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FALL RIVER — For an hour, guests sat criss-cross-applesauce in a ring of blankets on the floor, silent, listening to soothing sounds and their own breathing.
Canned Heat Craft Beer on Ferry Street took the idea of chilling out at the local bar to another level on Sunday with an event that led guests through guided meditation set to a gong and the hum of singing bowls. Afterward, they enjoyed some light nibbles and partook in some of Canned Heat’s signature brews.
“They paid to literally come here and almost fall asleep,” said owner Karl Pelletier. “It was very cool.”
It’s not your typical day at the bar, but Pelletier and the team at Canned Heat have been expanding what the idea of a bar can be. The brewery on Fall River’s waterfront has been holding unique events that attract a different kind of crowd.
“In the city right now, we really don’t have bars that are not just ‘bars,’” Pelletier said. “The space here is beautiful. We’re lucky we have such an open space capable of doing so many things. We’re right near downtown Fall River and it makes sense.”
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From pasta-making to caricatures to Bonsai trees, unique events at Canned Heat
Canned Heat has been brewing its small-batch beer in Fall River since 2018. For about the last year, Canned Heat has been driving business to the city’s waterfront with special events at its taproom that cater to a modern clientele that wants more out of a bar than a pool table and a dartboard.
Recently, Canned Heat held its second pasta-making event. Both have sold out. It marked Valentine’s Day with chocolate-covered strawberries and a caricature artist.
“We do the Bonsai Bar, which is really cool. The guests come and plant a bonsai tree, learn a lot about planting — different types of small, miniature growth plants,” Pelletier said. “We just did our first comedy class about a week ago. We had 12 comedians compete for $750. It was three hours of straight comedy — 12 comedians, seven-minute acts.”
They’ve held pumpkin-carving events, hosted seasonal beer festivals, even decorated cookies with Mrs. Claus, with events for all ages. That’s on top of the more typical events like concerts, which Canned Heat also hosts regularly.
Canned Heat is part of a network of restaurants along the waterfront including the Tipsy Toboggan and Pier 52. Canned Heat’s space is designed to encourage relaxation — aside from the bar and tables, the taproom features a central space with couches and chairs like a living room.
“We have the restaurants all around us, and sometimes it’s tough to interrupt people dining,” Pelletier said. “So this gives us the opportunity to maybe grab a bite, grab some great beer, but also do some fun things. … It’s a little more casual.”
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What’s next for Canned Heat: beer festivals and a spinning fundraiser
Pelletier said Canned Heat’s leadership team meets biweekly to brainstorm and plot its next moves.
“We have a good team around us that’s pretty funky and creative and likes to come up with fun ideas,” Pelletier said.
Coming up, he said, they’re planning a karaoke tournament and a spring and summer beer festival that will be themed around blues music.
They’re also thinking of holding a beer-making workshop that would involve Canned Heat’s brewmasters – something that mixes fun with outreach and education.
“They’re eager to have conversations with people about the beer-making process, which is something we haven’t done a lot,” Pelletier said. “The end result is what everyone is drinking.”
In the near future, they’ve partnered up with YMCA Southcoast for an event that’ll raise money and burn some calories: a Spinathon stationary cycling fundraiser.
“They’re bringing in all their spin bikes on March 16, the day before St. Patrick’s Day,” Pelletier said.
That event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on March 16. It’s $10 to participate, and cyclists can raise funds for the Y or sponsor a rider. Those who register by March 1 get a Spinathon T-shirt. More information is at ymcasc.org.
“We’re a family of restaurants that want fun space to do fun things,” Pelletier said. “Our other buildings are restaurants, and they don’t have the space to lay all over the floor and meditate and have a comedy show. It makes for a fun venue to let loose.”
Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.
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