Rogue Island Local Kitchen and Bar…An Authentic Stand on Local!

Very excited that my first post as the beer blogger is to review beers for Providence’s Craft Beer Week (http://www.providencecraftbeerweek.com). It’s a special time in when Providence restaurants and bars feature local and craft beers. Be sure to plan in advance for this event next year!  Usually they use this time to feature special beers, and give away swag like branded pint glasses. There’s 3-4 events each night, and loads of good options for beer and food.

I got to swing by Rogue Island (http://rogueislandgroup.com) in the Arcade and try out two of Grey Sail’s beers (http://greysailbrewing.com). Feeling adventurous, I asked the bartender what went well with the beers they had on tap. I’ve had some of Grey Sail’s beers before, but only from cans. He recommended something from the appetizer/small plates section, specifically things that had some spice to them since both beers on tap were pretty hoppy. I chose the Portuguese seafood stew with local shellfish. It was great–a little smoky and sweet, and I added extra red pepper flakes to give it more kick.

First beer: Captain’s Daughter, double IPA, 7.8% ABV. I have to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of IPAs, and this beer was a lot to handle. It had an intense, hoppy flavor that meant I could only take small sips (maybe that’s good when you start out at 7.8% ABV). It would have been great as a finishing beer, after I had some food in me. I increased the spiciness of my dish to help balance the strong flavor from the Captain’s Daughter. If you like strong IPAs, definitely check this one out.

Second beer: Great Katch, IPL, 8.9% ABV. This beer is also sometimes labelled as their 3rd Anniversary Imperial IPL. “IPL” stands for Indian Pale Lager. This beer went much better with the dish I chose. It was a little bit malty, and didn’t overwhelm the dish I was eating. While still a very strong beer, this would be great for sitting out on a chilly autumn night by a fire. Or get some Indian food take-out, add Netflix and chill.

Rogue Island in general is a great place to grab a pint. They have numerous great local and craft beer options, an interesting seasonal menu, and a laid back atmosphere.Many bars in downtown Providence focus just on cocktails (which I also love) and only offer 2-3 beers options that don’t rotate enough. Rogue Island has ten taps and every choice is great.   They also offer an “approachable farm to table cuisine” which is stellar!

-Melinda Rainsberger  Beer Blogger!