New Tour Takes Groups To Providence Breweries While They Solve an 1800’s Murder

When we think about murder in Rhode Island, normally our minds go to the infamous Rhode Island mob scene and all of their deadly crimes. Rarely do we look back at murders from centuries ago that made headlines and shook our small state. A new tour aims to change that, educating folks from Rhode Island and beyond about a murder from the 1800’s that, though causing buzz at the time, is seldomly remembered.

Providence Tour Company, the minds behind the Federal Hill food and mob scene tour Crime and Cuisine, launched Clues and Brews earlier this month. Clues and Brews: Murder Mystery Beer Tour combines beer and a real Providence murder mystery for an enjoyable way to solve a crime.

The tour takes groups around Providence, making various stops along the way for the group to use clues to piece together the murder. After each piece comes together, the group gets taken to a local brewery, where flights of beer await. Three breweries are part of the tour, with one brewery including a light bite. Providence Tour Company founder Bradly VanDerStad had originally planned for the tour to be beer centered but after discussing logistics with local breweries, he quickly changed his mind.

“When I was originally settling the tour up, it was going to be a more traditional beer tasting tour,” says VanDerStad In one of my meetings with partner breweries a brewer said ‘sure, we’ll be on your beer tour – but try to make it different.’ I took that as a challenge to make something completely unique, and this is the proud result.”

Though many of the tours Providence Tour Company offers are walking, Clues and Brews is the first to incorporate vehicle transportation. A van that holds up to 12 people departs from the Providence Marriot Downtown, taking the group all over Providence while pointing out key locations. VanDerStad, an avid game player, perfected the clues and puzzles on the tour with the help of his friends.

“I have friends that I play games with and I enlisted their help to make the puzzles fun and interesting,” says VanDerStad. “I got lots of great feedback. The games are especially fun after a beer or two.”

VanDerStad, a transplant who came to the smallest state for college and decided to stay, hopes through the tour locals and out of towners alike will be exposed to the breweries and history Providence is full of.

“I’m so thrilled to be behind the effort to make local beers accessible to locals and tourists as part of a curated experience,” says VanDerStad. “Showing off Providence is one of my favorite joys.”