Ian Donnis reports that plans to bring a 'Gansett Brewery back to the Ocean State are moving forward:



Personally, I can't choke down Narragansett. I'd be happy to see them introduce some new brews and become a new Sam Adams.

that's awesome new!!! i like a 'gansett every now and then, but it's not a regular for me. it's a great beer on a hot summer day. you should try their bock. that one is really good and much better than the regular lager if you ask me. i would like to see them brew some different styles and i'd love to see them have a brewpub in their brewery.

When I drink beer, which is not very often, I am a cheap beer lover. Schlitz, High Life, you name it. 'Gansett is great and I would love to see a brewery here..Given the desire to be in PVD and on the West Side, where would you think it would go?

narragansett actually made it to the top 25 american beers in beer advocate magazine (it was #25, but out of the thousands of american beers, that's pretty damn good, and it was individual beers, not whole breweries that were counted).

EDIT: just thought of a place they could go... shaw's in eagle square. (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/alc.gif)

Where Grove Street School used to be.

yeah, but it would need a zoning change. How about Carpenter Mills? And how much space do they need cuz there's this empty grocery store down at eagle square...

the size of the space depends on the amount of distribution they want. right now i think they only distribute to RI, SE MA, and SW CT, so it doesn't have to be that big. but if they want to expand on that, they'll need more space. same goes if they want to expand their selection as well. but the empty grocery store would be a pretty good location if you ask me.

you know, they could make a brew pub too, right on the river. some of my favorite brew pubs have been right on the water. There's something about beer and water... Although i seem to remember a deal (real or imagined) regarding the Federal Hill Merchants and an agreement that there would never be a real restaurant OR a liquor store at eagle square...

that was my thought. brewery goes in the grocery store and brewpub in one of the empty retail spots.

do popeye's, subway, and dunkin' donuts not count as real restaurants? brewpubs are not liquor stores in the traditional sense, though you can buy growlers.

no, those don't count as real restaurants. and honestly i don't know if that was an actual consideration i just remember it was talked about during eagle square that the merchants didn't want to see a real, sit down restaurant or a liquor store down there. It would be interesting to know whether a deed restriction was ever put on a property as a result.

that would be pretty messed up if they managed to get that. do they really think that a restaurant down there would take away from the businesses up there? seriously... even when it's like 20 below, those places up on the hill are mobbed.

perhaps you missed the memo that Providence is sometimes a little f*cked up? (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Isn't PriceRite already a done deal down there?

It would be a fantastic spot for Narragansett though. I love the idea of a Gansett brewpub.

I don't know if Narragansett wants to own their property, and if so, if they would be able to own the Shaw's location, but I agree, its a good spot. If they were to put in a brew pub, I imagine them blowing out the wall of Shaw's facing the river and building a deck out toward the river, over that bank. It overlooks a parking lot ( (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ) but it would still be nice, especially with a bit more vegetation. Also, if that large retail space becomes manufacturing, they would no longer need that massive parking lot...

However... I imagine when they say "West Side" and "it’s kind of where our heartbeat is today" they are talking more about the Broadway/Westminster/Armory West Side.

I was wondering that too, and think the current Price Rite location would be good too. One may say Onleyville is a downtrodden area and not a good retail bet, and one may be right, but isn't the Sam Adams brewery in some weird scary industrial zone of Boston, and don't people still flood down there? If they opened there, and if they had a brew pub, I think people would come, and it could be a good anchor for Olneyville Square redevelopment. And again, they wouldn't need that massive parking lot...

Onleyville Square is also closer to the Broadway/Westminster/Armory folks who I think they think are their current target.

Brewery and Beer Garden at Eagle Square? They would have to tear down the Shaws, correct? Or just convert it. The building has historical significance, right? (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I would love to see this happen, gentrifing SOB that I am. I am may buy a six pack of Narragansett tonight! (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/alc.gif)

yeah, that's what i figure as well. perhaps they could brew in the armory? (IMG:http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/silly.png)



most breweries that i've seen are in fairly industrial areas as they need space for all the tanks and room for the trucks to get in and out. sam adams is in JP i think.

Now THAT is something I could get behind.

i wonder what the state rules are regarding breweries near schools and such. I know you can't get a liquor license within some hundred yards of a school or a church. The old Stop and Shop on Adelaide ave sure has enough room, although it is near the new polluted high (hahah) school. but does a brewery need a liquor license? i am sure it does if there's going to be a restaurant or bar, but what if there isn't?

Onleyville Square is a traffic nightmare. Bad spot for a Brewery. Sam Adams is located in Jamaica Plain, not far from the Forest Hills T stop. Its hard to find but not a bad nieghborhood. They run tours every Saturday. I tried to organize a tour for my alumni group but it never happened.

Valley Street would be a great location.