New Trinity Brewhouse Owners Plan to Stay the Course Amid High Turnover in the Craft Beer Scene

Angel and Jason Winpenny in front of Trinity Brewhouse, which they purchased in May. (Photo by Lauren Clem)

First, a quick apology to my readers for the belated newsletter this month. I have a very good excuse, as I was off enjoying my honeymoon in Greece. Greece is the land of wine and olives, but I was able to find a few local brews during my travels. First among them was this Charma (see photo below), which tasted spectacular at a beachside taverna after a long day hiking the Agia Irini Gorge in Crete.

I came home to a rush of news in the local craft beer scene.

As if the recent closure of Smug Brewing in Pawtucket and for-sale status of Ravenous Brewing Company in Cumberland and Shaidzon Beer Co. in West Kingston weren’t enough, Providence Brewing Company in the Farm Fresh building on Sims Avenue is also now listed for sale.

Perhaps the biggest blow to the craft beer scene this year came when Trinity Brewhouse, one of the state’s oldest breweries and a mainstay of the downtown Providence pub scene was placed up for sale by longtime owner Josh Miller. Miller opened Trinity in 1994 shortly after the state passed legislation allowing brewpubs to exist.

The rash of “for sale” signs has drawn questions of whether Rhode Island’s craft beer scene is on the decline, though it’s worth noting that in many cases, new owners are eager to step up and try their hand in the closed locations. In Bristol, Trágmar Ale Works is brewing Irish-style beers in the former Six Pack space, while in Pawtucket, Discipline Brewing Co. is getting ready to open in the former Smug brewery.

In the case of Trinity Brewhouse, restaurant veterans Angel and Jason Winpenny, owners of The Patio on Broadway (and, formerly, The Patio on Main in East Greenwich), purchased the brewpub in June and have committed to continuing its legacy as a go-to spot downtown for brews and casual eats. They closed the brewpub in August for renovations and are preparing to reopen it sometime in November.

“It’s a historical space that we felt honored to take over and maintain its legacy,” Angel says during an interview at the taproom, which currently resembles a construction zone.

Though they still have several weeks of renovations to go, the owners say they’re taking steps to maintain the brewpub’s neighborhood feel while incorporating modern updates. Instead of wood paneling, patrons will find the walls clad in a familiar green shade matching the business’s logo and exterior. The bar and bathrooms are being upgraded, and at least some of the classic décor will be returned to the walls follow the renovation, according to the owners.

Beer fans may also notice some new pops of color in the space. During the renovation, the owners uncovered a surprise in the form of stained-glass windows that had been hidden behind wooden panels. Though they’re not sure exactly which of the building’s former uses the windows date to — it previously housed a Burger King as well as a car dealership — they look forward to highlighting them in the finished space.

“It needed a lot of love to make it last another thirty years,” Jason says.

For beer, the couple purchased the Trinity recipes as part of the acquisition and plan to retain some of the old favorites as well as introduce new ones, starting with the flagship hazy New England IPA. They also have an agreement with Proclamation Ale Company for canning and plan to distribute at restaurants and in liquor stores. They’ve hired Joshua Roy, a former brewer at Start Line Brewing Company who also previously worked at Trinity, as the new brewer.

As for the menu, Angel describes it as “elevated pub food” and says it will be different from what they serve at The Patio. Along with classics like nachos and a chili cheese corn dog, Angel says they plan to serve items like bourbon steak tips, duck wings and a lamb burger.

“We took into consideration what Trinity has on their menu and we elevated it with more fresh, local ingredients,” she says.

While the brewpub model — where a business serves food and other beverages in addition to beer — has helped many breweries withstand the changing trends of the craft beer industry, it’s not for everyone. Last week, the owners of Pivotal Brewing Company announced they’re offloading their second location in Newport just six months after opening it in April. Speaking to Rhode Island Monthly this week, owner Rebecca Ernst says she and co-owner Todd Nicholson quickly realized the location — which they operated as a brewpub with pop-up food vendors — was not the right fit.

“It just sort of checked all the boxes, but we weren’t thinking as much of the psychology that we really should’ve been thinking about,” she says. “And once we got in there we quickly realized that space isn’t really meant for a brewery taproom with pop-up food vendors. To maximize that spot fully, it really needs to be a full-service restaurant and event venue, and we don’t want to be in the restaurant business.”

The Broadway location was previously home to the Salvation Cafe, as Newport institution that closed in 2021. Ernst says she and Nicholson have decided to close up shop and refocus on their Bristol location ahead of Newport’s quieter winter season. The lease for the Broadway location is available, and a liquor license is up for sale.

“For us now, in order for our product to remain front and center, we are working on innovation. We have some fun, exciting things that we are working on,” Ernst says.

With so much turnover in the local craft beer scene, are the Winpennys hesitant to go all in on their new venture?

“We love to take on that challenge, and it’s been a very fun, exciting adventure for me,” Angel says.

Jason says they hope to have Trinity open for the start of basketball season, which kicks off at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 3.

“It’s a race against that to get open,” he says.

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