USA, RI: Providence Brewing Company finally debuts its beers in North Providence

It was three years in the making, but Efren Hidalgo and his team at Providence Brewing Company finally debuted their beers for the public over a three-day grand opening on Memorial Day weekend, the Valley Breeze reported on May 29.

Hidalgo offered a special thanks to the town for the warm welcome.

“We’re excited to be a part of the local small business community,” he said. “For us, beer is not a commodity, it’s about community.”

Beers from Providence Brewing Company gained strong reviews from a number of visitors to the facility on the lower level of 1920 Mineral Spring Ave., just up the road from the town’s police and fire headquarters.

Providence Brewing faced many delays in getting its doors open, but the end result was worth it, according to its owner.

North Providence’s entry into the growing Rhode Island craft brewing scene extends a brewing corridor of sorts down Mineral Spring Avenue to Main Street in Pawtucket, including Foolproof Brewing, Crooked Current Brewery, and The Guild, home of Narragansett Beer, Devil’s Purse, Farmer Willie’s, Great North, Night Shift Brewing, Newburyport Brewing, and Wash Ashore Brew Company.

The Providence Brewing team includes Nate Broomfield, previously of the Bucket Brewery in Pawtucket.

Town officials say they hope to build on the opening of Providence Brewing as they look to attract other breweries and new industries to the town.

Hidalgo’s announcement in 2016 that he planned to open the brewery prompted the Town Council to approve legislation eliminating a blanket prohibition on breweries and distilleries, approving a new subsection of town zoning ordinances allowing such facilities.

The North Providence Breeze reported last week that the owner of 1920 Mineral Spring Ave., Joe Iaciofano, is also looking to bring a Planet Fitness location to the complex, which was previously home to Blast Fitness.

The town has a number of other projects either in construction or planned for the near future, including a TD Bank, a Washington Trust branch, a Cumberland Farms, a Laundromax, and new commercial plazas for lease.

31 May, 2018