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Nicole Simeone
Taproot Brewing
A brewery nestled inside of a winery? Well, now that is something to see.
This Thursday we are taking the red-eye back to the East Coast and landing in Middletown, Rhode Island. The town is a stone’s throw from the glitzy turn of the last century mansions and is home to Newport Vineyards. The location is set just off of East Main Road and is a complex dedicated to food and drink.
Our focus today is not on the delicious nectar pressed from obliging grapes. It is on the small brewery and lunch spot nestled inside the larger holding. Taproot Brewing is a small batch operation offering visitors an alternative to wine. The description on Taproot’s website of the beer product is hop-forward, but that’s not saying they are IPA crazy. Their rotating options cover a variety of styles. But before we go too far down into the keg, let’s take a look at their food and event offerings.
Entertainment & Specials
Taproot has live music on Wednesday’s and burger specials on Tuesday’s. You can play corn hole outside on the small lawn in front of the vines.
One thing to note when planning your visit, the brewery and vineyard close at 4:30 (last call being at 4) on Saturday’s due to private events. Even before last call, space can be crowded depending on the time of year because they close down the main wine tasting area.
Tours
None at this time, although there is some of the brewing equipment located just as you walk in to the building.
Food
Their menu consists of snacks, sandwiches, and accouterments. The Thai Chicken wrap was good but I expected it to be spicy. There was barely a mild zing. The chowder, on the other hand, was excellent. Large cubes of potato. Generous lumps of clam. And all the creamy goodness. Their prices were reasonable. The chowder was $6 and $10 for the wrap. Their portions we’re big enough to split the wrap and soup between two people. Both parties were satisfied.
The menu item that impressed me the most was the cheese plates. From the picture above, you might be feeling a little sticker shock. It does sound like a lot for a plate of cheese, but there’s more to the plate than just that.
This is a $13 dollar board with the Ubriaco Pinot Rose, Morn Dew and Bayley Hazen Blue. As you can see, there are plenty of accompanying morsels to pair with the cheeses you select. The jelly and honey on the board were particular standouts. If only the gift shop carried jars of the house-made jelly. I would buy as many jars as I could carry. This was also shared between two people for a late afternoon snack. The board didn’t let either of us down.
Beer
Being a small batch brewery, that means variety for visitors. The last time I was in, they had around ten or so beers to choose from. Their current menu runs the gambit. Black lagers to Witbiers. Dark Stong ales to Goses. They offer flights of four 5oz pours although those do cost $13, except for Wednesday nights where they are $10. Full pours run $7 a glass.
I started out my visit with Mo-Zacca. It’s a New England IPA. The name is a mashup of the two principal hops, Mosaic and Azacca. As you can see, the beer is a hazy, golden color. For me, citrus was the main component of this beer’s profile. There was some mango mixed in as well on the back end of the taste. Mo-Zacca came off slightly sticky but wasn’t an obnoxious juice bomb like many NE IPA’s. Overall, a delicious, textbook execution of the style.
IPA’s aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.Their Beer Blanc is a refreshing alternative for those who enjoy witbiers. Really, of the beers that I have sampled from Taproot, I haven’t tried a bad beer yet.
Lately, a lot of breweries hitting on the high side of the ABV range. Which, is to be expected when visiting a location like Greater Good that specializes in Imperial offerings. But when you show up to a location and the lowest percent beer is above 8%, it makes the trip difficult. One trademark of Taproot is the reasonable ABVs on all of their beers.
If you find yourself in the Newport area and need to get away from the bustling streets, Taproot can provide that needed escape with food and drink. While it does get busy, the outdoor area and the tasting spaces allow visitors to spread out. Prices are on the high side, but not outrageously so.
Cheers Need Girls!
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