American Craft Beer Week: Let's Drink!

Joe Ferro (@FranchiseFerro)

Ahh, American Craft Beer Week! This is like my Saint Patrick's Day, Cinco De Mayo, New Years Day, [add your drinking holidays here] all rolled into one. A week long celebration of the abundance of fine quality nano and micro breweries we have the honor of calling our own. 

Across the United States there are many to choose from and a multitude of events to attend. Now your saying "Ferro, with all these options where do I go? What do I do! Help us Obi Wan Ferro your our only hope!" , well maybe not exactly that but you get the idea. Well fear not fellow hop heads I'm here to help.

First some history, since I always liked the quote "How you gonna know where ya goin if you don't know where ya came from".

According to Brewersassociation.org:                

"In 2006, the Brewers Association American Beer Month, which was traditionally in July, was changed to be a weeklong coordinated effort timed before the busy summer beer season. One week's worth of national activities was found to be more manageable and thus more effective. Plus, the term ‘craft’ was added to the title in order to dial in the focus of the events. This week became the largest national effort focusing on American craft beer and remains so today.Numbers that show the increase in interest both from breweries and beer lovers are as follows:

• 124 breweries posted events in 2006 the year it changed to American Craft Beer Week.
• 150 breweries participated in 2007
• 168 breweries participated in 2008
• 212 brewery members participated in 2009 posting over 500 individual events into the Brewers database which is the official event database for American Craft Beer Week.
• 341 brewery locations and 621 events were posted for the 2010 celebration.
• 1,521 events posted to the official ACBW calendar with events in ALL 50 states in 2011
• 1,368 events posted to the official ACBW calendar with events in ALL 50 states in 2012
• 1,269 events posted to the official ACBW calendar with events in ALL 50 states in 2013"

So now you know. Let's see what's happening around Rhode Island.


May 15th

Meet the Brewer:

The Parlour, 1119 North Main St., Providence, (401) 345-5797 from 6 to 9 p.m. (Revival)

Track 84, 84 Kilvert St., Warwick, (401) 739-8484, track84.com from 8 to 10 p.m. (Grey Sail).


Tap Takeovers:

Julian's Providence, 318 Broadway, (401) 861-1770, juliansprovidence.com from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Avery, 18 Luongo Square, (401) 286-0237 from 9 to 11 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Scurvy Dog, 1718 Westminster St., (401) 621-9125, scurvydogbar.com.       

all featuring Founders 


What Cheer Tavern, 228 New York Ave., Providence, (401) 787-2163, whatcheertavern.com featuring Berkshire will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.


Farmstead Inc., 186 Wayland Ave., Providence, (401) 274-7177, farmsteadinc.com, conducts a cheese pairing featuring Ithaca from 6 to 9 p.m.


E&O Tap, 289 Knight St., Providence, (401) 273-5430,eandotap.com from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring Abita.


Stevie D’s Bar & Grille, 120 Manville Hill Rd., Cumberland, (401) 536-6735, stevie-ds.com from 7 to 9 p.m.  featuring Heavy Seas 


The Malted Barley, 42 High St., Westerly, (401) 315-2184, themaltedbarleyri.com  6 to 9 p.m. featuring Uinta.


Pint Nights:

Sullivan’s Publick House, 572 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, (401) 556-7961,sullivanspublickhouse.com from 7 to 9 p.m. (Peak)

English Cellar Alehouse, 165 Angell St., Providence, (401) 454-3434, englishcellaralehouse.com from 8 to 10 p.m. (Mayflower)

May 16th

84 Tavern on Canal, 15 Canal St., Westerly, (401) 596-7871, 84tavern.com offers small plate pairings with Ithaca from 6 to 9 p.m.


The Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water St., Providence, (401) 621-5644, wildcolonial.com hosts a Face Off (Founders/Founders KBS vs. Revival Imperial Stout) at 6 p.m.


Meet the Brewer:

Boundary Brew House, 67 Garrity St., Pawtucket, (401) 725-4260, boundarybrewhouse.com featuring Revival from 6 to 9 p.m.


Tap Takeovers:

What Cheer Tavern, 228 New York Ave., Providence, (401) 787-2163,whatcheertavern.com from 7 to 9 p.m. (Wachusett)

Cleats Sports Club, 116 Granite St., Westerly, (401) 596-7474, alleykatzri.com from 8 to 10 p.m. (Heavy Seas)

Melville Grille, 1 Lagoon Rd., Portsmouth, (401) 683-4400, melvillegrille.com offers appetizer pairing with Goose Island from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

May 17th and 18th
Guided Production Floor Tour:
Newport Storm Brewery 293 JT Connell Rd. Newport, RI 02840 www.newportstorm.com

So there you go! Drink well and enjoy your beer. CHEERS!!

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