A new Foolproof brew; and the Boulevard Road Trip rolls into Rhode Island

Two press releases, copy/pasted from the inbox:

Foolproof Brewing Company today announced an exciting new project with world-renowned cook and Federal Hill icon, Chef Walter Potenza. Next week, the company will be releasing their Federal Hill Ale – a pale ale brewed with saffron, blood orange, and Mosaic and Citra hops, with limited draft distribution in Rhode Island.

“This is one of the most fun and exciting beers we’ve had the privilege of brewing, and it’s been an honor to work with Chef Potenza on the project,” said Nick Garrison, Foolproof’s president and founder. “Light, drinkable, and bursting with flavor, Federal Hill Ale is dedicated to the Hill’s vivacious history and culture.”

“Working with Nick and his staff has given me a pleasurable indication of how much passion and dedication goes into making great quality beer,” said Chef Potenza. “In a time when beer is making a robust transition into cooking flavor profiles, the Federal Hill Ale will complement the palates and flavors of New England regional cuisine with the fragrance of purely Sicilian ingredients.”

Federal Hill Ale will begin distributing in time for Columbus Day Weekend. The beer will be sold exclusively in draft format by Providence Beverage (C&C Distributors) of West Greenwich. To start, the beer will be available to bars and restaurants in the Federal Hill and Broadway neighborhoods, with future plans for expanded distribution.

Federal Hill Ale will be available for sampling at Foolproof Brewing Company starting Friday, September 30, during the brewery’s tasting and tour hours, which run Fridays from 4-7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-6 pm.

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Last summer, team members from Boulevard Brewing Company packed their bags, loaded a VW bus with favorite games and headed West for a first-ever brewery road trip. It was so much fun the decision was made to embark on another adventure this year, this time with a Boulevard tasting room on-board. The trip kicked off at the end of August and will cover thousands of miles and numerous states as it makes its way East over the next several weeks. The traveling tasting room will roll into Rhode Island on Friday, September 30 to meet up with local craft beer lovers. The local schedule:

Wines & More, 125 Sockanosset Cross Rd, Cranston, from 12 to 2 pm
The Malted Barley, 334 Westminster St, Providence, from 4 pm to 7 pm
Ogie’s Trailer Park, 1155 Westminster St, Providence, from 9 pm to 11 pm

At each stop, brewery representatives will be on hand offering complimentary samples of Boulevard beer, games to play while hanging out at the stop and will gift Boulevard swag to take home. In all, the road trip will visit more than 30 cities. You can read about the adventure and view upcoming destinations at blvdroadtrip.com.

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And save the date: the 2017 Rhode Island Brew Fest will take place at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center on January 28. Tickets go on sale in October; click here for details.

Beer’d Brewing is coming to Rhode Island!

This just in: Beer’d Brewing will be available in Vo Dilun in October [via the folks at Horizon Beverage Company]! We’ve been a big fan of Aaren Simoncini’s extraordinary creations [Hobbit Juice, Dogs & Boats, Whisker’d Wit…mmmmm] since we first crossed the border to visit his establishment in Stonington, CT, a coupla years ago. Beer’d made its Rhody debut at Beervana in 2015 [they’ll be back at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet on 10.14], and will be rolling into better beer bars during Providence Beer Week [October 10-15]. We’ll update this post with specifics re: the “Beer’d Goes On Vacation” events ASAP. [And click here to get info on the fourth anniversary bash at the brewery on November 4.]

Mega-cheers to Beer’d!

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And get ready for an all-Rhody extravaganza this Sunday [9.25] at the Ocean State Beer Fest II. The first event was in 2015 at Grey Sail Brewing in Westerly; this year, most of the members of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild will be at Foolproof Brewing Company [241 Grotto Ave, Pawtucket] from 1-4 pm.  Each table will feature a few of their flagship and/or seasonal beers – plus a unique “festival-only” concoction. Sample the state’s best beer, talk with the folks who make the beer, and rub elbows with fellow beer enthusiasts. Win-win-win! Click here to get tix.

Beervana Fest 2016: the brewers list

Calendrically, Beervana Fest 2016 is one month away. The eighth annual fest is happening on Friday, October 14 from 6:30 to 10 pm at Rhodes-On-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston. Have you bought tickets yet? No?! What are you waiting for?!?! We’ve typed it many times before, and we’ll type it yet again: “It’s not open to debate: it’s simply the best local beer event [the producers of all the other fests would concur if made to swear on a stack on whatever-book-means-the-most-to-them].” And as is the norm, the Beervana brain trust, Mike Iannazzi and Brian Oakley, are topping themselves yet again in ’16: “After the success of the addition of the second floor foyer last year, we’ve decided to expand to the whole second floor! This will spread out the tables, making it less crowded and allow us to invite even more breweries. There will be 60 tables this year [up from 45 last year] and 250+ beers!!!”

Need another push? Here’s a big one: the exclusive unveiling of the list of brewers and distributors who will be sharing their overwhelming array of ultra-rare/exclusive/unique/excellent liquid gold [breweries that weren’t at the fest in 2015 are followed by an asterisk]. Prepare to drool:

21st Amendment Brewery • Allagash Brewing Company • Ballast Point Brewing Company • Beer’d Brewing Company • Black Hog Brewing Company • Boon Brewery* • Boulevard Brewing Company • Brewmaster Jack* • Brooklyn Brewery • Bucket Brewery • B. United International Importers • Captain Lawrence Brewing Company* • Coronado Brewing Company • Crooked Current Brewery • D&V International importers* • Dogfish Head Craft Brewery • DuClaw Brewing Company* • Evil Twin Brewing • Firestone Walker Brewing Company* • Foolproof Brewing Company • Founders Brewing Company • Goose Island Brewery • Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island • Hanging Hills Brewing Company* • Harpoon Brewing Company* • Heavy Seas Brewing Company • Jack’s Abby Brewing • Knee Deep Brewing Company* • Lagunitas Brewing Company • Long Live Beerworks* • Long Trail Brewing Company • Lord Hobo Brewing Company • Merchant du Vin • New Belgium Brewing Company* • Newburyport Brewing Company* • New Holland Brewing Company • Newport Storm Brewing Company • OEC Brewing • Ommegang Brewery • Oskar Blues Brewery • Otter Creek Brewing Company • Proclamation Ale Company • Ravenous Brewing Company • Revival Brewing Company • Rodenbach Brewery • Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Company • Shelton Brothers Importers • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company • Smuttynose/Smuttlabs • St. Bernardus Brewery • Stone Brewing Company • Stony Creek Brewery* • Tilted Barn Brewery* • Tributary Brewing Company • Trinity Brewhouse • Twelve Percent Imports • Two Roads Brewing Company • Uinta Brewing Company* • von Trapp Brewing Company* • Weihenstephan Brewery* • Whaler’s Brewing Company • Wormtown Brewery*

[Note: all breweries subject to change — and a few can’t be announced yet. We’ll be posting that intel ASAP, along with the detailed beer list.]

So what are you waiting for?!?! Get your tix now! They’re only $55 and they’re going fast!

Gov. Raimondo will ‘ceremonially sign’ the better beer laws at Ravenous on 9.9

Image courtesy of CraftBeer.com

This just in from the State House:

Raimondo Makes It Easier for Breweries, Distilleries to Do Business in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Governor Gina M. Raimondo will ceremonially sign into law legislation passed this year that makes it easier for beer and liquor manufacturers to do business in Rhode Island. In 2015 alone, the craft brewing industry created more than 120,000 jobs in the United States, according to industry reports.

“Rhode Island is on the move,” Raimondo said. “We’re making real changes to leverage our already strong tourism and food industries while bolstering our overall efforts to use regulatory modernization and innovation to attract business. This legislation will allow breweries and distilleries to keep growing and creating jobs.”

The signing ceremony will take place at the Ravenous Brewing Company in Woonsocket.

WHO: Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Representative Michael A. Morin [D-Dist. 49], Senator V. Susan Sosnowski [D-Dist. 37], Ravenous Brewing Company Owner and Proprietor Dorian Rave

WHAT: Bill signing ceremony for the following legislation: Permits holders of a manufacture’s license to sell up to 3 alcoholic beverages (36 oz of beer or 4.5 oz of spirits) manufactured by them for on-site consumption, as well as up to 288 oz of beer or 750 ml of spirits for off-site consumption in containers that hold no more than 72 oz each. Bills: H8100B, S3053A. Sponsors: Representative Morin, Senator Sosnowski.

WHEN: Friday, September 9, 2016 – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Ravenous Brewing Company, 840 Cumberland Hill Road #10, Woonsocket, RI

Gearing up for fall beer fun

In our column in the new Fall Guide edition of Motif, we preview autumn’s biggest beer bashes, including the Rhode Island Brewers Guild’s Ocean State Beer Fest II, Beervana Fest, the 23rd Great International Fall Beer Festival, and a pair of Oktoberfests. Click here to read all about ’em!