Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Guild’s new pop-up beer garden keeps things blooming into fall

Pawtucket brewery The Guild has launched a six-week outdoor beer garden to support Governor Raimondo’s #TakeItOutside initiative. Located in the PVD Innovation District Park (on the far side of the Pedestrian Bridge), The Guild is providing a safe place for friends to gather and drink a brew or two in their socially distanced space. Inspired by the success of Boston’s six-plus beer gardens, cofounder Jeremy Duffy hopes that the project will bring a sense of community to PVD at a time when we need it most.

The six-week pilot program launched September 25 and will run until November 1, with plans to run for a full season in 2021. “With the response from opening weekend, we think it will be a huge hit and another way to activate the park to draw more people to the area,” says Duffy. “I started talking to the I-195 District well over a year ago about the concept. As the park was coming online, the I-195 District decided to put out an RFP [request for proposal] for temporary concessions in the park. We applied and were offered the opportunity to provide a beer garden for the park.” Of course these plans were proposed pre-COVID, hence the six-week pop-up version of the larger concept.

The Guild has also partnered with Ocean State Food Truck Festivals and Smoke & Squeal BBQ in order to provide a full experience for guests. “Visitors will see an array of their favorite food trucks at the beer garden this fall,” says Duffy. Some food trucks associated with Ocean State Food Truck Festivals include Paco’s Tacos, Gastros401 and Axelrod’s Fry Shack; stay tuned on social media to see what eats will be available each weekend.

In true fall fashion, The Guild will be offering their Oktoberfest Festbier and Pumpkin Ale in addition to an array of their most popular beers. The Guild just kicked off their Oktoberfest celebration last week in their tap room in Pawtucket, and although the beer garden wants to keep things simple because of COVID, there may be some Halloween-inspired events in October.

The opportunity to enjoy a beer and socialize with our gorgeous city as the backdrop is a rare one these days, and The Guild is making sure we can do so safely. “The safety and comfort of our customers is the number one priority during this time,” Duffy says. “There is nothing better than when a customer says, ‘Thank you for making me safe and still be a part of a community.’”

The Guild has had a comprehensive plan to handle customers and keep everyone distant and safe at their tap room in Pawtucket, and they are bringing the same philosophy to the beer garden in Providence.

The The Guild PVD Beer Garden is open: Fri, 3 – 6pm; Sat, 1 – 6pm and Sun, Noon – 5pm until November 1. Follow @guildpvd on Instagram for updates on events and food trucks.