Would You Like Some Pineapple in Your Beer?

If you think chipotle – otherwise known as smoked dried jalepeño peppers - is just for Mexican food, think again. Along with hazelnut, coffee and pineapple it’s one of many unusual flavors being introduced into craft beers these days, says Bob O’Dell, co-owner of . O’Dell says the trend toward infused beer and unusual flavors is proof “of how creative people are getting in this economy.”

O’Dell and Seekonk High School buddy Jay O’Connell opened Vintage Fine Wine & Beer last November. As the name suggests, the store carries a handpicked selection of fine wine and beer, including over 350 craft beers. For folks who prefer more standard fare, they also Budweiser beer, Yellowtail wine and other popular items.

Vintage Fine Wine & Beer has several rooms, each with a different focus. The main room houses a selection of popular wine and beer for customers who want to grab and go. Another room, complete with rock music, is dedicated entirely to craft beers. There, customers can contempt an eclectic selection of brews and partake in themed beer tastings every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 4-8 p.m. Upstairs, amidst the soothing sounds of classical music, one can peruse a finer wine selection as well as try some vintages in the tasting room. There’s also an event room used for cooking demos, beer and wine classes, and other special occasions.

“People can be quite surprised by what they find themselves liking,” says O’Dell.

O’Dell says Meritage wine, a blend of Bordeaux varietal grapes, is popular these days, while Orris has seen a big increase in Belgian-style beer. 

“Belgian-style isn’t necessarily from Belgium,” says Orris. “You have places in Canada and America that brew Belgian style.”

In order to reach out to the community and potential customers O’Dell says they’ve been doing “guerrilla marketing” by visiting other local businesses and offering to cross-market with them on websites and Facebook pages. They are also in the process of developing a separate online gift shop to tap into local wedding and event-based business.

“My favorite part of being here is the vibe. It’s great at night when you’re here and there’s ten people looking around. It’s like a bookstore,” he says. “People are extremely interested and engaged with what we’re doing.”