Brewery Trip! Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium has long been one of my favorite breweries and when I heard of their plans to move to a new location in Canton I was filled with mixed emotions. First I was excited to see what the new location would bring and what it would look like. However, I was a little sad. I had been to the original Canton location more times that I can count and it played host to countless memories, even though most of them involved waiting in line. Between new friends and amazing beers this new location had a lot to live up to and let me tell you… it does.

One of the first things you notice pulling up to the new Trillium is how massive the facility is. Between the outdoor patio, restaurant, and bar location it is significantly larger than the previous location. While the restaurant was closed when I visited the menu looked delicious and gave us something to look forwards to. Upon walking in the front doors you see some of the smaller tanks and a large rack of barrels which just fills you with excitement for those future offerings. There is ample room to sit and a few areas with couches for groups as you make your way to the bar. There are dedicated lines for both pours and cans with the can area being self-serve which I have never seen at a brewery. Additionally, you can place an online order for cans and then pick them up at the end of the visit.

I only got one pour while I was there which was ‘Weather Observatory’ and it was fantastic, it was just a quick trip for cans of ‘Plane Over Car Over Train Over Boat’, ‘Middle Aged Genius’, and a smattering of other cans/bottles. The main reason I went was because after being open for nearly a year I still had not made the trip to visit. Now that I have been, I cannot wait to go back.   

New Brew Thursday: 'Middle Aged Genius' from Trillium and Bissel Brothers

I recently made the trip back to one of my favorite breweries in the world, Trillium. Now, while I was able to visit the Fenway location a few months back I had not been to the new Canton location and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint (thanks Freddy Foreshadowing for the next post) as it was beautiful. I made the trip so I could not only visit this amazing brewery but so I could also try the newest collaboration between Trillium and Bissel Brothers, something I look forward to each year and this year with ‘Middle Aged Genius’ it was another smash success.

‘Middle Aged Genius’ pours into the glass a hazy yellow with a small white head. it has notes of sweet tropical fruit that battle each other for nostril supremacy with none able to gain the upper hand that leads to a rich, sweet, and citrusy aroma. The taste is fantastic. While it has been awhile since I have had ‘Baby Genius’ it’s significantly older counterpart amplifies everything I loved about it. ‘Middle Aged Genius’ has a rich mouthfeel that coats the entire palate with a rich, creamy, and citrus flavor with a sliding scale of bitterness that starts at the tip of the tongue and mellows to the middle. Clocking in at a respectable 7% ABV you’ll be able to finish the glass and open a second… or third.

New Brew Thursday: 'Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler' from Pivotal Brewing Company

On my recent visit to Pivotal (check out that blog HERE) I was lucky enough to pick up some cans to go and with Mardi Gras wrapping up I was instantaneously intrigued by ‘Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler’ which is listed as a King Cake Stout. Now for the uninitiated, king cake is a cake served during Mardi Gras. It is typically frosted and is somewhat similar to a pound cake with some spices in it. There is often a baby inside the cake and whoever finds the baby is blessed with good luck the next year, and also has to buy the cake next year. While there was no baby in my beer, it was definitely a sweet treat.

‘Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler’ pours into the glass a jet black with a light brown head. it has rich and sweet notes of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla that blend together in the most perfect way and is akin to taking that first step into the bakery. The taste is fantastic. The initial wave of chocolate give way almost instantly to sweet flavor that coats the entire palate with the perfect hit of spice. Now I am not the biggest fan of spiced beers but it is just subtle enough to warm and then linger on the middle of the tongue. Even though it is listed as a pastry stout on Untappd it has a curiously light mouthfeel and clocking in only at 5.6% ABV it will certainly allow for you to let the good times roll.

IFKYK.

Rhode Trip: Pivotal Brewing Company

(The next part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport. To learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE) 

In the recent years the number of breweries here in Rhode Island has exploded and it seems like every couple of months there is a new brewery opening their doors and offering delicious beer. Our most recent inductee into this beautiful world is Pivotal Brewing Company in Bristol. This place is on the larger side and is much bigger than some of the other Rhode Island Breweries with their space being located in an old industrial space. Their motto is “follow the stack” and as soon as you are within a block of Pivotal you’ll be able to see why it’s so easy to follow.

The brewery itself is a large open room with space for the brewing and a wide-open tap room with funky furniture from all walks of life. Mismatched tables, chairs, and couches dot the room giving an added dose of character and color to the worn brick of the building. There is one long bar in the middle of the taproom with several stools and multiple stations to get a pour.

When I visited this past weekend for an event I only grabbed two pours trying ‘Aero Cow’ a pale ale that was pretty good and ‘Bomb Cyclone’ a DIPA that was absolutely delicious. ‘Bomb Cyclone’ was that perfect balance of juicy and bitter that makes the perfect New England IPA and is a must try when you visit. Additionally, in a prior visit I was able to try ‘Sippican Fruit Salad Witbier with Pomegranate’ which was quite good. However, I must say that their ‘Extra Special Bitter’ was out of this world delicious. While I have started to warm up to the ESB style it is not one of my favorites but this one was sublime and another must try.

While Pivotal Brewing Company is definitely the new kid on the block they are by no means brewing novices and you have got to check them out.

Pivotal Brewing Company is located at 500 Wood St. Bristol, RI 02809. For more information about their offerings and the brewery click  Here

Part one: Long Live Beerworks

Part two: Buttonwoods Brewery

Part three: LineSider Brewing Company

Part four: Taproot Brewing Company

Part five: Community Bruin (CLOSED)

Part six: Shaidzon Beer Company

Part seven: Moniker Brewery

Part eight: Six Pack Brewing

Part nine: Lops Brewing

Part ten: Grey Sail Brewing