Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. was founded in 1999 in the heart of Newport — an awesome little coastal city set on Aquidneck Island in the New England state of Rhode Island. This place has some history. The harbors are filled with yachts (Newport hosted the America’s Cup for years) and classic mansions line Bellevue Avenue, including The Breakers, an 1895 villa patterned after a Renaissance palace. There’s Fort Adams, Bowen’s Wharf and the International Tennis Hall of Fame (who knew?). For the last 25 years, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling has also served this impressive little community with distinctive craft beer and award-winning spirits.
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. claims the title of the largest “Brewstillery” by production (it also owns the Radiant Pig and Braven Brewing Co. brands), and the company just recently announced an even bigger presence in Newport and beyond with a new facility. This project took about four and a half years to complete, but it was a multi-phase process that allowed the company to never halt production during construction. The wait has been worth it. From the press release:
“We now possess the capability to manufacture almost any product we can dream up, the space to host events of any level, the platform to engage and grow our community, and a facility and team of world-class caliber befitting our products’ numerous industry awards,” says Brendan O’Donnell, CEO of Newport Craft.
To celebrate, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling will be reopening its doors this Friday, April 19, with an official grand reopening celebration on April 26.
As soon as Newport visitors cross the Pell Bridge — a very cool bridge — they will be welcomed by the newly revamped event and production facility — a symbol of the ongoing revitalization of the North End of Newport as well as the classic attractions of Downtown. Visitors will quickly notice the outdoor areas on the ground level — perfect for relaxing on the lawns while sipping Newport beers, spirits and cocktails from various outdoor bars — playing games, hanging out with friends or perhaps (like I enjoy) drinking alone. Inside, guests can tour the production facilities, with separate distilling and brewing rooms with the latest equipment that can brew out more than 100,000 bbls of beer a year. That’s a 10 times increase.
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling now has a 200-seat indoor taproom and event space upstairs, which connects to a 150-person outdoor beer garden and a rooftop area. No matter where guests are on the property, visitors will be amazed by the stunning views of the famous Pell Bridge.
“This transformation of our facility and the scope of our operations proves our dedication to improving the community around us through new additions like our improved water treatment system, new job opportunities for locals, and partnerships with community organizations. This is the next chapter of the Newport Craft story, one focused on providing locals, visitors, and customers all over the United States with refreshing products and unique experiences. Our team’s amazing work getting us here has created a space reflecting our enthusiasm for our products and the people we serve. Here, everyone is invited to share in the results of our hard work in an atmosphere that is as relaxing as it is welcoming. There is nothing else like it in Newport” continues Brendan O’Donnell.
This project has also led to a new period of product development and renewal for all the Newport Craft brands. Newport Craft has added a modern microbiology lab as part of the facility build-out, as the company’s commitment to quality and innovation is the priority when ensuring that every drink meets the brand’s exacting standards. The company is also launching a range of alternative beverages in tandem with the launch of the new facility, made in-house, to suit its customers’ various tastes and needs. Furthermore, during the transformation, Newport Craft added additional brands to its portfolio, like Braven and Radiant Pig, which were acquired and relocated to the Newport facility as part of the company’s larger strategy. However, the core of the Newport Craft business, its award-winning beers, whiskies, and rums, drove the desire to grow the company’s capabilities to continue to meet the demands of its consumers and provide the best quality products.
Join Newport Craft in celebrating its new chapter during its grand reopening. For more information, visit www.newportcraft.com.
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