Beer Bashes and New Brews for the Dog Days of Summer

If you’ve grabbed this just-off-the-presses issue of Motif on August 4, then you should celebrate IPA Day – dive into the Got Beer! Archives at motifri.com for the hoppy details – and then get ready to indulge in some enticing beer-soaked events:

There are two big happenings on Saturday, August 6 – and you can hit ’em both! Head to India Point Park for the 2^nd Annual Providence Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival. The gastronomical gorging includes more than 25 food options, including Motif Food Truck Award Winners Championship Melt and Open Season. And there are just as many brewers, highlighted by Black Hog, the Bruery, Firestone Walker, Green Flash and Sixpoint. The emphasis is on food from 11am – 3pm [with 12-ounce brews available for purchase]; the beer fest aspect kicks in from 3 – 6pm, with unlimited samples from the breweries. Get the monetary details and more intel at foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.

Also on August 6 (from 1:30 – 4pm and 5 – 7:30pm) is Foolproof’s fourth annual Augtoberfest. Get a good grip on hearty and sweaty steins filled with the fest’s namesake Märzen (and other taste treats from Foolproof’s potent lineup), and indulge in music, food, games and more fun. Info on ticket levels, merch and more is at foolproofbrewing.com.

On Sunday, August 14, Pizza J (967 Westminster St, Providence) will host the 6^th Annual Pints for Paws bash, a fundraiser for Providence Animal Rescue League. The mission statement: “Save animals one pint at a time!” The VIP tasting session is from 1 – 3pm, with liquid goodness from lotsa locals (Revival, Narragansett, Trinity, Foolproof, Crooked Current, Long Live, Ravenous) and some national faves (Ballast Point, Otter Creek, Lagunitas, Stone). And there’s a Pints After-Party from 3 – 6pm with games, food, drink, raffles (prizes include beer!!) and unlimited off-the-leash fun. Hit parl.org for tickets and more data.

And plan ahead for the big fall brew gatherings: Ocean State Beer Fest II, the annual gathering of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild, is at Foolproof on September 25; Beervana Fest is on October 14 (tickets — including 250 early bird specials — go on sale August 7 at noon at beervanafest.com); and the Great International Fall Beer Festival is at the Rhode Island Convention Center on November 5. Get your beer budget in order!

New brews: Narragansett has a trio of new water-themed tallboys to fill your cooler. The fifth entry in the Lovecraft Series is White Ship, a white IPA (6.8% ABV) made with El Dorado and Mandarina Bavarian hops and four different Belgian and American malts. The brew nods to HP’s 1919 short story, “The White Ship,” which the ’Gansett folks say is “a fantastical tale of a man’s adventure aboard a mysterious ship,” with ruminations on curiosity and greed. Bermuda-Style Pilsner (5% ABV) has been brewed in anticipation of America’s Cup 2017 (’Gansett was a sponsor of the Cup from the ’60s to the ’80s). The light sipper is made with two-row pale and Carapils malts and German Hallertfau hops. And the summer seasonal, Town Beach, a sessionable IPA (4.7% ABV) made with Pacific Gem, Green Bullet, Nugget and EKG hops completes the Hi-Neighbor hat trick!

And staying on the high seas, the Newport Storm crew has unveiled Rhode Sodah, the first addition to its year-round in four years – and it’s the first Storm offering to appear in a 16-ounce can. The Stormers describe their new creation as a “golden-colored ale (4.9% ABV) bursting with juicy hop flavor and a touch of bitterness. El Dorada, Citra and Equinox hops give off flavors and aromas of orange, tangerine and mango. Canada Pale and honey malt offer a crisp, clean finish.” Enjoy the local flava (and see our review on the next page)!

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