Winter Craft Brew Now Available Following Wins at Leading Industry Events

By Rick Garner

The Famous Narragansett Beer announces the eagerly anticipated return of its winter craft brew, Narragansett Porter. A brand staple since the early 1900s, Porter has received a number of industry accolades, including a silver medal at the 2012 Great International Beer Competition following a bronze medal win the year prior, and a silver medal at the 2011 World Beer Championships.

Narragansett Porter is brewed under the supervision of award-winning Brewmaster Sean Larkin at Trinity Brew House in Providence, R.I., and High Falls Brewery in Rochester, N.Y., with chinook hops for bitterness, simcoe hops for aroma, black malt, pale malt, chocolate malt, munich malt, crystal malt, roasted barley, and ale yeast. An American-style porter, this winter brew has a deliciously mild chocolate flavor with a hint of smokiness and hops to balance out the finish, making for a robust yet extremely approachable craft experience. Narragansett Porter is 7% Alcohol by Volume and 28 IBUs.

Narragansett Porter dates back to 1916 when it was first brewed, and when Prohibition struck down breweries across America in the 1920s, the Narragansett Brewing Company was one of just six given a patent by the U.S. government to continue brewing beer for medicinal purposes, based largely on the belief that porter had healing properties. Narragansett Porter was prescribed by doctors and distributed throughout New England to patients suffering from a variety of ailments, particularly blood-related illnesses like anemia. After Prohibition was repealed in the early 1930s, Narragansett Porter became a favorite of New Englanders from Fall River, MA, to Falmouth, ME, and was often referred to as “‘Gansett Dark.”

In 2012, Narragansett expanded distribution of their winter craft brew to District of Columbia and Wisconsin, adding to a list of markets added in 2011, including Southern New York, North Carolina, East and Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Florida.

For further information on Narragansett Porter or to find a retailer near you, visit www.narragansettbeer.com/products/porter.

Narragansett Beer Celebrates 122^nd Anniversary with Limited-Edition Imperial IPA

The Famous Narragansett Beer is celebrating its storied 122 years in business with a limited-edition Imperial IPA, offering ‘Gansett fans a bigger-bodied brew and increasing its presence in the craft brewing world.

Released in a 22-ounce bomber bottle, the IPA is a departure from the brand’s signature 16-ounce Tallboy cans, but still chock-full of references to Narragansett’s anniversary. The label is styled after an early Private Stock Ale label used by the company when they began brewing ales in the late 1890s, underscoring ‘Gansett’s heritage as one of the original New England.craft brewers.

The Imperial IPA was crafted with the best of American and German ingredients as a nod to the “original six” German-American founders of Narragansett. Summit hops were used for all the kettle hopping, and a mix of Northern Brewers, Hallertau, Tettanager, and Sazz hops were used for dry hopping, resulting in an IBU of 122 to celebrate 122 years of Narragansett history.

“We have a number of reasons to raise our glass this year,” says CEO Mark Hellendrung. “Each anniversary is a reminder of where the brand has been and where we’re headed. It is an amazing feeling to help revitalize a cultural icon such as Narragansett and to watch it thrive again.”

Narragansett’s 122-year timeline is steeped in rich heritage and history. The beer brand was the first ever to sponsor a national sports team, serving as the title sponsor for the Boston Braves and The Boston Red Sox for several decades. In its glory days, Narragansett was the largest brewer and top-selling beer of New England, producing nearly two million barrels of beer per year at its Cranston, R.I., brewery. A cornerstone of New England culture, the brand gained notoriety among audiences far beyond the region through its ubiquitous slogan: “Hi neighbor, have a ‘Gansett!,” whimsical branding by Dr. Seuss, and timeless product placements, including an appearance in the original release of Jaws.

However, the company experienced some major setbacks as well, including the closing of the Cranston brewery in 1983. Since the brand’s revival in 2005, ‘Gansett has been on a rapid growth trajectory, ranked in 2012 as one of the Top 50 brewers in the country by the Brewers Association. Based on this recent business success, the company is slated to break ground on a new brewery to open in Rhode Island in 2013.   As they say, you can’t keep a great brew down!

Narragansett Imperial IPA is brewed under the supervision of award-winning Brewmaster Sean Larkin at Trinity Brew House in Providence, R.I. Priced between $5.99-6.99, the Narragansett Imperial IPA is available for purchase throughout all of New England, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Narragansett Imperial IPA is 8.6% Alcohol By Volume.

More About Narragansett Beer

Narragansett Beer…Brewed since 1890. ‘Gansett is a straightforward, quality beer that has been a New England tradition for generations, producing a classic family of award-winning American lagers & ales. Today, ‘Gansett is produced at top-rated breweries in Providence, RI, Pawcatuck, CT, Rochester, NY, and Latrobe, PA. Narragansett is available for purchase in local restaurants, bars, and liquor stores throughout New England, Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

 Thirsty for more? Visit: www.narragansettbeer.com.