-
When was Rhode Island’s first brewery established?
- Rhode Island’s first known brewery dates back to the 17th century, with the establishment of a brewhouse by Providence’s Sergeant William Baulston in 1639.
-
How has Rhode Island’s beer industry evolved over time?
- While brewing in Rhode Island has a long history, the industry saw a major resurgence in the mid-2000s during the national craft beer revival.
-
What types of breweries have emerged in Rhode Island?
- With the craft beer boom, Rhode Island became home to dozens of new microbreweries, nanobreweries, and brewpubs across the region.
This post may include affiliate links. Click here for Affiliate Disclosure.
1. Isle Brewers Guild
Isle Brewers Guild was opened in 2017 by Devin Kelly and Jeremy Duffy, occupying a multi-building campus today in Pawtucket. The brewery follows a co-operative business model, brewing both its own unique beers and beers produced for other New England craft breweries, such as Massachusetts’ Newburyport Brewing Company and New Hampshire’s Great North Aleworks. Staff brewers’ ales are produced under the company’s Guild Brewers’ series, which allows brewmasters to try their hand at experimental styles and one-offs. Its tap room is open Thursdays through Sundays, allowing visitors to try beers from up to seven members breweries. Food trucks are also hosted on site many weekends, and live music performances are presented periodically.
461 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860, Phone: 401-724-1241, Map
2. Foolproof Brewing Company
Foolproof Brewing Company in Pawtucket is a unique brewing company based around the concept of experience-based brewing, crafting ales specifically designed for beer-drinking experiences such as cookouts, after-work rounds at local watering holes, or rainy-day session drinking. The brewery offers flight tastings and tours at its Pawtucket tap room at scheduled times.
241 Grotto Ave #1, Pawtucket, RI 02860, Phone: 401-721-5970, Map
3. LineSider Brewing Company
Located in a spacious industrial-style indoor Tap Room with an outdoor courtyard, the LineSider Brewery offers East Greenwich residents and visitors an inviting destination to meet, socialize and enjoy a pint or two of hand-crafted, small batch artisanal beer. The beers are all brewed on site by brewers Jeremy Ruff and Kyle Toste and you will always find 8 to 14 different brews available on tap. Although the LineSider Brewing does not serve food, you are welcome to bring you own food or get something delicious to eat from one of the food trucks which regularly attend the brewery. If you would like to celebrate an occasion at LineSider you can rent the Tap House from Monday to Wednesday.
LineSider Brewing Company, 1485 S. County Trail, East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818, 401 398 7700
4. Buttonwoods Brewery
Buttonwoods Brewery was opened in December of 2017 by Morgan Clark Snyder, Jr., a former homebrewer and the company’s lone full-time employee. The brewery primarily focuses on crafting well-hopped IPAs and simple saison styles, though it offers a varied beer list showcasing a variety of seasonal and barrel-aged favorites as well. Notable ales include the company’s Empty Quarter Sour IPA, Harness Passion Saison, Shaolin Land Cream Ale, and Death of the Author American Stout. Draft lists are constantly rotating at the brewery’s Cranston tap room, which welcomes well-behaved children. Pints and to-go growler sales are available, along with an outdoor patio offering cornhole games.
Buttonwoods Brewery, 530 Wellington Ave #22, Cranston, RI 02910, Phone: 401-461-2337
5. Coddington Brewing Co.
Coddington Brewing Co. was founded in 1995 by Bill Christy, offering 100% all-natural ales and lagers that are handcrafted on the premises of its Middletown tap room and brewpub. The brewery is a popular local hangout, offering a full menu of gastropub-style American fare, including craft burgers, wrap sandwiches, artisan pizzas, and a variety of meat and seafood entrees. Beer styles on tap are rotated regularly, showcasing everything from fruit-forward blonde and wheat ales to classic European styles such as marzens and doppelbocks. A mug club for regular visitors offers discounts on pints, company merchandise, and free meals for special occasions.
Coddington Brewing Co., 210 Coddington Hwy, Middletown, RI 02842, Phone: 401-847-6690
6. Crooked Current Brewery
Crooked Current Brewery was founded by lifelong Rhode Islanders Nichole Pelletier and Jason Lourenco and is proud to claim its title as the state’s smallest brewery, located within a 375-square-foot space within a former Pawtucket factory building that also houses a yoga studio. The brewery’s branding is themed around the state’s historical incidents of political corruption, with cartoons on its walls depicting local political scandals and clever beer names such as Immorality Pale Ale, Extortion Eggnog Milk Stout, and Kickback American Wheat. Three or four of the brewery’s beers are tapped at any given time, with others available in 32-ounce crowler sizes for takeout sales. Flight tastings are also available at the brewery’s tap room, which offers seasonal outdoor seating.
Crooked Current Brewery, 560 Mineral Spring Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860, Phone: 401-473-8312
7. Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island is a Westerly brewery that opened to the public in 2011, founded by husband and wife pair and longtime homebrewers Alan and Jennifer Brinton. The award-winning brewery produces a number of year-round and seasonal releases, including its award-winning Flagship Cream Ale, cult favorite Captain’s Daughter Imperial IPA, Flying Jenny Unfiltered Extra Pale Ale, and Pour Judgment IPA, brewed in collaboration with local restaurant Pour Judgment Bar and Grill. Its Canal Street tap room is open Wednesdays through Sundays, with pints, flight tastings, and growler sales of its most popular brews available for guests.
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island, 63 Canal St, Westerly, RI 02891, Phone: 401-212-7592
8. Long Live Beerworks, Inc.
Long Live Beerworks was founded by Armando DeDona, who studied commercial brewing in the United Kingdom before relocating to the Rhode Island region. The seven-barrel brewery focuses on hop-forward styles and cask ales, eschewing the model of releasing flagship beers year round in favor of prioritizing experimental small-batch brews. Its Providence tap room is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, with new cask-conditioned offerings released every Friday. Past favorite releases have included its Wesside Citra-hopped IPA and Coarse Grind Espresso Stout, brewed with cold-brew espresso from local coffee company Dave’s Coffee. Food trucks are available on site during the summer months, with special events hosted periodically in collaboration with community partners.
Long Live Beerworks, Inc., 40R Sprague St, Providence, RI 02907
9. Mohegan Cafe and Brewery
Mohegan Cafe and Brewery is Block Island’s only craft brewery and brewpub, operated by brewmaster David Sniffen. The brewery is located in the island’s downtown district on Water Street and serves as a popular hangout for island residents and visitors waiting on nearby ferries to the mainland. It showcases a draft list full of recipes brewed on site, including its English Striper Red Ale, Black Buck Stout, BIPA IPA, and Strawberry Blonde Ale. Lunch and dinner are served daily, with a full menu of pub fare focusing on hearty sandwiches, fresh seafood specials, and pasta and steak options. A full children’s menu is also served, and large-screen televisions present major sporting events.
Mohegan Cafe and Brewery, 213 Water St, New Shoreham, RI 02807, Phone: 401-466-5911
10. Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling Co.
Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling Co. was founded in 1999 by a group of college friends, the first modern production brewery in the state. Since then, the brewery has produced more than 100 craft brews, including its Flagship Hurricane Amber Ale and seasonal favorites such as its 1639 Pineapple Pale Ale, Comfortably Unaware New England-style IPA, and Storm Blueberry Kolsch. Since 2006, the brewery has also distilled its own craft spirits, making it the state’s first distillery in over a century, with single-barrel rums, moonshines, gins, whiskeys and amaros available for purchase. Flight tastings of beers and spirits are available at the company’s tap room, which also offers daily guided brewery tours, a visitor center, and a gift shop. Private tours for groups of 10 or more are available with advance reservation. Since 2013, the brewery has hosted the Newport Craft Beer Festival in April, which offers VIP pours, beer and cheese pairings, and food vendors.
Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling Co., 293 JT Connell Hwy, Newport, RI 02840, Phone: 401-849-5232
Map:
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents: