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astes like freedom T

By RORY SCHULER

Leah Schroeder bent the Moniker tap handle, pouring a cloudy golden Gaspee draft into a pint glass. Just outside the barroom window, 251 years ago, a British ship burned, helping to spark the American Revolution.

“I think it’s so cool that they brewed these Gaspee beers,” Shroeder said while tending bar at O’Rourke’s Bar and Grill in Historic Pawtuxet Village. The annual commemorative Gaspee burning takes place just outside the waterfront pub. “And we get to serve the Gaspee beer right near its namesake.”

O’Rourke’s Bar and Grill, at 23 Peck Lane, has Moniker’s wheat ale on-tap in these last few weeks leading up to the Gaspee Days celebration.

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BREWING REVOLUTION: For the 250th anniversary of the Gaspee Burning, The linesider Brewing Co. launched “Sestercentennial,” and the moniker Brewery introduced a brew called “First Blow for Freedom.” Behind the beers in this photo, taken in Historic pawtuxet Village, a British vessel was burned 250 years ago, an early act of defiance preceding the official start of the American Revolution and four years before the signing of the declaration of Independence. The breweries will be releasing their beers again, for the 251st celebration in warwick. (Beacon Communications FILE

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“As part of last year’s 250th anniversary observance of the Gaspee Affair, a set number of specialty breweries were approached about producing a limited edition of unique craft beers for the festivities,” said Gaspee Days Committee member Paul Lotito. “For this year’s events, the Gaspee Committee has once again reached out to these four breweries, asking if they would like to recreate their limited issue, specialty craft beers.”

The other breweries were set to deliver cases of this year’s stock to Lotito on Friday evening.

Those breweries — Moniker Brewery of 432 West Fountain St., Providence, Apponaug Brewing Company, located in the Pontiac Mill, 334 Knight St., Warwick, The Linesider Brewing Co., 1485 South County Trail, East Greenwich, and Pivotal Brewing Company, 500 Wood St Building 111, Bristol — all agreed to brew another round for freedom.

The brews all have Gaspee-themed names: Apponaug’s “Hannah's Revenge,” Linesider’s “Sestercentennial,” Pivotal’s “Burn Gaspee Burn Lager” and Moniker’s “First Blow for Freedom.”

“They are excellent,” Parade Marshal and President of the Pawtuxet Rangers Ron Barnes, a Johnston resident said last year. “They are not made with Narragansett Bay water, (fortunately) but they were very good.”

“With all in agreement, fans of these brews will have the opportunity to enjoy them at the following locations,” Lotito said, listing Cork and Brew and Spirits in Pawtuxet Village, Edgewood Liquors on Broad Street, I.M. Gan Liquors on Warwick Avenue, Fellini Pizzeria in Pawtuxet Village, PTX Lounge in Pawtuxet Village, the Pawtuxet Rangers museum night and the Block Party in Pawtuxet Park.

“These limited edition craft beers will only be available through the months of May and June, or until supplies are exhausted,” Lotito warned collectors, history buffs and brew aficionados.

“Our Gaspee Brew, ‘First Blow for Freedom,’ is an American Wheat Ale,” said Bryan Benedict, Moniker Brewery Owner and Co-founder. “LIght, crisp, and easy drinking. We are proud to be involved with Gaspee days and helping educate Rhode Islanders and the rest of the country on Rhode Island's very deep, important and interesting history.”

History’s never tasted so good.

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