(Newport, RI) – On Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 a new beer will be born!

For the past year, the Newport Storm brewers have been experimenting… Taking advantage of their new brewery’s Visitors Center, they have been offering beery experiments to thousands of guests, soliciting feedback. The result is an incredibly unique, begged-for beer – Cyclone Series: Quinn, a rum barrel-aged porter. This 17th beer in their Cyclone Series of Limited Release beers is truly a compilation of all things Newport. She is a Newport brewed beer, aged in local Thomas Tew rum barrels, designed by Aquidneck Island’s thirsty visitors.

Whisky and bourbon barrel-aged beers are growing increasingly commonplace, but due to the rare nature of aged-rum, few rum barrel-aged beers exist. Luckily the Newport Storm brewers share their new home with the folks that make Newport’s own Thomas Tew Single Barrel rum — making this unique beer possible! Dozens of Thomas Tew rum barrels have been filled with rich porter beer since late winter. “Aging” occurs as the temperature in the brewery changes; the pores of the oak barrels expand and contract, soaking up then releasing beer and imparting barrel flavors.

Newport Storm’s Cyclone Series of Limited Release beers has been bringing new ‘storms’ to RI, MA and CT since 2006. Named alphabetically like hurricanes, only 800 cases of each unique ‘cyclone’ are produced, each beer being an assertive, unique recipe, with a higher than average ABV. Once the previous Cyclone has disappeared from the shelves, the next is brewed.

Recognizing that this delicious beer could not have been created without help from the public- the Newport Storm Brewery is thanking them by offering a rare opportunity to see their new bottling line in action. Typically closed on Tuesday so ‘all hands’ can man the bottling line, this Tuesday the brewery doors will be open from 4-7pm so that folks can see their beer, Cyclone Series: Quinn, get all bottled up! Their new bottling line incorporates dozens of technology upgrades (as well as significant manpower). It is impressive to watch it go!

Guests on the 24th will have the opportunity to sample Quinn as well as three other beers and/or three stages of Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum. Standard tour and tasting fees will apply: $7 for beer and $9 for rum. Cyclone Series: Quinn will not hit the shelves till early June. Come check her out on her birthday!

Coastal Extreme Brewing Company is Rhode Island’s Microbrewery, brewing Newport Storm beers since 1999. In spring of 2010 they built a new facility within the Newport city limits on JT Connell Rd. Their Visitors Center is open for tours and tastings from 12pm-5pm on Weekdays and Weekends (except Tuesdays). Newport Storm beers continue to be distributed throughout RI, MA and CT, with their beer lines including the flagship Newport Storm-Hurricane Amber Ale, Newport Storm-Rhode Island Blueberry, the Cyclone Series of limited release beers, the Storm of the Season beers, and the Annual Limited Release Series of bottle-conditioned beers. Their Summer Storm of the Season is available in kegs, cases, twelve-packs and six packs. Hurricane Amber Ale Cans are available in twelve packs in the summer months.

In 2006 they began the Newport Distilling Company, becoming the first distillers in Rhode Island in 135 years. Newport Distilling Company focuses on one signature spirit, Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum, named after the famous Newport pirate. Thomas Tew Rum is an authentic aged pot still rum of the type that would have been made in Newport’s colonial rum heyday. Thomas Tew Rum is currently available for sale only in Rhode Island.