What's on Tap in Rhode Island: New beers, collaborations and events

The brew community in Rhode Island is always busy creating new beers and setting up fun events. Here's some of the latest news.

Chair 2 Light Beer

Chair 2 Light Beer, a brand by Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co., has introduced Chair 2 Light IPA and Chair 2 Light Wheat. The entire Chair 2 Light Beer line, including the light lager, is 4.3% abv, 99 calories per can. It's available throughout Rhode Island.

Chair 2 Light Lager, the flagship beer, was named USA’s Best Light Lager at the World Beer Awards in 2021, shortly after its launch.

Production of Chair 2 has increased to meet demand. All three beers are brewed and packaged at Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket.

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Rhodium in Providence

Rhodium Rhode Island Spirits now spends Sundays in a pop-up cocktail tent at The Guild PVD Beer Garden from noon to 5 p.m. weekly. Find them on the city side of the Providence Pedestrian Bridge at the Innovation District Park. They serve cool summertime cocktails and samples. The beer garden also offers beer from The Guild, plus cornhole and a food truck.

The summer cocktail menu includes the Botanical Gimlet, the Bergamot Sling, the Pomegranate Martini and Fields & Flowers. There's also a new Pink Lemonade featuring Rhode Island Red Vodka.

The Tasting Room at 59 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket, will be open on Fridays (4 to 8:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (1 to 8:30 p.m.).

Good Luck Malt Liquor

Narragansett Beer head brewer Lee Lord In Providence, and Sam Adams head brewer Eryn Bottens in Boston, have collaborated on Good Luck Malt Liquor. It's a limited release that celebrates the breweries’ New England history and heritage.

The modern malt liquor interpretation was crafted to celebrate the legacy of Rudolf Haffenreffer, a brewing pioneer and owner of the former Haffenreffer Brewery in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood.

Founded in 1871, the Haffenreffer Brewery was a bustling hot spot by the turn of the 20th century, with local legend that Boston baseball players frequented the brewery for a good-luck beer before games.

Although Haffenreffer closed its doors in 1964, its famous smokestack remained and eventually became part of the original Samuel Adams Boston Brewery founded by Jim Koch in 1988.

Further cementing the connection between the brewing companies, Rudolf Haffenreffer’s son Rudolf II also went on to become owner of Narragansett Beer in 1932. Under his leadership, ‘Gansett became the best-selling beer in New England for decades to come.

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Good Luck Malt Liquor is a slightly sweet brew that offers a malty backbone with just a touch of noble hops. The Amber maize from Valley Malt give this fresh take a toasted cereal character.

Good Luck Malt Liquor is available at the Narragansett Brewery in Providence and the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery in Jamaica Plain, as well as in four-packs of half-quart cans at liquor stores throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Lobster Bake at Narragansett Brewery

Narragansett Beer will host two sessions for a Lobster Bake on Monday, Aug. 8 at its Providence Brewery at 271 Tockwotton St. It's all part of Narragansett's Fresh Catch Summer Series. The sessions are noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets include one lobster per person plus steamers, littlenecks, salad, barbecue chicken, corn, potatoes, and watermelon plus two Fresh Catch Citra Session Ales. Tickets for each session are available online at Eventbrite for $75 if you search fresh catch summer series.

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Ocean State Beer Festival

The Ocean State Beer Festival is set for Sunday, Aug. 21 at Ragged Island Brewing Co., 54 Bristol Ferry Rd., Portsmouth. All participating Rhode Island Brewers Guild members have been asked to create a special beer with locally sourced ingredients for the event. They are expecting participation from many of the 35-plus members of the Guild.

With a theme of Farm to Keg, the event will run from 2 to 5::30 p.m. It is a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.

Tickets, $60, are on sale at ribrewersguild.org/ocean-state-beer-festival/. There will only be 400 tickets sold, to create a more intimate event. The price includes a souvenir tasting glass and all beer samples. Food is available to purchase and there will be live music.

This is a 21-plus event and will be held rain or shine. This is the first festival after two years but the event is in its sixth year.

The Guild expands food menu

The Guild, 461 Main St., Pawtucket, TheGuildRI.com, has expanded its food menu. In addition to the wide variety of beers brewed at the cooperative, the menu includes charcuterie, nachos, pretzels and three variety of flatbreads.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI breweries making new beers, hosting events and festivals