The Emerald Isle Brew Works, Ltd.:
1993-1999
This wonderful little brewery was located just around the corner from the old Kent
Brewing Company in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Like the Kent, the Emerald Isle Brew Works was located in an
old stone mill building adjacent to the Pawtuxet River. It had a street address of 1454 Main Street.
The Emerald
Isle was started in 1993 by dentist Ray McConnell and his son, Mike. It produced fine cask-conditioned
ales. The brewery was famous for it's Bank Street Ale, Emerald Isle Ale and Emerald Isle Porter. It also produced
a Holiday Ale and Beaver Tail Ale.
All of these brews required the use of an expensive beer engine, more
commonly known as a handpump, to be dispensed. This method harkened back to the days when beer was kept in
a pub's cool cellar (50-55 degrees fahrenheit) and the publican dispensed his offerings by pumping them
up from the cellar by hand. This method can still be seen in the pubs of England and Ireland.
Unfortunately, it
was the beer engine that eventually led to the demise of the Emerald Isle Brew Works. It was expensive to purchase and install
(they came from England), and only a very few local pubs catered to a clientele savvy enough to enjoy something other
than Lite beer. Eventually, it became impossible to continue running the brewery on such a limited basis.
Despite
the outcries of many (your author included), the Emerald Isle Brew Works closed it's doors in 1999. Many of us have
still not forgiven those responsible for doing this to us.
Our good friends, Ray and Mike, have since
moved to the great state of Maine. Ray and his wife, Marilyn, run a bed and breakfast in Damariscotta. Appropriately
enough, it is called Alewives and Ales. Their website can be located at:
