The annual RIDEA Craft Beverage Festival, a celebration of diverse craft beverage producers, took place at the Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket on June 3. Hosted by the Rhode Island Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Action (RIDEA) Committee, guests enjoyed craft beverage tastes from more than 20 vendors with a focus on women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ breweries, wineries and spirits producers from RI and beyond. Proceeds benefited the Johnson & Wales University RI Diversity, Equity and Action Craft Beverage Scholarship, which provides assistance to people from diverse backgrounds to pursue a career in the beverage industry. The mission of the RIDEA Committee is to promote a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in the state’s beverage community.
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The annual RIDEA Craft Beverage Festival, a celebration of diverse craft beverage producers, took place at the Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket on June 3.
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Rhode Island Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Action (RIDEA) Co-founders: Jen Pereira, Associate Professor, Johnson & Wales University (JWU); Erika Tessier, Co-owner, Origin Beer Project; Alexandria Czekalsk, Lab Supervisor, Isle Brewers Guild; Michelle Leach, Beer Hall Manager, The Guild Pawtucket and PVD; and Jamie Buscher, Wine Portfolio Manager, Craft Collective.
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Garrett Stephen, Brewer, JWU Graduate and recipient of the RIDEA Scholarship and Jennifer Pereira, Assistant Professor, JWU.
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Michelle Leach, Beer Hall Manager, The Guild Pawtucket and PVD; Annie McDonald, Brand Ambassador; Nick Lussier, Packaging Supervisor; and Alexandria Czekalski, Lab Supervisor, Isle Brewers Guild.
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Kenzie Corey, Marketing Coordinator and Caroline Welch, Bartender, Taproot Brewing Company/Newport Vineyards.
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Shannon Curley and Shay Weintraub, Co-founders, Queers and Beers.
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Keith and Sheryl Estey, Taproom Staff, Canned Heat Craft Beer Co.
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Canned Heat Craft Beer Co.’s 1745 Kolsch, The Stable Barnyard Brew and Waves of Wheat.
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Emily Hill and Silvana Mercado, Taproom Staff, Ravenous Brewing Co.
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Ravenous Brewing Co.’s Coffee Milk Stout, Yo Mama IPA and Saison des Fraises.
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Rob DaRosa, Owner/Brewer and Sabrina Schubert, Taproom Attendant, Smug Brewing.
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Smug Brewing’s Spicy Pineapple Fruit Sour, Crushable and Pawtucket Runs on Dunkel.
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John Windle, Taproom Manager and Dave Rufino, Taproom Staff, Foolproof Brewing Company.
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Selections from Foolproof Brewing Company, including Death by Hops IPA, Pawtucket Patriot IPA and Ocean State Lager.
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Homer Johnsen, Business Manager, Shaidzon Beer Company.
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Shaidzon Beer Company’s Maibock German-Style Heller Bock and Buffalo Czech Pilsner.
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Brand Ambassadors Caden Guertin and Meg Salbatore, Chair 2 Light Beer.
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Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. Apple Flavored Whiskey, Maple Flavored Whiskey, Chocolate Espresso Flavored Vodka, Honey Flavored Whiskey and Coffee Flavored Whiskey.
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Erin Sharkey, Production Technician and Cathy Plourde, Co-owner, Rhodium/RI Spirits.
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Rhodium Vodka, Limoncello and Forager’s Gin with Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea in Charlie’s Cranberry.
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Batched craft cocktails featuring RI Spirits’ Rhodium line: Rhode Island Ice Tea: Rhodium Vodka, Rhodium Limoncello and Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea in Charlie’s Cranberry; and Lavender Lemonade: Rhodium Forager’s Gin, house-made lemonade, lavender and simple syrup.
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Jamie Buscher, Co-founder, RIDEA Craft Beverage Festival and Cassandra Tondreault, Volunteer.
Photos by Laura Widness.