Drink Local: 4 More Ways to Enjoy Rhody Booze

The tasting room at Grey Sail in Westerly

Rupert Whiteley

Grey Sail Brewing
Alan and Jennifer Brinton are co-owners of Grey Sail Brewing, located in Westerly. Alan, a home brewing enthusiast, turned his hobby into a joint business after moving from New Jersey to Rhode Island. After three successful years, they continually come up with tasty, new beers. Grey Sail's year round brews are the Flagship, which has a great balance of malty sweetness and noble hop bitterness, and the Flying Jenny, an extra pale ale with citrusy, spicy flavors and aroma. Last year, Grey Sail produced a beer for the Newport Restaurant Group called Newport Winter Spice Ale, a very drinkable, dark brown beer that's not too bitter. Grey Sail offers brewery tours (and tastings, of course) on Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm.
Read our interview with Jennifer Brinton...

Ravenous Brewing Co.
Ravenous Brewing Company is a family owned 'nano' brewery that is proud to call Woonsocket home. The ales at Ravenous are made with small equipment that require intense physical involvement from the brewers, which in turn creates beers that truly qualify as handcrafted and artisanal. Ravenous' owner, Dorian Rave's beer obsession started with a homebrew kit that his wife bought him, but has quickly turned into a legitimate business. One of the most popular brews is their Coffee Milk Stout, a rich and creamy milk stout brewed with roasted barley, Challenger Hops and a delicate balance of coffee. Tours are held on select Sundays at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. $8 gets you a tour, complimentary Ravenous tasting glass, and three samples of what's on tap.

Newport Storm
It isn’t surprising to hear that four guys from college came up with an idea to start a brewery. But luckily for Rhode Island, they did. Brent, Derek, Mark and Will created Newport Storm and in 1999. The brewery’s first beer, Hurricane Amber Ale, was released, and is still one of the most popular. After 13 years of brewing excellence, Newport Storm's India Point Ale, produced locally with local hops, was deemed a year round IPA style. The Visitors Center is open for tours and tastings weekends and weekdays (except Tuesdays) from 12-5pm. Beer tastings are $7 and include four samples, a souvenir tasting glass and a tour. If rum is more your thing, rum tastings are $9 and include samples of three stages of their Thomas Tew Single Barrel rum.
Read our story about the men behind the beer...

Rhode Island's Stops on the Coastal Wine Trail
The Coastal Wine Trail winds through the heart of Southern New England with four stops throughout Rhode Island. Pick up a Coastal Wine Trail Passport at any participating winery and get stamps from each winery you visit to enter to win prizes.

Greenvale Vineyards is located along the Sakonnet River in Portsmouth and has been producing quality wine since 1982. It has been owned by the same family since 1863. Visit the Vineyard website to find out which wine matches your personaility, from Skipping Stone White to Greenvale Chardonnay. Greenvale Vineyards is open for Vineyard Tours and Wine Tastings from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday.

Located near Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, Langworthy Farm Winery has produced wine since 2002. The company features an array of varietals with names that will make any Rhode Islander swoon. Sample their Watch Hill Merlot or, if you are in the mood for something light and white for summer, why not sip on some Rhody Riesling. The winery invites visitors for tours and tastings 12pm-5pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Newport Vineyards consists of over 50 acres located on Aquidneck island, an ideal climate for growing a variety of grapes.  The Vineyard believes in employing traditional techniques in combination with modern tools to maximize the quality of their wines. Sample their Great White, an aromatic white with rich melon and apricot flavors, which won gold in the Best of Rhode Island category in the Big "E" Wine Competition. Stop by the Newport Vineyards for a public winery tours, held daily at 1pm and 3pm.

Founded in 1975, Sakonnet Vineyards includes 150 acres of land, which once belonged to the Sakonnet people. Check out their dessert wines, Siris NV, a medium-bodied white wine that features peach, apricot and honeysuckle flavors, or Port 2009, a red wine with intense fruit flavors that persist into the long finish. Tours of the grounds are held Sunday through Thursday from 12pm to 3pm.