Visiting Rhode Island in 2018

Agree, best to pick a good sub-85 degree day for sure. The only brewery I wish covered up their natural smell with some Glade on those "sweaty nutsack" days.

 

Stopped at Taproot this afternoon, my $.02:
Beautiful space. Haven’t been since ‘08 or ‘09 when it was just the vineyard. Wide open, nice transition from retail shop to beer tasting to wine tasting to outdoor space. Could definitely enjoy a few hours drinking and eating. Really wanted to try the pretzels but had just finished lunch at the Mooring.

Did a flight of Porter; PA Mosaic; PA Azacca; Alt.
Mosaic was outstanding; very pronounced blueberry and bubblegum, took home a 4 pack.
Azacca was slightly boring; grassy with muted, undefined tropical fruit. Could just be me and this hop. Porter was a disappointment; all I got was predominantly burnt toast, well beyond any toasted/roasted flavor. Couldn’t discern any caramel/toffee. Alt was last so will just say I think it’s solid; still had lingering Porter to compete with. Would need to revisit. Did not try the DIPA or Wit on tap. IPA with Citra and Mosaic has just sold out so only other 4 pack to come home was the hoppy blonde with Comet.

Overall, would recommend for anyone visiting the area this summer. Nice vineyard scenery to enjoy with a pint and outdoor space is also kid friendly.

 

Tilted Barn is to Rhode Island as to what Treehouse was to Massachusetts 4 years ago

 

Yes and no: TB has been canning with no growler sales for quite some time (sooner than TH made the crossover), and pints have always been available when they are open. So experience wise it's different, line-wise it is similar to Tree House but a lot of breweries are nowadays. Their similarities are pretty much the bubblegum flavor to their IPAs and their aggressive following from trading hazebros.

I'm not aware of a sustained line lasting all day at Tilted Barn, if you get there at least a few hours after opening especially on Fridays now with the noon opening time, it's a relaxed atmosphere and you maybe have a handful of people in line for pours and cans if still available.

 

I am headed down to Westerly tomorrow for two nights-I'd like to visit Malted Barley and Grey Sail, but I may have to choose one. I know it isn't an apples to apples comparison, but which would be better to bring a family with two young kids? Malted looks to have a Fox Farm tap, which I am dying to try, but I got to keep the wife and kids happy as well.

 

I wouldn't claim to know which is the better choice, but some things Grey Sail has going for it:

1) Big outdoor space for kids to run, bocce court, etc if you don't want to hang inside the colonial house the taproom is located in.
2) Stone Face Ovens serves pizza there just about every weekend from the looks of it. Although Malted Barley has great pretzels and pretzel sandwiches, there will probably be food both places (maybe not Thursday night though).
3) The taproom has rotating guest beers as well: the check-ins lately include Proclamation, Shaidzon, Foreign Objects, and I see an Ashlawn by Fox Farm check-in on 7/7.

A shame you couldn't go the 40 minutes each way from Westerly to picnic directly at Fox Farm.

 

Thanks a lot for the info-and yes a shame indeed-unfortunately this is a trip with my wife and her friends so I would need to convince a lot of people who don't care about beer to make that happen. I am going to try though! Wish me luck!

 

Orrr...if the group is a fan of casinos Mohegan Sun is a midpoint stop to break things up, as a trade-off (20 minutes from Fox Farm).

 

I moved away from RI ten years ago, so this is great info when coming back to visit relatives. Thanks to all who gave input and suggestions

 

We had a lot of fun at grey sail! I am bummed that neither Grey or Malted Barley had fox farm on tap, but I am heading back down to RI with a friend next month who will be much more easily convinced to make the trip.

 

Agreed - you shouldn't be scared off from Tilted Barn because you don't want to wait in lines. Went on Friday evening, and while there weren't any cans available then, there were never more than two people in the barn waiting for a pour, and it was super relaxed. As soon as cans end things really quiet down.

 

Question for folks local to RI - me and a couple buddies will be driving through on a Monday in a couple months. Many of the places recommended in this thread sounded great, but literally every single place I looked up is closed on Monday.

I'd really like to stop in RI as kind of a personal project I'm on to visit at least one brewery in every state, but sadly our schedule is not particularly flexible so Monday is all I've got. Any suggestions?

 

Did some quick research for you, the Places section is quite helpful, but I was curious myself.
Anyways, there is Newport Storm in Newport (they also make spirits). Or if your prefer to stop in Providence, there is Trinity, which is a brewpub. Cheers !

 

Another spot is Brutopia in Cranston, a brewpub like Trinity but they serve Revival beers. And as opposed to the Trinity pub grub they specialize in BBQ cuisine. Actually I notice Revival's taproom in the basement is open 12-8 Mondays, so you could have a meal AND check downstairs out.

I'd say Trinity has a few good limited beers but Revival will be better on the whole. White Electric Coffee Stout is probably my favorite but the Pinky Swear berliner weisse is very good.

Also surf Groupon to see if they have the tasting + growler deal at Brutopia that is on there a lot. Not my highest recommendation if you were here the whole week, but a decent spot nonetheless.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely check those places out.

 

Possibly of interest, Buttonwoods Brewery had their first can release last Friday.