This Warwick brewery was still recovering from the December floods. Then, another storm hit.
Apponaug Brewing Co. has reopened after two floods in less than a month.
The interior of Apponaug Brewing Co. during the December flooding. (Photo courtesy of Apponaug Brewing Co.)
Editor’s update: As of January 20, Apponaug Brewing Co. has reopened. Check them out on Knight Street and help them recoup some of the flooding losses.
It seemed the hard work was finally over.
After getting two feet of water in the brewery and restaurant during the torrential rainstorms on December 17 and 18, Apponaug Brewing Co. was ready to reopen its doors to the public this Thursday, January 11.
Then, another flood hit.
The brewery team shared on social media Wednesday the anticipated reopening was postponed after the taproom flooded for a second time in less than a month. As of Wednesday morning, the Pawtuxet River — which flows directly by Apponaug Brewing Co.’s location in the former Pontiac Mills — had reached major flood stage and was expected to crest at 15.2 feet, even higher than December’s crest of 15.11 feet, before the day was over.
Tamara McKenney, co-owner of the brewery alongside Kris Waugh, spoke with Rhode Island Monthly earlier in the month about the response to the December floods.
“We had sandbagged doors and everything, but we’ve got glass doors. You can’t hold that much water at bay,” she says.
McKenney, Waugh and McKenney’s husband were returning to Rhode Island from Florida the night of December 18 when they received a text from the property manager that the building might flood. The group went straight to the brewery from the airport, returning later during the night when it became clear from the security cameras that the property was flooding. The riverside location, usually a draw for customers who want to enjoy beers on the patios with river views, became a detriment as the raging Pawtuxet made its way inside.
By the time the river crested, the brewery had received two feet of water, staining the interior walls and ruining equipment. Though they tried to dry out the building with fans, McKenney says they ultimately had to remove interior walls due to concerns about mold. The business also lost a significant amount of canned beer and was forced to shut its doors during one of the busiest times of the year. Instead of an anticipated month-long vacation, McKenney, Waugh and their staff spent the holidays ripping out walls and sanitizing equipment as they prepared to reopen.
“It was more a labor of love than hiring out people to do it,” McKenney says. “Our team did a lot of the work — my management team, there are two owners, my family was here.”
With some parts of Rhode Island receiving as much as five inches of rain overnight, the pattern was set to repeat on Wednesday. Following the December flood, McKenney said the brewery lost significant revenue from a lack of gift card and can sales in addition to the damages. She and Waugh were talking with the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Rhode Island Commerce to see if they’ll be eligible for relief funds. Though it’s unclear when the brewery will reopen, craft beer fans should keep an eye on @apponaugbrewing and be prepared to show their support following the latest disaster to strike Rhode Island businesses this year.
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