Let me tell you, it’s a long drive from Canton, Georgia to Warwick, Rhode Island. I made the trip in two days, really two long days of solid driving. I don’t get back to Rhode Island, the state where I grew up, as much as I should, so when I do, it’s a big deal for me. Of course, people ask me why I don’t fly, but hey, you can’t bring back cases of Narragansett beer and other assorted goodies on a plane.
Anyway, I arrived at my brother’s house late on a Thursday night, just in time to watch the Patriots beat the Steelers to open the 2015 NFL season. We did some shopping the next day and took a ride to Gillette Stadium, but it wasn’t until the next afternoon that I got my first taste of beer at Brutopia Brewery & Kitchen in Cranston. I sampled just about every beer they had, ordering two samplers and two pints while I was there (my brother was driving, that's him in the red Patriots shirt). How refreshing that Brutopia doesn't offer a million shades of IPA only; still I was happy to see they did have a few on the menu. One of the very best was Mercy Brown Imperial Ale, a strong ale or perhaps an imperial brown if you will.
A few things to note about Brutopia. They tout themselves as Rhode Island’s Best BBQ and Craft Beer Spot! The brewer here, Sean Larkin, used to brew for Trinity Brewhouse in Providence, RI, and I would run into him frequently in the 90s when I wrote for the Yankee Brew News. Sean also runs Revival Brewing Company of Providence, Rhode Island, and draft revival beers are brewed at Brutopia. You’ll also (obviously) find them on draft here at Brutopia.
Mercy Brown, of course, is famous in Rhode Island for something she was most certainly not: a vampire. She was suspected of being one though in the waning years of the 19th century when members of her family (including Mercy) were dying of tuberculosis, then known as consumption. There was actually an outbreak of the disease at the time, and New Englanders attributed it to vampirism. The corpses of the Browns were exhumed, and Mercy's was found to be perfectly preserved. This was in stark contract to the other corpses, which were much advanced in decay as was expected. The locals felt sure this was a sign that Mercy was a vampire, and they decapitated her and burned her heart on a rock to end the suspected vampire attacks.
As to Mercy Brown the beer, Revival says this:
To appease the spirit of 16-year-old Mercy Brown, who died of consumption in 1892 and was suspected of becoming a vampire, the Mercy Brown Imperial Ale offers rich warm malt notes to awaken the senses (though perhaps not the dead). Dried plum, toasted malts and dark caramel tones finish with a spicy herbal hop flavor.
Mercy Brown Imperial Ale has an alcohol content of 8% by volume with 30 IBUs. This one was running $7 for a 12-ounce glass, though I tried it in a sampler.
Mercy Brown Imperial Ale was very delicious indeed, and one of my favorite beers here at Brutopia. The beer was big and beautiful with soft nutty malt and dry roasted nuts in the palate, a fiirm cookie maltiness, and especially notable big plummy notes all wrapped up by a warming alcohol finish.
The food was excellent here as well. No visit to Rhode Island could be complete without biting into a hot steaming clamcake, and an order of them here was chock full of big juicy clams. They weren’t really available before 4PM, but the staff prepared them for me anyway. A barbecue sampler tray was as good as anything I’ve found in the south, with tasty pulled pork, brisket, and ribs.
Rest assured, I’ll be back to visit Brutopia again. If you’re in the area, you’d be crazy not to stop by.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft