Two Festivals Showcase Beer’s Crowd-Drawing Power

Michelle Kirms, Assistant Brewer, Grey Sail Brewing of Westerly, RI. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

By Dana Slone

Rhode Islanders were treated to two beer festivals during the month of January. Many local, regional and national craft brewers turned out to offer thousands of samples over the course of two separate weekends. While not produced in conjunction with one another, the festival crowds showed just how popular a draw craft beers continue to be for consumers.

The first festival was the Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016. Federal Hill Pizza presented the inaugural event on January 16, 2016 at the Historic Warren Armory in Warren. One hundred percent of the door funds, the event’s raffle funds and a portion of the proceeds were donated to Chefs Feeding Kids and the Historic Warren Armory Restoration Fund.

The second festival for area beer lovers, The Rhode Island Brew Fest, was a sold-out showcase of more than 55 breweries featuring more than 175 beers at the Pawtucket Armory. The festival, in its fourth year, is produced by Gray Matter Marketing, who donated a portion of every ticket sold to the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.

: Federal Hill Pizza’s Rich Kraemer, General Manager and Event Director and William A. Manzo, Owner/Chef. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Bill McAvoy, CT and RI Sales Manager, Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Patrick Bailey, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale/DFW Brewery Rep, Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Both from Revival Brewing Company in Cranston, RI: Alex Roskowski, Brewer, and Michaela Brinkley, Customer Service and Marketing Coordinator. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Cara Liefers, Director of Sales, Grey Sail Brewing of Westerly, RI. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Chris Martelly, Sales, Atlantic Distributing and Importing and Scott Allan, Brewery Rep., Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers of Framingham, MA. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Jared Ducharme, Sales Manager, Whaler’s Brewing Company of Wakefield, RI. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Jacqueline Vaughn, Mumma’s Real Lemonade of Warren, RI. Rhode Island Winter Beer Blast 2016.

: Stonington, CT’s Beer’d Brewing’s Aaron Simoncini, Owner and Brewer, and Precious Putnam, Owner and Operations Manager. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Matt Richardson, Owner and Brewmaster, Tilted Barn Brewery of Exeter, RI. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Providence’s Long Live Beerworks, Brian Lee, Assistant Brewer; Armando DeDona, Brewer/Owner; and Chris Moran. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Clare Simpson-Daniel, PR and Events Captain, and Keiko Gammel, Events, of Newport Storm Brewery in Newport, RI. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Matt Thomas, CT/RI Regional Sales Manager, Dog Fish Head Craft Brewery of Milton, DE. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: All of Bucket Brewery from Pawtucket, RI: Peter Larrivee, Sales Manager; Nate Broomfield, Founder and President; and Drew Powers, Founder. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Michelle Kirms, Assistant Brewer, Grey Sail Brewing of Westerly, RI. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Craft Beer Guild of RI’s Eric Schwartz, Sales Rep., and Shaun Daniels, Sales Supervisor, pouring for Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing Company. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: Sean McGilloway, District Manager, Green Flash Brewing Company of San Diego, CA. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: All of Foolproof Brewing Company of Pawtucket, RI: Steve Sharp, Head Brewer; Kris Cumming, Sales Manager; and Nick Garrison, President and Founder. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.

: All from Whaler’s Brewing Company in Wakefield, RI: Courtney Zink; Wesley Staschke, Co-owner and Brewer; Josh Dunlap, Co-owner and Brewer; Nicole Anderson. Rhode Island Brew Fest 2016.