Experience: Crushable IPAs and Smooth Stouts at Tower Hill Brewing Co.

The idea of day drinking on an early Friday afternoon had a scandalously giddy effect as my partner and I arrived at Tower Hill Brewing Company in South Kingstown. The inside of the newly renovated building was welcoming and breezy, with its large, open-concept space, tall ceilings, and natural light flooding in from a giant picture window. For decor, old beer barrels serve as side tables for a game of giant Jenga and the distressed wooden high tops and picnic bench-style tables create a homey, lived-in feeling; there’s plenty of TVs for sports fans, too.

We settled in at a high top with Christy Simons, general manager, and co-owner Brian Hubert to discuss the business, which opened in early spring. What began as an anecdotal “what if we open a brewery?” between four friends 20 years ago was spurred along by Ivan Nazario’s decision to start making beer. Along with Hubert, Bob Golden, and Bob Meyer, Nazario finally made the leap from dream job to reality two years ago when they bought the former Spa Mosaic building in South County Commons after the building was hit by a truck, caught fire, and was left vacant during the pandemic. Now renovated, it’s a gathering space for the community, from the thousands of URI students down the road to the annual influx of summer residents and tourists.

While the brewery is not legally allowed to sell food, there are plenty of take-out options available nearby, from Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana to Pokemoto, with choices that pair well with any of the drinks. “We try to have a little something for everyone, from light to dark, porter, stouts, even an upcoming seltzer!” says Simons. “IPAs are a big thing,” Hubert adds, so there will always be at least one on the menu, and all of the IPA choices are unique, from New England hazy beers to reds and imperials.

Everything is brewed in-house, and we were invited behind the bar to see where the magic happens. “We brew once a week,” Hubert says, but the big, silver tanks are constantly in action – from heating the grain to fermenting into alcohol to adding carbon dioxide for carbonation. There are nine beers currently on tap, with new options being tested and created for the summer. On the horizon, the team looks forward to adding canning to their operation for distribution.

We ordered two flights at the bar to get a sampling of what Tower Hill is brewing up. Starting with rich, frothy, dark beers, first up was Sunset Tourist, a red ale with notes of toffee and caramel. The first word that came to mind was “silky” to describe this smooth, drinkable choice. It’s not to be confused with Red Sunset, a red IPA that is very hoppy, with a sour, citrusy tang and a nutty finish – truly an IPA-lover’s brew. Knight Out, an English porter, was highly recommended by bartender Loren Dequattro. It brings a rich depth of flavor, super smooth finish, and tastes deliciously like a boozy chocolate-covered espresso bean. We agreed that Pour la Maceta, an Imperial IPA, would fall into the category “could easily mess you up” – in a good way!

On the lighter end of the spectrum, the Hoppy Blonde would be an elevated substitute for a Bud Light – very light, a little bitter, with lots of hops. We could taste a strong wheat flavor at the first sip of Easy Rider, but this brew becomes more complex with its subtle floral notes and delightful full-bodied tangerine twist. Rise and Shine was pale, hazy, and pleasantly floral with lingering aromatics, and Simple City gave the former some competition for favorite New England IPA with its strong pineapple scent and tropical, sunny flavor.

Our favorites were Knight Out and Easy Rider. The porter was the perfect end-of-night dessert beer, good for sipping while enjoying relaxed vibes. The wheat beer felt like the life of a party, a crushable brew to enjoy during a fun night out with friends. No matter the vibe or the occasion, Tower Hill is quickly becoming a must-visit hang-out spot in South Kingstown.

Tower Hill Brewing Co.

25 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown

401-227-8277 • TowerHillBrewing.com