Beavertail oyster illustration
US East Coast Researched

Beavertail

Crassostrea virginica

Large, deeply cupped oyster from Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay with a distinctive beaver tail shape. Bold and briny with buttery sweetness, grown in deep suspended trays that capture pure ocean flavor.

Brininess
Size Large
Shell deep cupped

Flavor Profile

Brininess 4/5
Sweetness 3/5
Minerality 3/5
Creaminess 4/5

Primary Flavors

Secondary Notes

Finish

Bold, buttery, and clean

Expert Notes

Beavertail oysters are aptly named for their distinctive broad, flat shape resembling a beaver's tail. Grown in suspended trays 20-40 feet below the surface in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, these oysters capture the true taste of open ocean water that pushes into Rhode Island's glacially-cut passages. Their large, deeply cupped shells house plump, pleasantly chewy meat with a bold briny flavor balanced by buttery sweetness and hints of seaweed, finishing clean and satisfying.

Origin & Characteristics

Species
Crassostrea virginica
Native to
USA
Grown in
East Passage, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
Size
Large (3.5-4 inches)
Shell Color
Light-colored, khaki-white
Meat Color
Cream to light gray

Perfect Pairings

Best Seasons: Year-round

What Experts Say

Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:

Unique notes: fresh sea, easy finish

"The flavor profile is clean and briny with slight hints of seaweed and they sit in a large well-cupped body. They're delicious."

cleanbrinyseaweed

"They have an elaborate briny flavor with hints of sweetness."

brinysweet

"Held in suspended trays as deep as 20-40ft below the surface, Beavertail Oysters are grown from planted seed at Salt Water Farms in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island."

"Contained in a 2-inch light-colored shell, this oyster tasted like the fresh sea. There's a good amount of saltiness in that small body. It's briny, but it finishes lightly and leaves a clean feeling."

saltybrinyclean

"A large, cupped oyster defined by its characteristic 'beaver tail' shape. Grown in the deep, cold waters of the East Pass of Narragansett Bay."

"Slightly briny and medium plumpness. Good. Slightly briny, plump, easy finish. A bit bigger oyster than others I have had so far this year in RI. Delicious oyster but found it to not be as briny as led to believe."

brinyplump

"Beavertails are very clean and deeply cupped."

clean

"Beavertail Oysters are grown from planted seed at Saltwater Farms' in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. They are harvested from deep, cold waters."

About the Farm

Salt Water Farms

Salt Water Farms is a carefully sited shellfish farm producing a sustainable crop in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

Cultivation Method
suspended culture

History & Background

Beavertail oysters are named for their distinctive shell shape that resembles a beaver's tail. They are cultivated in the deep waters of the East Passage of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.

These oysters are best farmed around 3½ to 4 inches in size and are popular in raw bars throughout the Northeast.

Did You Know?

  • Held in suspended trays as deep as 20-40 feet below the surface
  • Named after their distinctive beaver tail-shaped shell

Sources & References

This information was compiled from 8 sources.

  1. THE OYSTER REPORT — Paul Evans NY
  2. Shellfish — Gadaleto Seafood
  3. shellfish oysters clams mussels — Tony & Sons' Seafood
  4. Oyster Tasting Log - Peek & Eat — Peek & Eat
  5. Beaver Tail Oyster — Oysterater
  6. What Type of Oyster Eater Are You? — PA Eats
  7. Superior Foods Oysters — Superior Foods
  8. OysterFinder — The Oyster Guide