Feature: Crafting at Craft Breweries Across South County

From styling plants to curating charcuterie, pop-up workshops have creatives flocking to breweries

Sip beer while planting tiny trees with Bonsai Bar

Photo courtesy of Bonsai Bar

Bonsai Bar pops up at Smug Brewing in Pawtucket

Photo courtesy of Bonsai Bar

Brewery patrons get step-by-step bonsai instruction

Photo courtesy of Bonsai Bar

DIY charcuterie and brews is a perfect pairing

Photo courtesy of Bellissimo Boards

See what’s in your cards with Arrow Tarot’s pop-up readings

Photo courtesy of Arrow Tarot

Guests of all ages flock to events at Shaidzon Beer Co.

Photo courtesy of Shaidzon

Posted Thursday, August 1, 2024 6:00 am

By Emily Olson

n the alchemy of brewing, creativity is the essential ingredient that distinguishes craft beer from its mass-produced counterparts. From conceiving a concept to formulating a recipe with a distinctive flavor profile, brewers depend not only on their expertise but also on a generous dose of imagination to envision an enticing pint.

But why should brewers have all the fun? Local breweries are sharing the joy of creativity with their patrons by partnering with local workshop instructors to add some innovative events to calendars already stacked with the usual trivia and karaoke nights. The offerings bring a different energy to chill patio spaces, and the cross-promotion helps both the breweries and educators develop larger communities.

The majority of beers trace their roots to hops, so it makes sense to pair plant care with a pint. Tim Arsenault, founder of Bonsai Bar, regularly partners with Rhode Island breweries to teach beginner workshops on bonsai design. His pop-up shop appears at the high-top tables of breweries across the state, including LineSider Brewing in East Greenwich and Whalers Brewing Company in South Kingstown. The breweries provide the space, and Arsenault brings in the folks interested in quaffing a pint while taking in his two-hour workshop. Each attendee is provided with a tree and a planter and learns how to pot the mini-specimen, style it, and care for it later. Arsenault says the marriage of bonsai and brew is a logical one. “We can make a mess because the breweries are used to hosing the floor down,” he jokes.

Arsenault says the magic of bonsai workshops is that people enter it with no preconceived notions about their talent for trimming or lack thereof. “There’s a really cool energy at our workshops because people fall in love with bonsai. There’s something about getting your hands into the soil that brings out a childlike sense of wonder,” he says. “And they end up with a beautiful, living piece of art capable of thriving.”

Arsenault shares that “90 percent of the people who attend the workshops have never been to the brewery before. And we’re also reaching a new audience. When brewery regulars see us setting up the tiny trees, they want to know what the workshop is all about.” This sentiment is echoed by Sara Carroll, owner of Bellissimo Boards, who offers another hands-on pairing: beer and charcuterie. “Many of the people attending my classes are also attending the brewery for the first time,” she says.

But it’s often not the last time, especially since no two classes Carroll teaches are the same. “I use different ingredients or develop themes,” she says, describing the fresh flowers she provided for her students to incorporate into a Mother’s Day charcuterie board class. Although many people think of wine as the best pairing with cheese, there’s something enticing about the way the salty edible elements meld with different brew flavor profiles, a harmony she showcases with popup workshops at spots like Tilted Barn Brewery in Exeter and Apponaug Brewing Company in Warwick.

People who attend Carroll’s classes are given a board, a box of ingredients, and an inspiration handout, but Carroll stresses that her students have total creative freedom in how they present their completed charcuterie board. “Teaching is my passion,” Carroll says, “and this doesn’t feel like a job because I get to taste different cheeses and meats and bring that expertise into my classes.”

But not everyone likes to get their hands dirty – some prefer to spend their time in the intangible spiritual realm, and that’s where a popup like Arrow Tarot comes in. Tarot reader Jamie Chatel offers her services as a fun social activity for brewery clientele. “If people are interested in tarot but are a little intimidated, this is a light, laid-back, and fun way to try it out,” she says. She’s popped up with her deck at breweries and bars around the state, including Whalers.

Chatel also benefits from the cross-promotion of these co-hosted events. “I bring a few of my followers in and people sign up ahead of time from the breweries’ promotion,” she says. Her advice for a first timer? “Just have an open mind.” She also recommends the activity for a perfect date night. “It’s fun, it’s memorable, and it gives you something to talk about for the rest of the night.” She cautions, however, that you might not want to let your partner eavesdrop on your reading.

While some breweries use workshops and events to create an atmosphere, Chip Samson, co-owner and president of Shaidzon Beer Co. takes a different approach. “You can lead your brewery’s culture to an extent,” he says. “But in some ways, your clientele tells you who you are.” When Samson opened the brewery in West Kingston near the University of Rhode Island, he and his co-owners assumed they’d host a college crowd. But instead, an older audience that loves jam bands started to trickle in. “We embraced that, and eventually developed a following,” says Samson, describing how the brewery selects the bands it books.

One popular act Shaidzon regularly hosts is Eddy’s Shoe, a Grateful Dead tribute band that’s been playing together for 30 years. In 1978, the Grateful Dead recorded a song called “Shakedown Street” that appeared on an album of the same name. Deadheads eventually adopted the name to refer to the area outside of concerts where vendors set up to sell their wares. This story inspired Samson to create an imitation Shakedown Street event that takes place before and after Eddy’s Shoe performances, partnering with popup craft market Field of Artisans to develop a popular twice-annual tribute event.

“These events add a different atmosphere to the beer garden, and I’ve heard people say they appreciate the culture we’re creating,” Samson says. “People come in, they enjoy the music, and they’re in a comfortable spot to enjoy some good beer.”