushido Pumpkin Ale with blood orange. And they’ll debut a Belgian-style tripel called Wafel made with Burgundian Waffles. Check Instagram and Facebook for updates on the bigger and better Revival experience.

84 Tavern on Canal, a superb restaurant in Westerly, has morphed into a brewpub and rebranded as 84 Aleworks Brewing & Tavern. Executive chef/owner Christopher Champagne installed a one-barrel system and poured their first offerings a week before Christmas. At press time, their lineup featured a golden ale, an IPA, a brown ale and a brunch stout (complementing their first-class array of local, national and international brews). 84 Aleworks is the newest member of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild and they are part of the Brewery Passport program; visit ribrewersguild.org to download and/or print the latest version of RIBG sip-local-and-get-cool-swag tour guide.

And two breweries have announced their Opening Soon in 2019 plans. The Valley Breeze dropped the scoop that Lops Brewing will be launching in Woonsocket (fingers crossed for a spring opening). Home brewer Sean Lopolito will go pro with a 3.5-barrel system and a 40-seat taproom at his new spot at 122 North Main St. Follow his progress on Facebook.

Antler Ale Works is also getting ready to join the 401 beer family. Partners Rob, AJ and Nate have lofty goals: “Our mission is to establish Antler Ale Works as a brewery that will not only deliver exceptional local craft beer, but empower our patrons to further appreciate all types of beer through education of styles, ingredients and the brewing process while partnering with others in the community.” The trio have already been active in our corner of the beer world, presenting educational classes and brewing demos and sharing the collabs made with their pals at Beer on Earth at the latter’s North Kingstown HQ. They’ll be opening their brewery and taproom on West Park Street in Providence (off Pleasant Valley Parkway, near POP, the Emporium of Pop Culture) ASAP. Get updates at facebook.com/antleraleworks.

And in mega-timely reporting, Shaidzon Beer Company is releasing a new beer today (assuming you are reading these words on January 17). Ode to Aegir, a Norwegian farmhouse ale, is a collaboration with the beer savants at Novare Res Bier Cafe in Portland, Maine, who trekked to West Kingston and brewed with Josh and Chip right after Christmas. Ode to Aegir was made with juniper boughs and a Norwegian yeast strain. And worry not: They brewed enough to supply the demand of readers who read these words on the 18th (and 19th and 20th . . . but don’t push your luck!).

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