On Tap : Crafted Hope
A new East Greenwich brewery brings fresh promise to the former Linesider space . By Lauren Clem
K
YLE TOSTE HAS WANTED to open a brewery for years , but the opportunity arose sooner than he expected . The Coventry resident had been working for Linesider Brewing Company for about five years as an assistant brewer and marketing coordinator when the owners approached him last December about selling the brewery .
Toste is now co-owner , along with his sister , Kerri Allard , and two silent partners , of the newly opened Crafted Hope Brewing Company located in the former Linesider space on South County Trail in East Greenwich .
Toste and Allard purchased the brewing equipment from Linesider ’ s former owners , who closed the brewery in July 2024 after
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FROM LEFT : Josh and Kerri Allard and Kyle Toste in the new Crafted Hope Brewing Company while it was still under construction .
a six-year run . Since then , they ’ ve reconfigured the space to allow more seats and event space .
“ It ’ s a great spot , it ’ s just not utilized to its full potential ,” Toste says .
Allard and her husband , Josh , moved to Rhode Island from South Carolina to help manage the business . Josh , who has been home brewing for seven years , serves as head brewer . The business opened in November with fourteen beers on draft , including a New England IPA , dunkel-style lager , helles lager , berry sour , Irish red , honey mango Kölsch and Snickers porter . The team describes their brewing style as “ traditional with a twist .”
“ With so many breweries in the state , it ’ s the name of the game ,” Toste says . “ You ’ ve got to differentiate yourself .”
River Bar in Westerly made Esquire ’ s Best New Restaurants in America list . The list is on esquire . com and in the winter issue . ĆEvery Friday and Saturday evening from 6 – 10 p . m ., Ellie ’ s in Providence transforms into a Parisian-inspired nighttime wine bar . Guests can enjoy an intimate atmosphere with curated wines , small plates and live music from local musicians . Ć Support agricultural life and the local economy at the Aquidneck Growers Market , every Saturday from 9 a . m .– noon at Stoneacre Garden at 151 Swinburne Row in Newport , now through April 26 . To sign up for the Dish newsletter , go to page 16 and scan the QR code . — J . C .
EDITED BY JAMIE COELHO
‘ Woke Up in a Bar ’
The Rhode Island-based podcast focuses on the local restaurant and bar industry .
COMMUTERS STUCK in a car for nearly an hour each way ( thanks Washington Bridge ) might actually look forward to the ride thanks to the podcast Woke Up in a Bar .
The locally produced podcast , focused on Rhode Island ’ s restaurant and bar industry , is recorded inside Lucky Enough bar on the West End of Providence . Yea , police sirens , ambulances and fire trucks might be part of the soundtrack ( don ’ t pull over , it ’ s just the background noise ), but hosts — and bartenders — Vito Lantz and Priscilla Benkhart interview some of the most well-known , beloved and notorious bartenders in the area , such as John Richard of the Avery , Joaquin Meza of Dolores and Amanda Fullam of Gilligan ’ s Pub .
The premise is to find out what led their subjects to tending bar . Many mixologists had another passion but got sidelined , or are moonlighting until they get their big break . From the more expected musicians , actors and artists , to the “ say-what ?” tales of a former Playgirl model , professional baseball umpire and a Highland Games competitor , find out what led these characters to get behind the stick . podcasters . spotify . com / pod / show / wokeupinabar — J . C .
Podcast hosts Priscilla Benkhart and Vito Lantz with Chris Annunziato .
PHOTOGRAPHY ( CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE PAGE , TOP ) COURTESY OF TROOP ; LAUREN CLEM ; COURTESY OF VITO LANTZ ; JAMIE COELHO .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I FEBRUARY 2025 97