One last hurrah to summer beers and a sneak peek at what’s brewing for the fall

It’s a well-known truth that great things usually come in pairs. So too is it with the Rhode Island Brew Fest Summer edition. Matt Gray and Gray Matter Marketing followed up their wildly successful winter brew fest with an expanded summer edition. Both festivals included representation from all the local Rhode Island Breweries, businesses and organizations. However, there was one notable absence – Bucket Brewery did not have beer for sampling due to their expansion, which is currently underway. Don’t worry, it’s going along smoothly and before you know it, you’ll see Bucket everywhere again.

The festival had two tents set up in one of the fields of Ninigret Park. The first, and arguably most important, tent was composed of all RI-based breweries and organizations. Breweries such as Newport Storm, Trinity, Foolproof and Revival all had individual tables, while the rest were well represented at the RI Brewer’s Guild table. Representing the homebrewing scene in Rhode Island was Craft Brews of Westerly, Basement Brewhaus of Providence and the Rhode Island Brewing Society.

The other tent had plenty of breweries from all over the country. Old favorites, such as Woodstock Inn, Sea Dog, Cape Ann, Long Trail, Sam Adams, Shipyard and Magic Hat were in attendance. There also was a good showing of some newcomers to the area, like Shebeen, Two Roads, Safe Harbor, Finch’s and Stony Creek. A couple of the newcomer breweries said they are working on getting distribution, so be on the lookout for them in the future.

While there wasn’t a single bad beer in the bunch, there were a few standout brews that are worth noting. First was the Honeyspot Road White IPA from Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. This was a light, refreshing IPA with a slightly citrusy character and well-balanced hops. For anyone who doesn’t think they’d like an IPA, this is one that may change your mind. Second on the block was the Cannoli Beer by Shebeen Brewing of Wolcott, CT. At the Shebeen booth, they were not only pouring, they also were finishing off each sample with shaved chocolate and a spot of whipped cream. Chocolate and whipped cream on a beer may sound a bit gimmicky, but hey, if this is wrong then I don’t wanna be right. The beer itself was definitely tasty with a rich chocolatey character and a few subtle coffee notes.  This would definitely fit the bill for a dessert beer and was on par with Wells Banana Bread Beer and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. Who would have thought the stuff I’d remember was from Connecticut instead of Rhode Island? I should go drink some Revival to regain my street cred.

With so many beers at the festival, I missed quite a few in the two hours I spent there before boarding a plane to the craft beer mecca of the west coast. If you missed either of the two sessions, you should start making plans to attend the next RI Brew Fest in the winter. Both festivals have been grand slams for the Gray Matter Marketing crew, and I’m sure the next one will be even better. For more info, head over to ribrewfest.com.

Mix-a-Six: Notes and Happenings From Around the State

* Providence-based What Cheer Beer Reviews has completed their first year and 69th beer review. Congrats! If you’re not sure what beer you should be drinking, check them out at youtube.com/user/WhatCheersBeerReview
* While we’re talking about local beer reviews, HopBackNate and company just did review #93 of Trinity’s Strawberry Belgian. For more reviews and an insider’s look at his homebrewing adventures, check out his videos at youtube.com/user/offthegrillwithnate1. What do you mean you can’t click links in the paper?
* Beervana is back and will take place on Friday, October 18, from 6:30 to 10 pm at Rhodes on the Patuxet. Tickets are limited, so don’t procrastinate. beervanafest.com
* The Great International Beer Festival and Competition is on the horizon. It will take place at the RI Convention Center on November 9, with the standard two sessions taking place from 1 to 4:30 pm and 6:30 to 10 pm. More info is at beerfestamerica.com
* Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. has already started harvesting local pumpkins for their 2013 batch of Pumpkin Spice Whiskey, which should be hitting shelves in a few months.solspirits.com
* Fall is prime homebrewing time. Expect events and announcements from your local homebrew clubs, RI Brewing Society (ribrewingsociety.com) and RI Fermentation Technicians (riftbrew.org/). If you’ve ever thought about getting into homebrewing or just have questions, a homebrew club is the way to go.