Rhode Island

Rhode Island is packed with 400 miles of coastline and 20 percent of the country’s historic landmarks. Newport is the sailing capital of the world, home to the famed Gilded Age mansions. Providence’s celebrated restaurants, award-winning theatre, and vibrant arts scene is enhanced by an elaborate river-walk. Block Island’s natural beauty beckons you to unwind. Whether you choose South County’s pristine beaches, East Bay’s magnificent coastal bikeway, footsteps through history in Blackstone Valley, or shopping in Warwick, you'll experience authentic Rhode Island.  

Rhode Island's only Micro Brewery "Coastal Extreme Brewing Company" 293 J.T. Connell Rd. Newport, RI 02840; the visitors center and tasting room is open from 12pm - 5pm everyday except for Tuesdays. They have both the beer and rum available for tasting for the first time ever. The cost for a tour and beer tasting is $7 and the cost for a tour and rum tasting is $9. The cost of the tasting includes a souvenir crystal tasting glass. The beer selection will be a combination of their year-round beers, seasonal and limited release selections. They will be featuring two rums not available anywhere but here in addition to the Thomas Tew Rum that is available in Rhode Island stores. The tour deck will be open whenever the visitor's center is open so you can get a great look at the facility even when there isn't a scheduled tour. You get to walk around the newly installed visitors gantry so you can look down on all the brew dudes working away to turn water into fun for you all. ( note we visited the old location about 4 years ago  for the "Free Tours every Friday @ 6pm!) The tours are fun as is the "extreme" drinking experience. They organize lots of events and charity fund raisers through the year. A radical set of dude's.  

Anyway here is what they brew starting with their flagship beer, Hurricane Amber Ale, It's a mild amber ale with sweet malty flavour balanced by ample but delicate hopping. It's the perfect beer to enjoy all evening with good friends or even good enemies. In the fall (autumn) of 2000, they introduced their "Storm of the Season" program. Each season was mated with a particular beer that would be available for only that period of time. That fall they introduced Regenschauer Oktoberest. It was followed with Blizzard Porter in the winter (now a permanent brew each winter), Thunderhead Irish Red (now the Spring Ale) in the spring, and Maelstrom IPA in the summer. Each of theses styles and recipes were chosen to be well suited for the time of the year  they came out. Moreover, the focus was on drinkability which has made for some unique versions of these popular styles. Also once a year the brewers are given the opportunity to make something completely different from anything that has been made before. Ignoring all previous recipies, and brewing continuously for days results in been a unique high alcohol (11-12% abv), complex product that is like nothing else on the market. Named for the year it is brewed ('00, '01, '02, etc.) this beer is packaged in cobalt blue, 750ml, corked, wine-style bottles and aged a year until it is released. A little bit of yeast is left in the bottle to naturally carbonate it and help it condition over time. Each year sees a new recipe and only 3000 total bottles. While most of these bottles are released and quickly snatched up, some have been kept for aging up to 10 years as this is a product that grows better with age. The 2011 one was a collaboration brewed with a the other craft breweries in Rhode Island.

In Providence the state capital, not only can you visit, the Rhode Island State House that is located in the downtown area of the state capital of Providence, the State House is a neoclassical building that houses the Rhode Island General Assembly and the offices of the governor of Rhode Island as well as the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and general treasurer. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The dome of the State House is the fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world. But they also have tow brew pubs Trinity Brew house which is a must visit for there award winning ales and also the Union Station Brewery and restaurant which is OK but very food orientated? 

Any way lets start with the best one, Trinity Brewhouse is located at 186 Fountain St., Providence, They always have at least 6 different styles on tap at the Brew house. They brew twice a week and always have the freshest beer in the city. The beer menu rotates often to provide a wide variety of crisp, flavourful ales, beers, and stouts. Speaking of which my favourite without a bout is the RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT A thick, dark, black, beer with rich maltiness, roasted and chocolate malt flavours, high hop bitterness, and a strong alcoholic taste. A hearty stout, this robust beer will age with grace, transforming through complex flavour variations. BRONZE MEDAL '96 WORLD BEER CUP at 8%ABV. Another of my favourites is the RHODE ISLAND IPA The first IPA available throughout Rhode Island since Ballantine IPA. The most bitter of the Pale Ale family, India Pale Ale has a malty flavour accented by fruity aromas, a dry bitter finish and bright copper colour, Winner, 1997 & 1998 Great Northeastern Beer Festival, Pale Ale. And at  7% ABV. Now a bit about the bar its self; Great atmosphere with Funky interiors. Kind of sports bar meets eccentric art and  the basement is cavern-like.  The food is usually really good and the service is really friendly staff seem to know about there brews, they also won best brew pub in New England in 2000. We usually site at the bar were you can see into the glass covered brewery, which you can tell has taken a lot of battering over the years? It’s a fun place to hang out and have a few brews and get to know the locals; who are a mixed bunch of bohemians, rockers, punks and beer dudes plus a lunch some local suits. All in all a good crowd.  

When you eventually leave you may as well walk to two blocks to Union Station Brewery (part of the John Harvard’s chain) This place has great location being nestled in the centre of a little section in Providence, RI that has some higher end restaurants. Service was friendly, food was really tasty, but the beer selection was a little bit lacking. It was particularly quite when we went in, only a few other people in the joint. They had six beers on at the time and we had a sampler of them all and enjoyed all of them, I thought the Belgian Triple was particularly good, the Irish Stout and the Half Day IPA were also very tasty. We were in luck as they had a porter on cask that although a little warm was very quaffable with a black with a thick tan head. Roasty malt nose, light coffee. Bittersweet chocolate and coffee flavours, some vinous qualities. Pretty good.. It is one of a chain of 7-8 brewpubs that trade under the John Harvard’s banner and it has defiantly improved since we last visitrd 4 years ago.. But saying that well worth a visit, as they do some really good specials and the Union Station Rusty Griswald that pours copper brown with a white head. Smells nicely hopped with pine and rosy elements present. With a taste is of pine and citrus atop a nice malty backbone. With a perfumed finish along with the cask porter makes the trip worthwhile. 

Next up is Coddingtons Brewing Co, 210 Coddington highway, Middletown, Newport. Newport Rhode Island's first brew pub Founded in 1995, Coddington Brewing Company is committed to creating and serving the best beer available – period. Hand-crafted on the premises, all their ales and lagers are 100% natural and delicious. It’s the kind of taste and the kind of freshness that isn’t available anywhere but a brewpub like this one the foods is good as well. 

NOTE; Do lunch here and sample the beers then go on to Coastal Extreme Brewing Co's tour (as mentioned above)

Here’s a brief history of how Coddingtons got its name William Coddington founded Newport, RI in 1639. He migrated to Massachusetts from England in 1630, seeking religious freedom. Coddington, however, encountered more religious tension and was obliged to leave the state. With the help of Roger Williams, John Clarke and Anne Hutchinson, Coddington purchased Aquidneck Island, known as Newport, from the Narragansett Indians. Coddington later established the state's first legislature and named himself Governor of Rhode Island. 

They do a rack of all there beers 7oz glasses we did a rack so as not to miss any beers then had a couple of pints of our fav's here is what we had; Golden Ale The lightest beer on tap with a light hop character and a crisp clean finish, making it a good choice for someone trying a micro brew for the first time. 4.3% ABV Blueberry Blonde This is a golden beer with a distinct blueberry aroma and a subtle fruity flavour. The low hop character and blueberry flavour make for a very refreshing brew. served with fresh blueberries in the glass 4.2% ABV India Pale Ale (I.P.A.) Better known as IPA, this amber coloured English style ale is highly hopped and bitter with a citrus aroma and flavour making it a great pairing with spicy food. This IPA gets it’s hop flavour and aroma from Cascade hops and it’s bitterness from Magnum hops. 5.0% ABV Irish Red Ale This amber ale is characterized by a subtle malt and hop aroma, a slight malt sweetness with a soft but noticeable fruitiness that bounds into a dry finish. 4.6% ABV Winter Warmer This deep mahogany ale is lightly hopped with a pronounced malty flavour. The addition of dried figs to the mashtun, kettle, and fermenter bestows a silky sweetness to the finish. 7.1% ABV Barley Wine This wine-strength ale has rich malt flavour coupled with cloying sweetness and balanced by crisp hop bitterness. High fermentation temperatures derive fruity estery notes. The elevated alcohol content delivers soothing warmth to the mouth feel. Pale bronze in colour. 9.2% ABV Chocolate Porter Chocolate Porter This beer is dark ruby to almost black in colour. Full bodied with a rich creamy chocolate flavour with a subtle hop finish. 5.7% ABV. Oatmeal Stout Dark and full bodied with a velvety smoothness. This stout has a rich dark malt flavour with a dry bitterness in the finish. Deep black in colour, and a rich creamy head. 3.8% ABV If you have read Otto & the littl'un's travels before I bet you can guess which one's we had a couple of pints of. Yes we follow "The Dark Side" Chocolate Porter and the Stout followed by winter warmer a nice way to finish off an excellent meal. 

Now for the last brewpub which requires a bit of a ferry trip (approx 1 hour) over to Block Island and the Mohegan Café and Brewery. Lets set the picture first. Block Island, nestled in the Atlantic 12 miles from coastal Rhode Island, and offers the vacationer what does not seem possible anymore - simple relaxation in a startling beautiful place.  The Island is famous for its 17 miles of free public beaches, sparkling clear waters, dramatic bluffs, preserved open spaces. Block Island has long been a haven for residents and visitors who have found here a quality of life that recalls the pleasures of a life that is simpler, slower, and somehow, more carefree. (Note, in winter the ferry does not always sale) It's no wonder that the Nature Conservancy has designated Block Island "One of the 12 last great places in the Western Hemisphere." The best way to explore the island is to rent bikes as you get off the ferry for just a few $ who can ride completely around the island in just over an hour, we took around 3-4 stopping off in the coves and exploring. (We only came across 3 cars in the whole day!) Once we had got a thirst it was time to return the bikes (don’t drink and drive) and slake our thirst at the Mohegan Café located at 213 Water Street. Just down from the ferry terminal. This place features a rotating tap selection and is an example of what a small brewpub is capable of becoming. The food which consists of a full menu and offers something for everyone is the best on the island. There is typically a rotating selection on their six house taps, but may be as low as two or one of their own beers depending on how late in the season you’re there. Their chilli beer is the highlight of their selection! Which is very peppery with a nice pilsner malt backbone. But as always my personal favourite was the Mohegan Black Buck Porter. This is supposed to be a honey porter, but I was unable to detect any honey. Pours brown with a thin tan head. Smells of chocolate and cookies. Taste is watery with peppery splashes and coffee and chocolate on the finish. The place itself is on the small side like everything else on the island, but is pleasant with a bar area and a restaurant area. The staff are friendly and helpful. The waiter who served us was very knowledgeable when it came to the beer. 

We stay in RI but off to the Mews Tavern @ 456 Main Street, Wakefield RI where friendly atmosphere, awesome selection, and great food come together under one roof! 69 Draft beers on tap @ all times + 200 single malt whiskeys This pub is a must for any one visiting southern RI. The pub has a shop and a large family room with a huge oak tree growing out of the middle they built the room around it ! Also a connecting area with privet booths that will sit 6 people then the main bar with is good on Saturdat afternoon when sport is on good friendly atmosphere. The food is really good with house specials of Pizza from a brick oven. Also here you can get a rack of beer this time in 10oz glasses we had 2 racks to then onto pints here is a sample of what we had Seadog Wild Blueberry Wheat: (Maine) A deep-golden, dry, crisp and refreshing brew with very subtle hints of BLUEBERRY. Magic Hat Humble Patience: (VT) Brewed with all imported English  grains for a big malt flavour.  Its dark garnet-red colour cascades into a rich, thick creamy head. Allagash White Ale: (ME) Brewed with a large portion of malted wheat, barley and an addition of oats. Spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel which results in a full-flavoured, yet refreshing beer Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter:(VT) A full-bodied, full flavoured dark ale with a rich malty taste. Blue Fin Stout: This stout from the Shipyard Brewery has a smooth coffee-malt flavour and a rich creamy head that lasts until the last sip!***Magic Hat Ravell: (VT) A porter brewed with whole vanilla beans. A rare and delectable offering. The Mews is one of the few places to find this seasonal brew on tap. Sample it now! This brew will not be around long. Buzzards Bay Lager: (Mass) A traditional "export" style lager with a hint of toasty biscuit flavour from the Munich Malt. It has a well-balanced hop aroma and a moderately dry finish. Harpoon UFO Hefe-weizen:(Mass.) A unique wheat beer with a taste that is out of this world. Harpoon's unique brewing process puts this Un-Filtered Offering in a class of it's own. We have visited this pub a least 5 times I cant recommend a better pub for choice and service. Excellent Dude. Otto gives it 10/10  

The is now another Micro Brewery in Rhode Island, Naragansett, once a legendary brewery, founded in 1888 and was one of the best know in the country, you still see antique tray and signage in bars etc..  In 1914 it was one of the most modern breweries in the USA, with a state of the are bottling line. It was famous for its drinkability and the advertising slogan, "Hi, Neighbor, have a 'Gansett!," most famously uttered by Boston Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy. Then in 1974 they were taken over and the inevitable happened as is always the case and it closed in 1981. In 2005, Rhode Islander Mark Hellendrung purchased the rights to Narragansett from Falstaff, and former brewmaster Bill Anderson was brought on board to revive the quality of the once-proud brand. Since then, Narrgansett has seen a revival in the New England area with the help of revitalized marketing and quality. Today, Narragansett beer is contract brewed by Geneese Brewing Company, and its other styles are brewed in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. That October, for the first time in a quarter century, Narragansett Beer was back in bottles and on bar taps.

But now it is being brewed by Sean Larkin of Trinity Brew House, I don't know if it is brewed on that kit or at the new brewery address but, he does have a big say on the brews and the design of the can's and bottles etc.... 

 USA

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