A guide to Rhode Island's 7 best breweries
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
A craft beer enthusiast could easily spend a long weekend in Rhode Island and drink nothing but outstanding local brews. To help you choose, here is a guide to seven of the best.
Advertisement
Screaming in the Woods Vol. 1, a roggenbier, or German rye beer, at Buttonwoods.
Steve Greenlee
Buttonwoods Brewery
You'll often find owner and head brewer Morgan Snyder hanging around, inconspicuously pulling tap handles on the 14 or so beers he keeps on tap. While a lot of breweries devote half or more of their taps to IPAs these days, Buttonwoods keeps the mix lively — a Belgian witbier, a dark mild English ale, an Italian pilsner. I was pleasantly shocked to find a roggenbier (when was the last time you had a German rye beer?) on tap recently.
Advertisement
Try:
Hip Hop Is Dead, a perfectly cloudy double IPA, or something less mainstream, like the delicious Screaming in the Woods Vol. 1 roggenbier.
Buttonwoods Brewery, 50 Sims Ave., Providence
The Long Live Beerworks tasting room in Providence.
Steve Greenlee
Long Live Beerworks
The two-story tasting room with exposed brick and modern decor, sited in a rehabbed factory complex in Providence's West End, is bohemian yet classy. If you belly up to the bar, be prepared to chat, because the bartenders love to engage visitors in conversation. Settle in with one of Long Live's higher-octane offerings. You'll find a bunch of double IPAs on tap, along with an off-the-charts pastry stout or two and possibly a barleywine. There's simply too much to choose from here.
Chewy Bites imperial stout with coconut, caramel, and vanilla at Long Live Beerworks.
Steve Greenlee
Try:
Black Cat Sees All, a luscious and juicy double IPA, or Nanaimo Bites (when it's available), an over-the-top imperial stout made with graham cracker, pecan, cacao nibs and coconut. If the latter is not available, any of Long Live's pastry stouts demand attention.
Long Live Beerworks, 40R Sprague St., Providence
Advertisement
A flight of four beers at Moniker Brewery.
Steve Greenlee
Moniker Brewery
The small tasting room gets crowded and loud on weekend evenings, but it's a fun and lively place. In warm weather they open the garage bay doors to let in the fresh air, and outside there are tables under heaters where you can gather as well.
Try:
Gerauchert, a German smoked Helles, or Debut Single, an uncommonly good cream ale.
Moniker Brewery, 432 West Fountain St., Providence
Obsidian Currants, an imperial stout brewed with currants and raspberries, at Proclamation Ale Co.
Steve Greenlee
Proclamation Ale Company
Rhode Island's most daring brewery, with an enormous range of styles and a huge tap list. If you're tired of IPAs and brown ales, you can get an imperial stout with black currants and raspberries, a Belgian quad with red wine must or an oak-aged ale with cherries, juniper berries, lime leaves, and orange peel.
Try:
For Keeps, a dark, woody biere de garde, or Obsidian Currants, a tart, berry-flavored imperial stout.
Advertisement
Proclamation Ale Company, 298 Kilvert St., Warwick
A flight of four beers at Pivotal Brewing Co.'s tasting room in Bristol.
Steve Greenlee
Pivotal Brewing Co.
Pivotal's locally renowned dry-hopped double IPA, Hello My Name Is Pivotal, is among the dankest beers I've had and a gold standard of the DIPA style. Unfortunately it wasn't on tap when I visited recently, but plenty else was. Fourteen beers were offered in this gigantic two-story former factory that has been rehabbed and filled with funky artwork and shabby chic decor. One can easily imagine corporate events and weddings in this room.
Try:
Hello My Name Is Pivotal, or whichever IPAs happen to be on tap.
Pivotal Brewing Co., 500 Wood St., Building 111, Bristol
An ESB and a smoked dark lager at Ragged Island Brewing Co.
Steve Greenlee
Ragged Island Brewing Co.
This may be
There are lots of beers on tap here, and they're all good, from IPAs and stouts to more niche offerings like an ESB (extra special bitter), a schwarzbier, a Vienna lager, and a smoked dark lager.
Try:
The ESB and the Smoked Dark Lager — too many smoked beers are either far too subtle or choke you with barbecue fumes. This smooth, delicious one gets the balance right.
Advertisement
Ragged Island Brewing Co., 54 Bristol Ferry Road, Portsmouth
Tilted Barn is Rhode Island's first farm brewery.
Tilted Barn Brewery
Tilted Barn Brewery
The prettiest setting of any brewery on this list is
I didn't think any brewery in Rhode Island would ever match the quality of the IPAs made by the likes of Tree House, Trillium, or Maine's best breweries until I tried Tilted Barn's. Every IPA made here is best in class — and there are a lot of them. If IPAs aren't your thing, there's usually a great lager, porter, or Belgian on tap as well.
Try:
Cactus, a soft and earthy IPA, or The Chosen One, a juicy double IPA that explodes with notes of mango and pineapple.
Tilted Barn Brewery, 1 Helmsley Place, Exeter
Steve Greenlee is a journalism professor at Boston University. He can be reached at
.
Tilted Barn beers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
America's fascination with the kiss cam: For better or worse, it's here to stay
'Are you not entertained?' Russell Crowe's Maximus famously bellowed to the Colosseum crowd in the 2000 film 'Gladiator.' But for decades, kiss cams have been posing a different question to U.S. sports fans and concertgoers: 'Are you not the entertainment?' Whether lighthearted distraction or comic relief, the ubiquitous arena and stadium feature is as American as apple pie — or at least as American as baking an apple pie and posting it on social media. Live competition and performance offer us communal experience on a massive scale, but they also offer a chance to make memories and — with the aid of kiss cams — to become part of the entertainment ourselves. For a few back-to-back moments, as the camera zeroes in on its various targets, fans watch with curiosity, anticipation, excitement and maybe even self-conscious dread. 'These events are epic, nostalgic, and for some even narcissistic,' said Adam Resnick, founder of 15 Seconds of Fame, a Los Angeles-based company whose app allows participating fans featured on in-venue video boards like kiss cams to download and share the footage as a digital souvenir. The origins of the kiss cam are frustratingly foggy but Resnick and others agree they burst onto sports scenes in the 1980s, in the years after sports franchises began introducing increasingly massive color video screens at ballparks and stadiums. Designed to fill breaks in the action and typically set to cheesy pop ballads, the kiss cam was a major innovation that shifted the focus from courts and fields into the stands. The feature is pretty much a slam dunk, with the camera's roving eye picking out random pairs of people in the stands who may or may not be actual couples — and therein lies part of the fun. Reactions are broadcast on the venue's giant video boards: If they kiss, the crowd cheers, while refusals draw playful jeers or laughter. "We love love," said Pepper Schwartz, a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle. When couples oblige, she said, "it's a feel-good feeling that transfers from one person to another and makes us optimistic." Kiss cams are cheap entertainment designed to keep audiences engaged when they could easily check out, said Joseph Darowski, an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. 'The energy of the live crowd is incredibly important, and the kiss cam helps to prevent it from dying down,' said Darowski, co-author of 'Survivor: A Cultural History,' a book that in part explores the rise of reality TV. 'Sporting events are not just about the game being played. It's the entire entertainment experience.' Any additional theatrics are generally a bonus — at least for the audience. But as illustrated by the now infamous July 16 incident at a Coldplay concert in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, that's not always the case for the featured individuals. When reactions tell the story It was the shot broadcast around the world – the TikTok'd footage of a couple at a Coldplay concert caught mid-cuddle. 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy,' Coldplay singer Chris Martin quipped after seeing the video from the stage. The video of the July 16 incident at Gillette Stadium has received more than 129 million views on TikTok alone. The viral moment and its professional and personal fallout, Schwartz said, prompted reactions ranging from amusement and fascination to, for those who've been involved in similar circumstances, schadenfreude and relief. But it wouldn't have unfolded the way it did without the kiss cam. The couple seen on the screen "could have saved themselves from worldwide derision had they waved and looked like, 'This is no big deal,'" Schwartz said. "But they took the second instinct, which was to flee. And that was the funny one." 'It could have been a vanilla, fleeting moment,' Resnick agreed. 'However, their reaction told a story." The episode illustrated how kiss cams have provoked occasional embarrassment and controversy since their debut. In addition to outing potential infidelities, their use in the past has been accused of pressuring unwilling participants to take part and shamed for promoting homophobia by showing same-sex couples for laughs. It also showed the hazards of baring private matters in public in the age of kiss cams, smartphones and social media. 'The expectation of privacy at a public event has never existed, and today, with camera ubiquity, it's preposterous for anyone to take that position,' Resnick said. More often, though, kiss cams offer those attending live events the chance to score a cameo in their own experience, claiming part or even all of those 15 seconds of fame once foretold for all of us. The power of those moments, Resnick said, lies in their organic nature. 'Authenticity can't be staged in real time,' he said. 'It resonates in the social zeitgeist.' Kiss cams 'an important metric' of acceptance The kiss cam's evolution hasn't been without its stumbles. In 2015, Syracuse University discontinued its kiss cam feature after a letter to the local newspaper cited a pair of troubling instances at the football team's game against Wake Forest. Steve Port of Manlius, N.Y., wrote that the kiss cam segment had twice featured young women who expressed unwillingness to participate but were forced to anyway, either by their male counterpart or by surrounding students. Meanwhile, a dozen or so years have passed since some major league sports franchises were accused of promoting homophobia by using kiss cams to poke fun at other teams. In those cases, after featuring a series of smooching male-female couples, the kiss cam segments ended by focusing on two of the home team's rival players, or even fans – suggesting they might kiss, and that doing so would be comedic. As a fan of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars complained after such a segment in a 2013 letter to team owner Shahid Khan, initially reported by Outsports: 'Hilarious, right? No, and the message is clear. Jaguars are heterosexual and approved. The opponent is 'gay,' disapproved and the butt of a crude joke.' A year earlier, pitcher Brandon McCarthy of Major League Baseball's Oakland A's had similarly condemned the practice after a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 'They put two guys on the 'Kiss Cam' tonight,' McCarthy posted on the social platform now known as X. 'What hilarity!! (by hilarity I mean offensive homophobia). Enough with this stupid trend.' Later, McCarthy — now sporting director for the USL Championship's Phoenix Rising FC — told the San Francisco Chronicle: "If there are gay people who are coming to a game and seeing something like that, you can't assume they're comfortable with it. If you're even making a small group of people ... feel like outcasts, then you're going against what makes your model successful." Before long, franchises were striving to be more inclusive, and in 2015, MLB's New York Mets told the Huffington Post they would no longer feature opposing players in their kiss cam segments; that same year, the Dodgers included a gay couple in its kiss cam. 'Kiss cams are an important metric in measuring how acceptable certain people are in a given community,' said Stephanie Bonvissuto, an adjunct assistant professor of women's and gender studies at Hunter College and Brooklyn College, both part of the City University of New York system. In early 2017, the Ad Council's 'Love Has No Labels' campaign produced a commercial featuring kiss cam footage from that year's NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people had been killed seven months earlier in a mass shooting at gay nightclub Pulse. 'Kiss Cams have been a part of sports culture for years,' the opening text read, but at that game, it continued, they 'became part of something bigger.' The images showed pairs of individuals, outlined by a heart, broadcast on Camping World Stadium's giant screens. Friends were featured. So, too, were same-sex and interracial couples. Then the camera zoomed in on two women in the stands, one of them wearing a shirt reading 'Orlando survivor.' The two turned and kissed, to the crowd's delight. Still, Bonvissuto said it's still rare to see LGBTQ couples featured on kiss cams beyond Pride Night events. While cautioning that she hasn't seen any statistics on such representation, she said the footage she's viewed largely features white, able-bodied and seemingly cisgender individuals. 'Kiss cams act as a means to exclude certain people,' she said. 'They're incredibly important in thinking about representation — who we're seeing and not seeing.' 'Socially acceptable' voyeurism But for the most part, kiss cams have offered streams of harmless fun, fodder for highlight and blooper reels and glimpses into the relationships of everyone from fellow citizens to celebrities and sitting and former U.S. presidents. Kiss cams, said BYU's Darowski, offer audiences the constant thrill of knowing they could be onscreen combined with 'a socially acceptable, safe form of voyeurism that is traditionally taboo.' The presumed authenticity of couples' raw, unrehearsed reactions is key, too, he said. 'So much of our entertainment is highly mediated, edited and packaged for our consumption,' he said. It doesn't always play out as planned – and not all of it is necessarily genuine, thanks to some sports teams' creative minds. Many couples share crowd-pleasing kisses. Others, not so much. Some, snubbed by their companions, stomp off in a huff or peck adjacent fans instead, while youthful pairs looking to lock lips are thwarted by chaperoning adults. Whether any of it is staged doesn't matter much. Fans and audiences alike have enjoyed their moment in the limelight. Resnick, of 15 Seconds of Fame, recalled a moment in June 2024 after a Dallas Mavericks loss in game five of the NBA Finals. The arena cameras zeroed on a fan tearful over the outcome. While it wasn't part of the kiss cam feature, 'the minute he saw himself on the Jumbotron, he smiled and kissed the girl (who was) with him,' Resnick said. 'That's all you need to know about what those 15 seconds mean to fans.'
Business Upturn
9 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Michael Owen Becomes the New Face of GK8: Fastest Growing iGaming Brand
SINGAPORE, Aug. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GK8, Asia's leading platform for interactive gaming and entertainment, has proudly announced football legend Michael Owen as its newest brand ambassador. With a reputation built on trust, security, and a diverse range of gaming options, GK8 continues to expand its influence in the iGaming sector, and Owen's partnership is set to bolster its position in the competitive industry. Related link: A Stellar Partnership for GK8 Michael Owen, a former English football star known for his exceptional skills and quick pace on the field, brings his star power to the fast-growing brand. With years of success both on and off the pitch, Owen's influence will help enhance GK8's visibility across key international markets. The partnership marks a pivotal moment for the company, reflecting its ambition to continue expanding globally while maintaining its commitment to a high standard of user experience. 'It's an honor to be working with such a dynamic and forward-thinking brand like GK8. Their dedication to creating a secure, engaging platform aligns perfectly with my values,' said Michael Owen. 'I look forward to connecting with fans and players in Southeast Asia, sharing in the excitement and entertainment that GK8 offers.' The Rise of GK8 Founded with a vision to bring top-tier gaming experiences to Asia, GK8 has rapidly grown into a major force in the interactive gaming industry. The platform is recognized for its advanced security measures, seamless user interface, and wide selection of games, including sports, lotteries, and multiplayer online options. GK8's unique approach to customer service has helped them build a loyal global community, with users praising its responsive support team and fast transactions. Asia's largest iGaming platform, GK8 is now expanding its reach into markets beyond the region, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. As the platform continues to grow, the inclusion of Michael Owen as its new ambassador will undoubtedly help the brand strengthen its position in key global markets, particularly in the UK and Europe, where Owen is a household name. A Secure and Trusted Platform What sets GK8 apart is its unwavering focus on security and user privacy. The platform operates under stringent regulations, ensuring that every user's data and personal information is handled with the utmost confidentiality. GK8's commitment to offering a safe, encrypted environment for its users is reflected in its partnerships with renowned testing laboratories like BMM Testlabs and iTech Labs. In addition to high-security standards, GK8 ensures that its players have access to the latest, most innovative gaming experiences. The platform is constantly updating its offerings, liaising with international vendors to introduce exciting new games regularly. 'We are extremely proud of the trust our customers place in us,' said a spokesperson from GK8. 'With Michael Owen on board, we're excited to continue delivering world-class service and cutting-edge gaming options, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for our global community.' Supporting Responsible Entertainment While GK8 continues to grow its offerings, the platform remains committed to promoting responsible entertainment. The company's comprehensive support services, 24/7 live chat assistance, and responsible gaming policies ensure that users can engage in a safe and enjoyable environment. Whether new to the platform or a seasoned player, GK8 strives to deliver a rewarding experience while adhering to ethical standards. 'GK8's priority has always been our users' satisfaction and well-being,' the spokesperson continued. 'With a strong emphasis on security, customer service, and an ever-evolving gaming selection, we are proud to be the go-to platform for millions of players worldwide.' Expanding Global Presence Currently available in several Asian markets, GK8 plans to broaden its global reach in the coming years. As it continues to push the boundaries of innovation and security, the brand is set to make a significant impact in new regions. With Michael Owen now acting as the face of GK8, the company is ready to elevate its brand to the next level. This partnership highlights GK8's growth, global ambitions, and commitment to providing the best possible entertainment experience for all of its users. As one of the fastest-growing brands in the interactive gaming sector, GK8 remains steadfast in its mission to lead the way with security, innovation, and world-class service. The collaboration with Michael Owen marks the beginning of a new chapter for the platform, setting the stage for even greater success in the years to come. About GK8 GK8 is owned and operated by GK8 Ltd. registration number: 000047418, registered address: BZAGENTS Limited, Sea Urchin Street, San Pedro,Ambergris Caye, Belize. Contact us [email protected]. GK8 is licensed and regulated by the Government of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Union of Comoros and operates under License No. ALSI-202505017-FI1. GK8 has passed all regulatory compliance and is legally authorized to conduct gaming operations for any and all games of chance and wagering. For more information about GK8 and the latest gaming offerings, visit Media Contact Brand: GK8 Contact: Media Team Email: [email protected] Website: Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
San Francisco Chronicle
21 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Francis Ford Coppola said George Lucas made him direct ‘The Godfather,' says America may fall like ancient Rome
Before he broke through with 'American Graffiti,' before he became an instant legend with ' Star Wars,' George Lucas became the unsung hero of another American classic that changed cinema history: ' The Godfather.' Or so claims the director of that 1972 masterpiece, Francis Ford Coppola. 'Everyone turned 'The Godfather' down, all the wonderful directors of the time,' the 86-year-old filmmaker told an enthusiastic crowd at the Palace of Fine Arts. 'So they tried to hire me. Here was the logic: 'One, he's Italian-American, so if it gets a lot of flack, they'll blame him. Two, there's a script that wasn't very good, and he's become a successful screenwriter, so he'll rewrite the script. And three, he's young and has two kids and a pregnant wife, so we can just push him around and order him to do everything we want.' 'Well, I turned it down. I had a young apprentice, and we had come together to start a company (San Francisco-based American Zoetrope). His name was George Lucas. He said, 'We can't turn it down, we have no money, the sheriff is going to chain our door because we haven't made the taxes on the thing. You have to do it, we have no other alternatives.' I said, 'You're right George.'' Billed as 'An Evening with Francis Ford Coppola and 'Megalopolis' Screening,' the event in Coppola's adopted hometown on Friday, Aug. 1, finished off a six-city tour designed to create more awareness and discussion of his 2024 $120 million self-financed dream project that tanked at the box office. Coppola was certainly generous with his time. The event lasted nearly four hours, with a screening of the two-hour, 18-minute film followed by a 90-minute discussion with the filmmaker simply sitting in a chair pontificating on a wide range of issues while occasionally taking questions from the audience. Topics included anthropology, history, societal evolution, and the philosophy of human innovation and creativity. ' Megalopolis,' which likens the fall of Rome to the current state of American politics and culture, is informed by the development of human civilization over 300,000 years, noting that patriarchal societies began with the domestication of horses. So, not your typical film discussion. Still, the audience who paid prices ranging from $61-$205 and mostly filled the 1,000-seat venue were enthusiastic and attentive, giving the auteur standing ovations as he took the stage and as he left it. However, there was a small but steady stream of people who began leaving about 45 minutes in. One topic that hits close to home for Coppola is homelessness in San Francisco. The director noted that he founded a nonprofit, North Beach Citizens, in 2001 to help the unhoused find housing, food, and services because he felt the city wasn't doing enough. 'I used to walk to work and see these homeless people sleeping, and people would call them human garbage. What, are we crazy?' said Coppola, who added that the solution to most of society's problems has to be addressed first at the community level, inverting the top-down aspect of federal government. Coppola did, of course, give insights to his films, from the two 'Godfathers' to the San Francisco-shot, Watergate-era thriller ' The Conversation ' (1974); the troubled production of the Vietnam 'Apocalypse Now' (1979); and 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992), his biggest non-'Godfather' box office hit.\ And, of course, 'Megalopolis.' Although he did not address various controversies about its production, including on-set inappropriate behavior (and no one asked about it, either), he believes it serves a warning about America and yet provides hope for the future. America will get out of its mess, Coppola said, as today's generation of children matures. 'Look at the world around us right now, wars all over the place, and the most horrible thing of all children being killed,' Coppola said. 'The kids being killed in Sudan or in the Middle East, someone was gonna find a cure for cancer or write the most gorgeous music ever been written or make a great film. So to me the children are precious. They are our future.' For now, Coppola refuses to release 'Megalopolis' digitally, content to tour with the movie for special one-off screenings. The film only made $14 million globally after its release in September. He did acknowledge there eventually will be a Blu-ray, and the man known for re-editing his past films teased the audience with an alternate cut of the film. 'Right now I'm working on 'Megalopolis Unbound,'' he said to laughter, and ended the night.
