A decade ago, the Rhode Island craft brewing scene was still in its infancy. In the Blackstone Valley, Foolproof Brewing Company was just kicking things off as Pawtucket’s first, while in southern Rhode Island, a few breweries ruled the landscape. Brewers relied primarily on a distribution model to sell their beer, with the legislation allowing direct sale to customers still several years away. Fast forward to 2021, and the industry is surging ahead, with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. According to Gary Richardson, executive director of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild, breweries nationally now number around 9,000. While it’s an uptick from previous years, the growth was slowed somewhat by the pandemic, which saw breweries closing in some locations at a rate of 30 percent.