Most local beer enthusiasts know about Narragansett, and many are familiar with Newport Storm, but the brewery tsunami that's swept the nation has washed over the Ocean State, with Rhode Island gaining five new breweries in the last few years.

Most local beer enthusiasts know about Narragansett, and many are familiar with Newport Storm, but the brewery tsunami that's swept the nation has washed over the Ocean State, with Rhode Island gaining five new breweries in the last few years.



Three of the new breweries are set up in the city, with Revival Brewing located in Providence (brewing at Trinity Brewhouse and Cottrell Brewing in Connecticut) and both Foolproof and Bucket setting up shop in Pawtucket. Joining them is Woonsocket's excellent Ravenous Brewing and Westerly's Grey Sail Brewing.



Soon to join them is Proclamation Ale Company in West Kingston.



I've been lucky enough to taste offerings from all but Bucket, and I've been impressed with most everything I've had.



SouthCoast drinkers are most likely to find Foolproof or Grey Sail locally. I've written about Foolproof before, and have really enjoyed its offerings. Its three main beers are distributed in cans and on tap and are all excellent. Barstool is a top-notch golden ale that's a great introduction to craft brewing. Backyahd is a delicious IPA, and Raincloud is one of my go-to porters and has some heft at 6.5% ABV.



Grey Sail is also readily available at well-stocked liquor stores and drinking establishments. Its Flying Jenny is a decent pale ale that's sufficiently bitter for the average beer geek. Grey Sail offers a drinkable if understated cream ale called Flagship Ale. I would definitely grab a Foolproof Barstool before I choose one of these, but it's a fine offering.



Revival Brewing's head brewer is also the head brewer at Trinity Brewhouse. Its typically higher-ABV brews start at 5.5% ABV and go up from there. I've been particularly impressed with the Double Black IPA, a delicious brew that's not for the faint of heart. The beers are available on tap all over Rhode Island, so you'll have to cross the border to get your hands on some.



Ravenous is even harder to find, as it is a small brewery. I managed to try quite a few of its beers (including several that aren't available regularly) at the Great International Beer Fest in Providence. Ravenous has two standard offerings — a well-balanced Blackstone Pale Ale and a truly delicious Coffee Milk Stout. If you find it on tap, make sure you try the stout.



Until recently, Bucket Brewing has been making its beer in a one-barrel system (tiny by brewing standards). Its new 10-barrel brewery allows it to produce significantly more beer, so look for the label to break out of the confines of Rhode Island and be available locally.



Of course, we can't forget about the two longer-standing breweries: Newport Storm and Narragansett. Newport Storm has been brewing for more than a decade. Its recent IPA addition, India Point Ale, may be the best standard brew they've put out, and the Cyclone Series has produced dome fine ales.



Everyone knows Narragansett's easy-drinking lager, but they also make a fine set of other brews. Try their surprising porter, which may have the best alcohol-to-cost-to-flavor ratio out there at 7% ABV and typical 'Gansett prices. Narragansett also just released an Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout that's supposed to be quite good.

The Rhode Island Brew Fest will be held Feb. 1 at the Armory in Pawtucket. It's a great chance to try all the breweries I mentioned above, as well as a bunch of other excellent local and national breweries. There will be two sessions: 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m., and tickets are $55. Learn more at http://www.ribrewfest.com/winter/



Check out more than 25 brewers at the inaugural Northeast Craft Beer Pavilion at the Boston Globe Travel Show on Saturday, Feb. 8 or Feb. 9. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets include admission to the travel show itself. Details at http://www.bostonglobetravelshow.com/beer



I really appreciate feedback! Hit me with ideas for beers, events, or breweries at www.facebook.com/GoodBrewHunting or via email at goodbrewhunting@gmail.com.



Nate lives in Westport with his wife, two kids, small farm worth of pets, a basement fridge full of local craft beer, and assortment of bottles/kegs/carboys of homebrew at various states of completion.