Newport Craft Beer Festival Kicks Off with VIB Party

The eighth annual Newport Craft Beer Festival, sponsored by Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. and Pour Judgement Bar & Grill, offered beer lovers two days of local and regional brew tastes during a two-day event which kicked off on April 26 with a VIB (Very Important Beers) Reception. Brewery representatives were in attendance to discuss the evening’s selections with guests, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Rhode Island Brewers Guild. Two tasting sessions were offered to guests, both of which took place on the lawn of the Great Friends Meeting House in Newport on April 27 where more than 35 breweries offered over 200 beers, with a special emphasis on sours.

: View of the VIB event from the second floor at Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. in Newport.

: Tony Barber, Ragged Island Brewing Co. and Board Member, RI Brewers Guild; Justin Tisdale, Head Brewer, Apponaug Brewing Company and Vice President, RI Brewers Guild; Brent Ryan, President & Master Distiller, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.; and Gary Richardson, Executive Director, RI Brewers Guild.

: Brent Ryan, President & Master Distiller, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. and Lisa Ferreira, Event Crew, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

: Garrett Alpaugh and Scott MacConnell, Brewers’ Assistants, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

: Katherine Cotter, Brand Ambassador, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. and Jared Perry, Bartender, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

: Megumi Taylor, Tasting Room and Kelly-Ann Quirion, Bartender, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

: Sherri Varano and Richard M. Varano of Hidden Cove Brewing Co.

: Kristin Lindsey, Guest; Erin Marley, Regional Manager – MA & RI, Woodstock Inn Brewery; and Robyn O’Connell, Guest.

: Guests Matt Pinkham and Amra Rustemovic; Ben Pratt, Event Master, Grey Sail Brewing; and Jess Pratt, Sales Representative, Grey Sail Brewing.

: Tim Ullman, Account Manager, Wachusett Brewing Company; Kelly-Ann Quirion, Bartender, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.; and TJ Morse, Director of Sales, Wachusett Brewing Company.