Welcome to On Tap, your monthly roundup of news and brews from Rhode Island’s craft beer and distilling scene. Sign up to receive On Tap in your inbox every month here. As always, follow along with our social media at @rimonthly and @RImonthly more food and drink news, and email any beer and spirits tips to lclem@rimonthly.com. Cheers!

FULL POUR

A Holiday Gift Guide for Every Type of Craft Beverage Drinker

The Breweries of Rhode Island puzzle is available from the Rhode Island Brewers Guild. (Photo courtesy of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild)

We’re midway through the holiday shopping season, which means you’ve been reminded at least a dozen times already to shop local. It’s true — shopping at local businesses supports residents and keeps more dollars in the local economy than buying from major retailers, not to mention the advantages of gifting a locally made product.

I’ll be the first to admit shopping local isn’t always easy, especially when deals and free shipping make it tempting to complete your holiday list from the convenience of your couch. That said, when it comes to purchasing craft beverages, there really has never been a better time to support local businesses. State policies and online ordering platforms have made it easier than ever to pick up a bottle or cans from your local tasting room, and most breweries and distilleries have a whole lineup of branded gear to complement their beverages. Plus, last time I checked, Amazon doesn’t sell booze (at least not in Rhode Island).

If you’re buying for a craft beer or spirits enthusiast, you should know that a taproom gift card or a six-pack of their favorite beverage is always a good option, and I encourage you to spend directly with your local beverage producers when you can. But if you’ve already exhausted the breweries in a thirty-mile radius or just need some fresh ideas, read on for a list of targeted suggestions for every type of craft connoisseur.

For the outdoorsy type:

If your weekend warrior is all about hitting the trails before hitting the bar, then Beer Hiking New England by Carey Kish is the guide for them. The updated second edition features fifty-two hikes paired with local breweries, from New Hampshire’s Mount Moosilauke and Woodstock Inn Brewery to Connecticut’s aptly named Devil’s Hopyard and Hop Culture Farms. For Rhode Island breweries, you’ll find Burrillville’s Bravo Brewing Company, Exeter’s Tilted Barn and Middletown’s Coddington Brewing Company paired with nearby trails, plus plenty of options for a day trip or weekend getaway.

For the homebody:

Keep them busy in the lead-up to New Year’s with a Breweries of Rhode Island puzzle from the Rhode Island Brewers Guild — perfect for sitting back with a pint and some Christmas PJs while recovering from holiday celebrations. Plus, your beer lover can quiz themselves from the map and see which local breweries they still need to check off their list. Sales support the Rhode Island Brewers Guild, the local trade organization that advocates for the breweries of the state.

For the festivalgoer:

If you’re buying for someone who prefers experiences over stuff, January delivers not one, but two craft beer festivals on the local calendar. On Jan. 9 and 10, Rhode Island’s Finest Real Ale Festival will return for the second year to the Guild in Pawtucket. Think: old-school offerings from approximately two dozen breweries all served out of casks. A $25 ticket (plus fees) grants you admission with two pints (more available for purchase) and a souvenir glass. On Jan. 31, Rhode Island Brew Fest will return to the WaterFire Arts Center. The celebration of American craft beer will feature more than 200 styles from fifty breweries across two sessions. Tickets are $60 plus fees for unlimited samples and a branded pint glass, with a portion of sales supporting the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.

For the espresso martini lover:

Nothing quite beats an espresso martini to keep you going past midnight on New Year’s Eve, and South County Distillers’ version is ready to drink at home shaken with ice or a stir of your favorite cream liqueur. For those who prefer to assemble their own, the Coffee and Black Walnut Vodka from Rhode Island Spirits makes a fantastic base for any espresso-inspired cocktails. (Plus it gives you an excuse to check out the Big Gay Christmas popup at the Rhodium Room while you pick up a bottle.)

For the sweater fans:

Roll up to your holiday sweater party in this ’60s-style sweater from Narragansett Beer. Narragansett’s holiday sweater is warm, cozy and just retro enough to make you feel like you’re sneaking that first beer in your parents’ wood-paneled basement. With the classic ’Gansett logo emblazoned on the front, it’s a must-add to any proud Rhode Islander’s collection of craft beer swag.

For the cider drinker:

Rhode Island has some fantastic cideries, and my personal pick for gift-giving is a bottle from Sowams Cider Works in Warren. These old-fashioned, small-batch New England cider varieties are made without added sugar or sulfites and bottled in 750 ml glass bottles for a classy finish. It’s also a great option if you’re looking to bring a bottle to a holiday party but not sure if your host drinks wine.

For the mocktail enthusiast:

Make it through Dry January with locally made, artisanal mocktails from Kristi’s Kraftails. The Warren-based business offers a full lineup of low sugar, carefully balanced nonalcoholic mixed drinks that rival the real thing, like the “Marg My Words” featuring strawberry, garden basil, lime, pink peppercorn and agave or the “Mint to Be” mint orange blossom sour. A twelve-ounce bottle contains two servings, or sign up for a subscription to receive a fresh six-pack every month. (Plus, they can double as a cocktail base.)

Tickets are on sale for Rhode Island Brew Fest taking place Jan. 31 at the WaterFire Arts Center. (Photo by Jonathan Clancy/Rhode Island Brew Fest)

SMALL SIPS

• Another one bites the dust — Newport Buzz reported this week that Rejects Beer Co. in Middletown is up for sale along with Diego’s Cantina next door. A combined listing for the two adjacent locations is asking $4.2 million for the property and businesses. The big question is whether Heritage Hospitality, owner of more than a dozen food and beverage locations around the state including Newport Craft and Union Station Brewery, will continue its expansion spree and scoop them up.

• Uncommon Pair Brewing, the new brewery getting ready to open on Putnam Pike in Smithfield, announced this week they secured their certificate of occupancy with the town. While there’s no opening date yet, the business is one step closer to becoming Rhode Island’s newest brewery.

• This is a sweet story about how a group of neighbors in Providence created their own pub crawl — and is bringing back the home bar in a big way.

EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

• Join Sons of Liberty for two days of shopping, music, food and spirits at the eleventh annual Whiskey Wonderland on Friday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. Twenty-plus local artisans will be on hand courtesy of Field of Artisans, along with three food trucks and live music.

• Tilted Barn Brewery will host an outdoor Holiday Artisan Fair on Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. Stop in for a day of shopping local vendors, live music, food trucks and special holiday brews.

• Taproot Brewing and Newport Vineyards are hosting a Holiday Sip & Shop with Field of Artisans on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy estate-grown wines, cider, beer and a full brunch menu while browsing vendors and finishing your holiday shopping.

• Pottery with a Purpose will host a holiday-edition pottery workshop at Apponaug Brewing on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. A $75 ticket includes materials and instruction for two pottery pieces. $1 from every ticket will be donated to mental health initiatives.

• Vigilant Brewing Co. will host a Make and Take Holiday Card workshop on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. The cost is $35 and includes instructions and materials for four holiday cards and your first pour of Vigilant beer or seltzer.

• Field of Artisans is headed to Whalers Brewing Company on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. for a Holiday Field Night featuring local artisan vendors and brews.

• Santa Claus will be at Crook Point Brewing Company on Sunday, Dec. 21, from noon to 2 p.m. for pictures and pints. The event is free.

• Celebrate the winter solstice with the Darkest Night Draft Takeover on Sunday, Dec. 21, from noon to 6 p.m. at Narragansett Beer, featuring the brewery’s darkest beers on tap to mark the longest night of the year. Barrel-aged brews include the Big Dumb Stout, Baltic Porter, Life Barley Wine and Black Point. Bring a toy to donate for a free pint.

• Check back in later in the month for Narragansett Beer’s 135^th birthday party on Sunday, Dec. 28, from noon to 8 p.m., featuring $1.35 pints.

• The Big Gay Christmas pop-up is ongoing at the Rhodium Room at Rhode Island Spirits. Get in the spirit with festive décor, a special Christmas cocktail menu and special events Thursday through Sundays through the end of December.

• Looking for love? Join Sips & Sparks on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Grey Sail Brewing from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for a speed dating event for singles ages 40 to 55. Tickets are $40 to participate.

• It’s never too early — tickets for the 2026 Newport Beer Festival, taking place May 2 at Fort Adams State Park, are already on sale. A $55 ticket includes food and beverage tastings from more than fifty participating breweries and a commemorative tasting glass.

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

(Photo by Jeremiah Williams)

Coffee Milk Eggnog at Rhode Island Spirits

From @rispirits: “We’re celebrating Big Gay Christmas with our Coffee Milk Eggnog and a Famous Amos cookie on top – what Santa really wants you to leave out. Available as a full pour or just a shot (depending on how naughty we’re feeling).” rhodeislandspirits.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Congress just banned most hemp-derived THC products. What does that mean for RI beverage producers?

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

These Providence Neighbors Created Their Own Home-based Pub Crawl