Rhode Island’s Seven Best Brewery Patios
For all your warm weather drinking needs.
With the weather topping 60 degrees, patio season is officially upon us, and Rhode Island has no shortage of excellent spaces to take your local beer outside. Last week, we put a call out on Instagram for your favorite brewery patios, and you responded, filling in the best outdoor drinking spaces in all corners of the state.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be sunny and 70 for you to enjoy an outdoor brew. As someone who’s been known to venture out for a cocktail in sub-freezing weather, one of my favorite developments to come from the last few years was the introduction of year-round patio spaces. Many of the breweries on our list will allow you to enjoy a beer outside so long as you’re willing to brave the weather, and some were even built with their outdoor spaces in mind. Still, nothing beats setting up outside on a crisp spring day before July sends us running for the AC, preferably with a fresh-brewed IPA (or, if you’re me, a saison) in hand.
Here’s our list of the best brewery patios in Rhode Island.
Moniker Brewery’s patio is pup-friendly. (Courtesy of Moniker Brewery)
Moniker Brewery
Moniker opened at the height of the pandemic when grabbing your beer at the counter and heading outside was pretty much the norm. As such, this trendy brewery on the West Side of Providence is equipped with all the fittings of a solid outdoor drinking experience, including fire pits, string lights and a variety of seating options. The brewery often hosts cocktails vendors and food trucks for First Friday celebrations, and the fact there’s more outdoor seating than in will make it clear you’ve come to the right place. monikerbrewery.com
Narragansett Beer’s patio is perfect for a cold one on a crisp day. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
Narragansett Beer
If you haven’t checked out Narragansett Beer’s Fox Point brewery yet, opened in 2021, you should. The location operates as a craft and experimental brewery, so don’t expect to find the classic ‘Gansett lager on the menu (you can thank annoying Rhode Island liquor laws). Instead, indulge in some creative takes and appreciate the Jaws homage covering the walls while you enjoy the view over India Point Park and the Providence River. narragansettbeer.com
Tilted Barn’s outdoor space is in the middle of a working farm. (Photo courtesy of Tilted Barn Brewery)
Tilted Barn Brewery
Tilted Barn is one of those breweries you hear about and when you finally visit, it lives up to all the expectations. This brewery and barn-style taphouse is set on a working farm in Exeter where you can see the hops being grown onsite. Summer afternoons find everyone from hard-core beer enthusiasts to families hanging out on the expansive lawn. And did we mention the farmers markets? Every Wednesday June through September. tiltedbarnbrewery.com
Even on rainy days, you can get your dose of nature at Ragged Island’s greenhouse seating area. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
Ragged Island Brewing Co.
Ragged Island is another farm brewery that embraces the agricultural roots behind the beer. Their new location in Portsmouth features stunning views of Narragansett Bay beyond an idyllic, sloping lawn dotted with Adirondack chairs. And even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can always head inside to their greenhouse seating area, where the lush foliage will make you feel like you just walked into a tropical island. raggedislandbrewing.com
Grey Sail Brewing’s beer garden is a summer oasis. (Photo courtesy of Grey Sail Brewing)
Grey Sail Brewing
For great beer and a good time, head to Grey Sail Brewing. The Westerly brewery has a fully outfitted beer garden with picnic tables, cornhole, shaded and sunny areas and live music on the weekends in the summer. Dogs are welcome, and you can even grab pies from Vetrano’s Wood-Fired Pizza. It’s an ideal stop after a long day at the beach. greysailbrewing.com
Catch sunset views at the Guild Warren. (Photo courtesy of the Guild Warren)
The Guild Warren
The Guild Warren is like a slightly more sophisticated version of the local brewery’s sprawling Pawtucket campus. Instead of pretzels and flatbreads, you get a full menu, and instead of an industrial-inspired beer hall, you get a cozy Warren brewery with gorgeous water views. Now’s the best time of year to set up on the patio with some charcuterie and falafel sliders and watch the afternoon float by. theguildri.com
Apponaug Brewing overlooks the Pawtuxet River. (Photo courtesy of Apponaug Brewing Co.)
Apponaug Brewing Company
There are a lot of great brewery patios in Rhode Island, but Apponaug Brewing’s space overlooking the Pawtuxet River is a personal favorite. There’s something about a former textile mill repurposed to make beer, especially when that mill comes with a full restaurant menu including cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks. At Apponaug, you can dig in on the gorgeously appointed patio, or order takeout to the Lodge (a second, more casual outdoor space) while you wait for a table inside. apponaugbrewing.com
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