Ravenous Brewing Company to Become ‘Moniker North’ in Cumberland

Ravenous Brewing Company former owners Patrick Reilly and Dorian Rave stand with Moniker Brewery owner Bryan Benedict and head brewer Ben Estes as they announce the sale of the Cumberland brewery. (Photo courtesy of Moniker Brewery)

After a week of tough news in the Rhode Island craft beer scene (see: Proc and Crafted Hope closing) we could all use a pick-me-up right about now.

And that pick-me-up comes in the form of good news from Cumberland, where — after months of rumors — Ravenous Brewing Company has officially announced a sale to Moniker Brewery of Providence.

Ravenous was one of the first Rhode Island breweries to open in the early-2010s craft beer wave, pouring beers out of a small industrial space in Woonsocket starting in 2013. In 2019, the brewery relocated to a larger space off Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland, where they’ve continued to pump out classics like the Coffee Milk Stout and the Rhode Haze New England IPA to a loyal following.

Last year, co-owners Dorian Rave and Patrick Reilly announced the business was up for sale. They’ve continued to brew and host patrons over the past year, even as other breweries in Rhode Island changed hands or closed their doors.

“We’ve come to realize that we can no longer give Ravenous the time, energy and attention it truly deserves to continue thriving and growing. This decision has not been made lightly, but we believe it’s time for us to move on and focus on other personal and professional matters,” the owners said in their announcement at the time.

This week, Moniker Brewery announced they’d be taking over operations at Ravenous and renaming the outpost Moniker North. It’s a significant expansion for a Providence brewery that first opened its doors in the midst of the pandemic in 2021.

“There are a lot of great brands and people that are stepping out of the industry. We saw an opportunity to keep something that was important to the local scene alive,” says Bryan Bendict, owner and co-founder of Moniker.

Benedict, a Cumberland resident, says Ravenous was one of the first brands he got to know when he moved to Rhode Island in 2014. At the time, he was working for Horizon Beverage, and Ravenous was making waves with its Coffee Milk Stout.

“I got to know Dorian really well,” he says. “The Coffee Milk Stout was at the time new, exciting, [and] they were one of the first breweries.”

As it turns out, Moniker was looking to expand. Opening in a former auto body shop during the pandemic, the brewery’s design has always prioritized outdoor space over a large indoor taproom. While it suited their needs at the time, Benedict says in recent years they’ve looked to expand their indoor seating while also increasing brewing capacity to keep up with demand. They were in the process of negotiating to purchase another building in Providence when Ravenous announced its news last year.

The Providence prospect eventually fell through, and Moniker quickly entered talks with Reilly and Rave to purchase the Cumberland brewery. Benedict says they’ve spent a lot of time at the brewery with the former owners to get to know the business and make sure the sale was the right fit.

“It seemed to all fall into place,” he says. “I think the location up here is really great. Diamond Hill Road is really busy.”

The sale includes the Ravenous branding and recipes, and Benedict says they plan to keep some of Ravenous’ most popular brews available on the menu and through distribution. That includes the signature Coffee Milk Stout as well as the Blackstone Pale Ale APA. Customers will also be able to purchase Moniker beers at the Cumberland location, which will serve as a research and development space and allow them to experiment with less popular styles.

“It allows us to have a little more fun with our brewing,” Benedict says. “We’re in such a high-volume situation with distribution at the taproom in Providence, we were kind of pigeonholed into making the same ten beers a year.”

As for the space itself, Moniker has ambitious plans. The location is currently closed for renovation and is expected to reopen in June or July. Libby Slader Design (which designed the original Moniker space in Providence) is working with the business to update the building while still maintaining an industrial feel. There will be an onsite chef and small kitchen with regular food options, including a raw bar, and Benedict says they’re playing around with the idea of adding a coffee shop in the future.

“There’s a cool little space in the front that’s currently my office that just screams coffee shop or something like that,” he says.

They also plan to reorient the taproom and build out two bars — a layout that might just prove the solution to the never-ending “kids versus no kids at the brewery” debate. One side, Benedict says, will have more of a sports bar vibe with TVs and high-top seating, while the other will be family friendly. It’s a solution he hopes will make the brewery feel welcoming to a wide range of customers.

“As a dad of a three- and a five-year-old, going out sometimes can be stressful,” he says. “We’re trying to bring that Munich-beer-garden vibe to the inside of the building where it’s a lot more relaxed.”

Improvements to the outdoor space are targeted for the 2027 summer season, with bocce courts in the long-term plans. Benedict says they hope to reposition the location as a gathering spot for local residents.

“We want to be a place for the community. Eventually, I think, seven days a week is probably on the docket,” he says. “That’s rule number one for Moniker, we’ve always put the community that the taproom’s in first.”

Reilly and Rave have also been in talks about sticking around for some collaborative brew days. A joint social media announcement on Thursday indicated a friendly transition for everyone involved.

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