What’s New? There’s always room for one more brewery in our little state

Rhode Island is lucky to have some top-notch breweries that call us home. But even in this land of plenty, beer lovers scream for more, more, more! And enterprising brewers are happy to oblige. Check out the newest players that bellied up to the bar since our last beer issue.

Buttonwoods, Cranston

Buttonwoods is located in an old Cranston mill, where among a variety of businesses, an unassuming door leads to the taproom. Buttonwoods is a wonderful space of wood and brick, and the only way to describe the resident dog’s greeting is heartwarming. Nestled against the back wall are the fermenters, still and resting from their daily labor, while the natural, unprocessed wood bar begs for mugs of fresh, delicious beer to adorn it.

Buttonwoods currently offers eight beers – four variations on the IPA and NE IPA – but they also are offering a stout (with peanut butter, fluff and vanilla), a farmhouse saison, a sour and a cream ale.

Apponaug Brewing Company, Warwick (opening soon [motifri.com/apponaug-calling])

Apponaug Brewing is finishing construction and brewing in an old brick mill on the Pawtuxet River. The building has an urban feel that complements its heavily wooded environment. The brewery’s menu leans toward upscale street food, including a variety of tacos, greens and fries; also available are sliders, cheese boards, flatbreads, vegetarian offerings and smoky pulled pork.

Apponaug’s beer is a celebration of different styles. Their version of NE IPA is Interchangeable Parts, a double IPA, which is a brute at 9.5%. A solid but more reasonable sibling is their IPA (Weathering Steel, 6.5%). They also boldly will offer two stouts: an American (Viscosity, ABV unlisted) and 12% seduction with Annie Edson, a Russian Imperial. They’ll also pour a Berliner Weiss (Raw Materials, 3.9%) and a German Festbier (Feast or Famine, 5.4%). In a welcome and magnanimous move, beer seekers also will be able to find Proclamation Derivative pale ale and Shaidzon’s Buffalo Czech Lager.

LineSider, East Greenwich (opening soon [facebook.com/linesiderbrewing] )

About to claim the title of East Greenwich’s first brewery, LineSider is poised to pour in October 2018. The crew is building an ambitious space, and the fermenters, located in a large spacious room, have been busy. The canning machine is unpacked and ready to seal some fresh ale. The hats and shirts are in. The taproom is built. All we need now is an open door and some beer!

Shaidzon Beer CO, West Kingston

As they approach their first anniversary, Shaidzon has been gearing up for their first full fall. Their embracing of the local music scene is exhibited heavily this autumn. Their live music series, linked with Rocktorium Records, kicks off on October 6 at Gary’s Bar Patio with Z-Boys. The tunes continue with Muddy Ruckus on October 13, Gumption and Glory on October 20 and The Copacetics on October 27.

Shaidzon is anxious to celebrate fall with their new Octoberfest, Buffalo Czech and dry hopped blonde ale, Little Bella. Also still available are For No One (Double IPA), Never Tomorrow (IPA) and new Kingston’s Finest, a rendition of classic American corn lager made with corn and barley. Shaizdon is pushing the nostalgia with traditional lagers through October 28 at LAGERFEST. Plus, you’re guaranteed exceptional bites to complement your beer; Shaizdon’s tasting room hosts a rotating selection of local favorites like Tilly’s Cheesesteaks, CUFFS Counter, Food4Good or Ocean Mist wings.

Smug Brewing, Pawtucket

Smug Brewing will soon call the space of the now defunct Bucket Brewery home. Smug is owned and headed by Robert DeRosa, who has a decade of brewery experience (Union Station, Ragged Island) and is ready to do his own thing. DeRosa will be peddling hop-forward IPAs in the blossoming Pawtucket Brewery scene, as well as a traditional Octoberfest and Russian stouts and sours.

Canned Heat, Fall River

Neighboring Fall River welcomes the grand opening of Canned Heat’s tap room on October 5 and 6. Canned Heat’s head brewer, Matt Ellis, whetted the public’s palate with some fun summer events and as we slid into fall, Canned Heat showed the sparging of their pumpkin imperial stout on Instagram. This stout will welcome autumn splendidly on October 5.

Beer on Earth, North Kingstown

Beer on Earth has been charging forward with beer and ideas since their July opening. Their current menu has their Innocuous blonde ale, Season 2 saison, Overtime IPA, Overtime Vic Secret IPA, Double OT DIPA, Up Before the Dog coffee porter, a raspberry donut Berliner Weisse and a blueberry version, and Independence Wheat Ale with honey. They are showcasing a range of styles beyond the IPA-heavy menus many breweries offer, and a pumpkin ale now is available.

Providence Brewing Company, PVD

Tucked in under a tuxedo shop on Mineral Spring Ave in a 1970s-style plaza is the new Providence Brewing Company (PBC). PBC is located in a cozy and small room that feels like a friendly cove (not unlike the tragically lost Custom House). The night I visited, I was (happily!) bathed in the dark notes of the Cramps for 45 minutes. PBC offers four slight variations on the IPA and then – to a stunned palate of this patron – two Mexican lagers, one of which, Cereza Armaga, had cherries, guava, and lemons – and tequila! This is a crisp lager — not sour, but fruity and light. The IPA was a West Coast (California Uber Alles; 8.4%; Vic Secret, Galaxy hops). There was Circus Act (6.5%; Vic Secret, Amarillo, Colombus – dry hopped with Tomahawk, Zeus). Fool’s Trapeze was made with Mosaic and there also was Room 1924 (6.2%; Citra, Msoaic). The fermenters and mash tuns are tucked off to the side, and people can sit at the main bar, topped with copper.