Bucket Brewery Closing (Pawtucket, RI)

Tried to visit on two different trips to Newport. First time they were closed for renovations. Second time we drove all the way out there only to find out they were closed for a private party (nothing on the website stating they would be closed). Crossed them off the list after that.

 

That’s a shame. We were only there once (visiting from out of town) but enjoyed our beers and had a lot of fun with some really great customers and employees. It had a friendly neighborhood atmosphere that was memorable.

 

They have some decent beers but with the amount of breweries opening up each year it's easy to get lost in the shuffle.

 

I'm filing this under the "Not suprised... matter of when not if" category of breweries. Other honorable mentions would be Blue Hills Brewery, Buzzards Bay, Redhook etc...

 

Yeah, went there about a year or so back with friends and none of the beers were all that good, so I'm not really surprised.

 

Bummer to see, but agree with others that most beers were below average to average. With so many good options in RI now, I’m not surprised. Long Live, Buttonwoods, Proclamation, Tilted Barn, Grey Sail, Ragged Island all making good beers and becoming more available.

 

They weren't very good. File this under "creative destruction". They're in an area with lots of breweries and RI is blowing up with the new relaxed sales laws. I'm sure another growing brewery will snap the space up.

 

I was there in August 2017 and had the same experience.

 

Maybe someone like Crooked Current could utilize this bigger space.

 

I'd think Buzzards Bay could be fine because their location is beautiful and they seem to get decent traffic for onsite drinking (I think the beer's fine, too). I'd think Redhook should be ok given the AB Inbev backing (though I never see their beer anywhere) but Blue Hills......man.....I don't get it. I've wondered how they're still in business, especially when you see good breweries like Smutty having trouble now.

 

Not sure how they're setup/separated business-wise, but buzzards bay is also connected to westport rivers vineyard which I think is pretty successful. And I think jbertsch is probably correct that Buzzards Bay does fine as it serves local foot traffic at a pretty reliable clip.

 

Hmm they did move into Bucket's last space down the street from Foolproof when Bucket left there. I'm not a big fan style-wise for a lot of the additive-based beers Crooked Current does but Nicole executes them well and they have a decent fanbase.

 

Blue Hills has been closed for months, but this recent story mentions the door remains ajar for a potential reopening in future.

http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2018/01/blue-hills-brewery-remains-closed-is.html

 

Yeah I agree. She has her style and she does well with it. It isn't for everyone but those that like them really like them. Plus she's super nice.