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FULL POUR

One of Rhode Island’s Original Brewery Spaces is Home to a New Tenant

Primary owners Tony Lustig and Sam Clidence outside Discipline Brewing Co, expected to open in Pawtucket in July. (Photo by Courtney Deary)

Many craft beer drinkers associate the industrial space on the corner of Carver and Main streets in Pawtucket — on the back of the same mill building that hosts Jordan’s Jungle, among other small businesses — with Smug Brewing, the brewery with a penchant for witty beer names that occupied the space for seven years before closing last August.

Those with a longer memory know it as the home of Bucket Brewery, one of the state’s original craft breweries that rode Rhode Island’s early local beer wave in the 2010s. Bucket was founded in 2010 and moved into the mill space in 2013.

Beginning next month, that space will be home to a new business looking to leave its mark on Rhode Island’s craft beer scene. Discipline Brewing Co is finishing up the licensing process and anticipates holding a grand opening in the space in early July.

The name is familiar to those who’ve followed the brewery’s opening saga. Originally conceived of in 2020, the business targeted several locations in South County before settling on the Pawtucket space. Primary owners Tony Lustig and Sam Clidence went so far as to seek town approvals to open at a former Harley Davidson dealership in Exeter before the announcement of President Trump’s tariffs in March 2025 changed the financial picture and caused their lender to back out. They had all but given up when Smug announced plans to close and put their brewery up for sale last August.

“We were familiar enough with the space,” Lustig says, noting the business took over the space in September.

Lustig and Clidence’s story follows the classic home brewer-to-brewery owner tale. Lustig is a musician by training who now works for Riverhead Building Supply, and Clidence is a woodworker and general contractor. Originally from outside Detroit, Lustig studied at Julliard and spent time in New York City before moving to Rhode Island, where his wife’s family is from, in 2018. Clidence (his wife’s cousin) kicked off the home brewing craze when he brought over a stovetop brewing kit to Lustig’s house one day.

“We quickly went from one small pot on a stovetop to converting my downstairs kitchen into a brew space,” Lustig says.

Today’s brewery is the culmination of six years of starts and restarts to bring their dream to life. Much like their chosen disciplines — Lustig’s primary instrument is the saxophone — brewing requires hard work and attention to detail. It’s a background they hope to bring to every aspect of the business, from the handmade mahogany sign outside — crafted by Clidence — to the name.

“The name Discipline came very much from our artistic disciplines of music and woodworking,” Lustig says.

Inside, visitors will find a layout that looks similar to Smug, but with several updates to the brewing area and bar. The business also took over a former gym next door, adding room for events and another 100-or-so capacity to the space. Like Smug, they’ll use the hallway outside as an overflow seating area. A mural painted by Creative Director Courtney Deary welcomes visitors to the space.

As for beer, Lustig and Clidence have hired Alex Roskowski, formerly of Revival Brewing Company, as head brewer. While they’re not ready to reveal their signature brews yet, Lustig says the menu will feature mainstays like a lager and a West Coast IPA as well as brews inspired by their family’s time spent on Hog Island in Narragansett Bay. The bar has twelve taps, and they plan to open with at least eight beers.

“I love dark German beer. That has a lot of influence on me personally,” he adds.

Despite the long road to get there, Lustig says they’ve felt welcomed in Pawtucket and look forward to being a part of the community. They’re not worried about the recent scattering of local brewery closings, or the larger downward trend in alcohol consumption. Breweries, Lustig says, have become de facto “community centers” in the modern era, and a distribution center planned across the street promises regular drive-by traffic.

“There’s no industry that can ever just grow. Beer on the decline in the grand scheme of beer doesn’t worry me,” he says. “We just hope to have a healthy, sustainable business that puts out exceptional beer.”

The owners are targeting a soft opening for friends and family in late June with a grand opening planned for the week of July 6. They plan to can and eventually distribute, though their current focus is on the taproom and getting their beer into restaurants. Events and live music are also in the works.

The brewery’s initial hours will be Monday–Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. disciplinebrewingco.com

A mural by Creative Director Courtney Deary welcomes visitors to Discipline Brewing Co. (Photo by Lauren Clem)

SMALL SIPS

• For the month of June, seven local breweries have teamed up to create the first-ever Rhode Island Pride Beer Trail. Visit the participating breweries to receive a stamp on your Pride Beer Trail card (available in the taprooms), and be entered for a chance to win prizes. Each participating brewery will donate a portion of proceeds from a dedicated brew to local LGBTQ+ organizations, including Haus of Codec, the Trevor Project and Youth Pride, Inc. Check out the post here for a full list of participating breweries and beers.

• Here for the World Cup, or just looking to get in on the football (as in soccer) action? Several local breweries are hosting watch parties or other events in collaboration with the games held at Gillette. In Pawtucket, The Guild and Rhode Island FC (the Ocean State’s resident soccer team) have teamed up to host a watch party series at the brewery. The events are free, but tickets can be reserved here. In Providence, Moniker Brewery will host daily watch parties through June 27, while Narragansett Beer is offering an out-of-town welcome package — a free pint glass and a “Hi Neighbor!” bumper sticker — to any non-New Englanders who visit the Fox Point taproom. Also keep an eye out for the Tartan Army on June 18 at 3:30 p.m., when they’ll march through downtown and end at The Guild PVD beer garden in 195 District Park. Working Man Distillers in Pawtucket and Pivotal Brewing Company in Bristol also have watch parties planned. Let us know of any brewery watch parties we missed by emailing lclem@rimonthly.com.

EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

• Sunny weather got you feeling the nostalgic summer camp vibes? Head down to Camp Long Live June 12 through 14, where Long Live Beerworks will transform their Providence courtyard into a summer camp experience featuring yard games, crafts, a cookie decorating class, mini market, scary stories and made-to-order s’mores. Check out the full lineup here.

• Rhode Island Spirits is teaming up with Providence Pride Exchange and Heartleaf Books to host a Pride clothing swap and book fair on Saturday, June 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Rhodium Room distillery bar. While you’re there, pick up a bottle of the LGBTQ+-owned distillery’s fiftieth anniversary commemorative vodka made in partnership with Rhode Island Pride.

• Speaking of Rhode Island Spirits, congratulations to the distillery for four of its spirits taking home medals at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Rhodium Save the Bay Gin was awarded a silver medal, while Red Eyed Spirits, a partnership brand created by RI Spirits in-house chemist Joseph Steadman, took home a double gold medal for its Saffron Rabarbaro Amaro as well as two silver medals for Taffel Akvavit and Amaro Carminio.

• Another fun one for Pride Month from RI’s LGBTQ+-owned meadery: Rainbow Rhode, a barrel-aged white pyment from Arcane Mead & Winery featuring raspberry, orange, mango, kiwi and blueberries and made in collaboration with Queers and Beers of Rhode Island.

• South County Distillers and Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge are teaming up for a whiskey and cigar night on Thursday, June 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Grey Sail taproom. A $25 ticket includes one whiskey drink or flight, one cigar and light snacks, with additional drinks and pizza available for purchase. Tickets are available online.

• White Dog Distilling, Crooked Current Brewery and Sarcastic Sweets are teaming up to host an ice cream social on Saturday, June 20, from 3 to 6 p.m. at their home in the Lorraine Mills. Stop by for beer or bourbon ice cream floats, cocktail pairings, adult ice cream shakes and more.

• Join Sip and Script for a brush lettering workshop at Apponaug Brewing on Tuesday, June 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $65 and include a beginner’s brush lettering kit with all required materials and an hour-and-a-half of instruction. Tickets are available online.

• Get a taste of Rhode Island with Narragansett taproom’s new surf and turf special, featuring a homemade stuffie and a hot dog. Try it out on Wednesday, June 24, when the company celebrates its twenty-first birthday at the Fox Point taproom.

• The Pawtucket Community Chorus will present their summer show, “Harmony in Every Hue,” on Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at Working Man Distillers. Visits the chorus’ social media for ticket info.

• Tickets are still available for the Ocean State Brewers Fest on Saturday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at the Bristol Golf Park. Hosted by Vigilant Brewing Company and presented by Club9, the event features tastings from more than a dozen Rhode Island breweries and cideries along with golf activities and snacks. Tickets are $50 each ($20 for designated driver ticket) and available online.

• Head to Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. on Saturday, June 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. for Prairie Bird and Friends, featuring live original music, a local makers’ market, onsite oyster bar and beverages.

• The Industrious Spirit Company is partnering with PVD Movie Club and Queers and Beers of Rhode Island to host a showing of The Birdcage on the patio on Thursday, June 28, at 6:30 p.m.

• Tower Hill Brewing announced the South County brewery will now serve Sakonnet Vineyard wines in its taproom alongside its own brews.

• Happy birthday to West Passage Brewing Co., who recently celebrated their fifth birthday! Celebrate with Wednesday weekly trivia at 6:30 p.m. at the North Kingstown taproom.

• Tilted Barn Brewery has officially kicked off its summer markets running every Wednesday night from 4 to 7 p.m. through Aug. 26. See the website for a sampling of vendors.

• Pivotal Brewing Company is hosting its third annual Dead Fest July 10 through 12 at the Bristol taproom, featuring three days of Grateful Dead cover bands, food trucks and a Shakedown Street vendor setup. Tickets are available online.

LABEL OF THE MONTH

(Photo courtesy of Lops Brewing)

Flock Together Pale Ale by Lops Brewing

Label design by Beth Braganca Bell

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