Somethings’ Brewing at Newport Vineyards: Winery opens Taproot Brewing Co.

After 23 years of perfecting the art of winemaking, Newport Vineyards & the Nunes family are thrilled to announce the opening of Taproot Brewing Co. which officially opened on June 20th.

“I’ve been making beer longer than I’ve been making wine,” says Newport Vineyards owner John Nunes. “Over the last few years Newport Vineyards has transformed into a beverage, culinary and events destination; adding craft beer was a natural fit.”

Taproot Brewing Co. is equipped with a state-of-the-art seven-barrel brewhouse, located just as you come through the main entrance of the winery. The focus is unfiltered hopforward beers made in small batches and meant to be enjoyed immediately for the ultimate freshness. There is an in-house canning system allowing guests to take packs of beer home with them.

Taproot beer is on tap at Brix Restaurant, and available to all guests at the winery. Vineyard Executive Chef Andy Teixeira is very enthusiastic about the brewing venture being integral to his work, “We are working with some of our farm partners to donate the spent grain from the brewery for compost and feed.” Lunch is served at the brewery, with views overlooking the winery and vineyards, offering a slight twist to the current lunch menu to include beer pairings, in addition to wine pairing options.

The Taproot name not only represents the obvious nod to the Nunes family vineyard roots, but also symbolizes their history rooted in Aquidneck Island agriculture. The vineyard is situated on preserved farmland that has been in the Nunes family for over 100 years. Just as a taproot anchors a plant to the ground encouraging more roots to stem from it, the family’s rich farming roots have inspired other elements of the company to grow.

TAPROOM HOURS
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.*
*Pints + flights available upstairs at Brix after 5pm.
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.*
*Pints + flights available upstairs at Brix after 4pm.

EVENTS:

Tuesdays:
Beer + Burger night in Brix. $15 for a beer (choose from 6 on draft) and burger (3 options). Brix is open 5pm – 9pm on Tuesdays. Details here.

Wednesdays:
-Extended Taproom hours + live music 5pm – 8pm (No tickets required, just come by! (Beverages and light bites available for purchase.) See artist schedule on the Events page here.
-Flight Night in Brix. $10 beer flights (and $10 wine flights, cheeseboards and small plates). Brix is open 5pm – 9pm on Wednesdays. Details here.

Follow Taproot Brewing Co. on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taprootbeer/ and Instagram @TaprootBeer.
For more details, please visit their website. See more photos of the brewery, beer and food here.

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About Newport Vineyards
Founded by brothers John & Paul Nunes in 1995, Newport Vineyards is the largest grower of grapes in New England. The winery produces nearly 30,000 cases of estate-grown wine each year through sustainable farming methods on 75 acres of historically
preserved farmland. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2015, the winery has become a culinary and wine destination offering multiple experiences including daily tours and tastings, 100% from scratch culinary programs at Brix Restaurant and Taproot Brewery, The Marketplace, seasonal live music, private events and year-round public activities.