The 2019 Bacon & Beer Fest took place at Cranston Print Works on June 16. The sold-out event featured food from 27 local restaurants, each offering its favorite bacon dish to pair with a beer from the 27 breweries in attendance. Local restaurants included The East End, El Rancho Grande, Nicks on Broadway, The Salted Slate and The Dorrance, while local, regional and national participating breweries included Whalers Brewing Company, Stone Brewing Co., Revival Brewing Co., Foolproof Brewing Company, Narragansett Brewing Co., Two Roads Brewing Company and Beer’d Brewing Co., among many others. Guests voted on their favorite bacon and beer pairing for the “People’s Choice” award, which went to The Great Northern BBQ Company and Long Live Beerworks. A panel of judges also rated the day’s pairings, with the first-place award going to The Great Northern BBQ Company and Long Live Beerworks and second place awarded to The Dorrance and Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. The “Big Porker” Award went to the duo of El Rancho Grande and Stone Brewing Co.
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- Local restaurants and breweries teamed up to pair beer and bacon at the third annual Bacon & Beer Fest in Cranston on June 16.
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- Bacon & Beer Fest Organizers Jim Nellis, Founder, RI Food Fights; Mike Iannazzi, Owner, Nikki’s Liquor; and Brian Oakley, Julian’s Restaurant & Catering/Pizza J.
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- Chris Charest, Stone Brewing Co. with Joaquin Meza, Julissa Requeña and Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande.
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- Mark Tallman and Scott Kirmil of Diego’s with Matt Gray, Brewer/Co-owner, Ragged Island Brewing Co.
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- Tom Mackley, Nicks on Broadway; Mandy Holt, Narragansett Beer; Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway; and B.J. Mansuetti, Narragansett Beer.
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- Ben Pratt and Jess Pratt of Grey Sail Brewing with the team from The Surf Club.
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- Owen Doyle, Gastro’s and Daniel Johnson, 14th Star Brewing Co.
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- Kody Herbert and Chris Martin, Dogfish Head with Sara Reilly and Brendan Reilly, Mews Tavern.
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- The teams from Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. and The Dorrance.
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- Steve Lucier and Casey Shea, Boru Noodle Bar with Steve Sharp and Jay Catley, Foolproof Brewing Company.
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- Sean Burnham and Jason Timothy “J.T.” of Troop and Kelia Bergin, Wormtown Brewery.
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- Steve Riquier and Casey Roberts of The Salted Slate with Bryan Benedict and Precious Putnam of Beer’d Brewing.
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- Cassidy Bowers, Brand Ambassador, Clown Shoes Beer and the team from the Galactic Theater headed by Owner Dave Podsnap.
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- Joe Gold, Sales Manager, Heavy Seas; John Wilson, RI Field Sales Representative, Heavy Seas; Chris Disbrow, Hungry Goat; and Alan Klemanchuck, Owner, Hungry Goat owner.
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- Team members of Whalers of Rhode Island and The East End.
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- Bacon & Beer Fest tasting glasses.
Photos by Laura Widness.
