INSIDE By Jack Kenny - Brewing News

were awarded to his brews: two silvers to
Revival Brewing for Double Black I.P.A.
(8.0%) and Saison (6.5%); a gold, silver
and bronze to Narragansett Brewing for
Lager, Porter and Light, respectively; and
bronze for Trinity Brewhouses’s Redrum
Imperial Red (9.0%). Sean is not pausing
to rest on his laurels, either. In December
at Trinity Brewhouse, Wolf’s Breath Winter
Warmer (9.0%), a barleywine featuring all
English hops and malts, will be released,
while a bourbon barrel-aged version should
be ready in January/February. Sean is also
working on a Scotch ale and some Belgian
quadrupel ale for around that same time.
The standard winter time beers, Tommy’s
Red, Trinity I.P.A. (7.0%), Russian Imperial
Stout (8.0%) and Kölsch will also all be on
the lineup.
At Revival, bottles of Double Black
I.P.A. (8.0%) should be in stores around the
second week of December. Sean stressed
that this is Revival’s “Dark Flagship” ale
with year-round availability, and should
not be viewed as a seasonal beer. Revival
Saison will be released in January, with a
later winter release of Juliet 484 Imperial
Stout (9.5%) rounding out the schedule. The
brewery also recently bought an 80-barrel
Blackstone Valley
Brewing Supplies
Turns 15
By Jason Lange & Larry Brown
Blackstone Valley Brewing
Supplies owner Steve
Duhamel in front of his
“Wall of Malts”
PHOTO BY LARRY BROWN
December marks the 15th year
that Steve Duhamel has helped
homebrewers craft the perfect beer.
With a virtual database that includes
just about any recipe, Blackstone
Valley Brewing Supplies in
Woonsocket is a one-stop shop for
all brewing necessities. Steve is
a certified draft system specialist
and maestro of brewing. If you can
dream it up, he can make your beer
a reality. With a commitment to
offering knowledgeable assistance
and support to home beer, wine,
cider and mead makers, Blackstone
Valley prides itself on offering a
large variety of high quality ingredients
and supplies to brewers and
wine makers at all levels and interests.
Steve and his crew are also
invaluable helpers each year for the
Great International Beer & Cider
Competition. Here’s to 15 more
years.
fermenter and is working on Massachusetts
distribution sometime after the first of the
year.
An Imperial
in December
Narragansett Brewing of Providence is
planning a December release of a 22-ounce
Imperial I.P.A. using mostly American
malts along with a German specialty malt.
A mix of German and American hops were
utilized. American bittering hops used
were Summit and Northern Brewer, while
the aroma hops were all German or Czech
including Tetnang, Saaz, and Hallertau.
This beer will be brewed at Just Beer in
Buzzard’s Bay, Mass., for a “one time only”
release.
We’re Taking Over
this Square
La Laiterie in Wayland Square will
now offer yet another reason to stop into
its cozy little establishment. Bar Manager
Dave Mangiatini has indicated plans for a
new monthly tap takeover. The idea will be
to have all four taplines devoted to one particular
brewery. This will ensure a range of
beers sure to please all. From time to time,
patrons can expect to see limited drafts
brought in exclusively for the takeovers.
Goose Island is expected to be one of the
first breweries featured, and there will be a
large emphasis on local breweries such as
Sebago and Revival. The plan is to have the
head brewers on hand during select nights
to chat with customers and to give insight
into their creative process.
Union Station Belgian?
It might seem that way at Union Station
Brewery in Providence over the next couple
of months. “The beer menu around here
should get pretty fun,” said Head Brewer
Aaron Crossett. “I just propped up my
Belgian yeast, and I’m hoping to get a least
three to four Belgians on tap over the next
couple of months. I’m starting with Abbey
Ale (6.5%). I should also have the Tripel
(~9.0%) on in that time frame as well.”
Winter seems to want to start a little
early this year, which means stouts and porters
make their appearance. Aaron intends
to bring back the popular Vanilla Bean
Porter in late December, and Lights Out
Stout is already on the taps. There are also
plans to release a cask of Lights Out Stout
in January, this version aged in oak with
vanilla beans added to the barrel, and a cellared
keg from 2011.
Aaron said that it wouldn’t be the holidays
without Rusty Griswald (6.5%), the
popular IPA. For those whose taste runs
towards something a little lighter, Northern
Light would be a great choice, having
just been awarded a silver medal at the
2012 Great International Beer & Cider
Competition in the Golden Ale category.
Barrington in Da House
Beer fans can rejoice because there are
now two great reasons to make a pit stop
when traveling through the beautiful town
of Barrington. Grapes and Grains and
Brickyard Wine and Spirits are two local
stores making a mark in the quaint town by
the sea, and they are also among only a few
stores that have had the extremely hard to
find Belgian lambic ale, Cantillon, for sale
recently.
Beer Specialist Jaren Kent is determined
to educate and ensure all beer enthusiasts
have a reason to visit Grapes and Grains.
Through in-store tastings and up-to-date
releases, this new store is becoming a great
destination for beer lovers. Jared is always
more than willing to chat with shoppers and
suggest the perfect beer. The store also has
a vintage section that will have revolving
aged beers such as Samuel Adams Triple
Bock (18%). Events for December include a
Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tasting,
beer and cheese pairings and the introduction
of Element Brewing (Millers Falls,
Mass.) and Just Beer (Westport, Mass.) to
the already large selection of craft beers.
Brickyard Wine and Spirits is likewise
constantly expanding its beer selection
and now has a beer club as an added
bonus. With no fees, members are invited
to exclusive tastings and have first shot
on special offers such as beer dinners and
event tickets. Brian Buangiovanni, a.k.a
“The Beer Guy,” recently held a tasting for
members featuring rare Vermont brews such
as Heady Topper (The Alchemist Brewery,
Waterbury, Vt.), and beers from Vermont’s
Hill Farmstead Brewery (Greensboro) and
Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Warren). The
store has also partnered with Brew Horizons
to begin carrying homebrewing equipment.
They currently carry the Starter Kit and
several different ingredient packs and will
eventually carry a full line of homebrewing
equipment and ingredients. Plans include an
East Bay Homebrewers Club for 2013.
www.brewingnews.com
35
Talk about
Smooth Sailing
How does a brewery celebrate its first
anniversary in Rhode Island? If you’re
Grey Sail Brewing, you do it by snagging
not one, not two but three medals
at the recently held Great International
Beer Competition. Westerly’s Grey
Sail claimed gold for both Flagship
Pale Cream Ale and Stargazer Russian
Imperial Stout (9.7% ABV) along with
snagging a respectable silver for Autumn
Winds in the Oktoberfest category. Adding
further to the good news, co-owner Jen
Briton said that the micro’s litigation with
Full Sail Brewing (Oregon) over name
infringement has been resolved. Although
settlement requirements require non-disclosure
over exact terms, the most visible
outcome of the case is that the brewery
will henceforth be known as Grey Sail
Brewing of Rhode Island. Jen also stated
that starting this winter, 16-ounce cans
of some of the seasonal beers will hit the
production line, starting with Leaning
Chimney Smoked Porter, available by
mid-December.
Interior of Grey Sail Brewing.
PHOTO BY LARRY BROWN