Patrons can sample beer and rum at Newport Storm’s Visitors Center. Photo by Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
Since 1999, Newport Storm has been brewing up flavors for beer lovers across the state. After a great success last year in draft form, the company has decided to bottle their R.I.Pumpkin beer this year.
“We saw growler sales shoot up. People came in and tried it during tasting and probably half the people who came in were leaving with a growler,” said Riley Mello, the Visitors Center Manager at Newport Storm Brewery.
The first time they released a pumpkin brew was part of their cyclone series named ‘Cyclone Gloria’. The beer flew off the shelves but it was only made for a limited time. After some time the brewery decided to re-launch the beer under the name R.I.Pumpkin last year.
The beer was only available on draft but Patrons could buy it in growlers at the Visitors Center. This year they decided to bottle the brew and it has flown off the shelves.
In addition to their pumpkin brew, Newport Storm is set to launch their annual beer. Ever since 2000, the brewery has made a special brew for their anniversary. The 2015 Anniversary beer is set to make its debut at the October 16 Beervana.
Mello says the beer was made after a company dinner where they paired their beers with a 4 course dinner with bacon and chocolate. “When we brewed our annual 15, we wanted to think about that meal, thinking about bacon and chocolate,” said Mello. He says he cannot say much more than that but wants people to think “bacon, chocolate, and 10% alcohol.”
After Beervana, Newport Storm will have a free launch party for the anniversary beer on October 29.
In addition to their beers, Newport Storm has brought back some history as they make their own rum. Thomas Tew rum was started by the brewery. Newport has a big history in the sale of molasses and had many distilleries that use to make rum.
Once the guys at Newport Storm heard about this they decided to bring back rum and Mello says it has been a huge success. Currently, they ship their rum to 13 states from Maine to Florida. They also sell to the Midwest.
Mello says the company continues to think of new ideas for the company to try.
