This review first appeared in Yankee Brew News.
Woonsocket gets a bad rap, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the city, and that feeling only increases every time I visit Lops Brewing, a comfort-first community hub that caters to both Woonsocket residents and the surrounding communities.
What does comfort-first mean? When Sean Lopolito opened Lops in July 2019, his primary goal was to create a comfortable atmosphere, a place like an “old-fashioned, European pub where neighbors can trade gossip and chat with the owner behind the bar.“
Mission accomplished, given how 95% of every person who walks through the door is greeted by name and multiple hellos. The décor adds to the cozy, hometown feeling. But how’s the beer?
On this particular visit, even though I’m not a fan of the style, I was pleasantly surprised by Jagged Little Dill Gose (4.5% ABV), which was far more subtle and layered than the pickle bomb I expected. The Flock Together Pale Ale (6.3%) was also a standout: dry hopped with Callista hops for a unique honey, berry, and passion fruit aroma, it was the spotlight beer for the first inaugural RI Pride Beer Trail, the organization of which Lops General Manager Dylan Facincani spearheaded. First of its kind in the country, per my research? Very well could be.
But the pour I keep coming back to is the Friar Bock, a dark German lager at 6.2% via Lukr tap. It’s this beer and others that has solidified my belief that Lops is deeply underrated when it comes to lagers.
Lops Brewing, Woonsocket, RI
122 N Main St Unit 1A, Woonsocket, Rhode Island