Narragansett Lager Beer

Actually, the Narraganestt brand was recently purchased by a group of Rhode Islanders led by the former president of Nantucket Nectars from Pabst after 2 years of negotiations. It’s currently brewed (I believe by Miller) in Wisconsin, however, plans are in the works to start making it in Rochester, NY. The brand is currently available at 250 locations including bars, restaurants, and retail outlets (mostly in New England). The official re-launch of the Narragansett brand is set for October 2005. There currently is only one version available, Naragansett Beer in 16oz "King Size" six-packs (or 16oz singles at Bars). The "Bock," "Ale," and "Porter" varieties havn’t been produced in many, many years. Anyone with a memory from Rhode Island will tell you that Narragansett was New England’s most popular brew in the 50’s and 60’s and was run into the ground by Falstaff and then Later S&P/General Brewing. The new company hopes to eventually open a small brewery in the Providence area. The beer available now is not as good as the original due to the inferior water quality at the current plant in Wisconsin (the Scituate Reservoir, the water source for the Original Narragansett Brewing company that was located in Cranston, RI, provides some of the best water in the country.) prevents the present product from achieving it’s classic taste. Hopefully once the new facility is up and running, product quality will improve. However, for now, it’s still quite satisfying, even more so in a nostalgic sense. I’m gonna have to give it props cause of my vo’diun roots.

12oz brown bottle from Tiger Town in Gardiner. Dirty yellow (not quite gold) translucent body with a half inch of off-white head that quickly dissipates. Smells malty with hints of hops and adjuncts. Tastes sweet with just a hint of hop bite toward the finish, with adjuncts playing a bit of a role too. Very clean finish. Definitely the most flavorful American Macro/Pale Lager I’ve had. Lighter in mouthfeel but not watery or thin by any means. Extremely drinkable. I’m actually impressed with this one. And the combination of drinkability, good flavor, and price make this one a beer I’ll be buying regularly.

Narragansett Lager pours to a beautiful, bright, deep golden color with a tall, thick, white head that stays, and a lively carbonation. The nose on this beer is crisp, with some good pilsner malt aroma and just a hint of grassy hop aroma. The palate is round and clean with good, crisp, pilsner malt flavor. Narragansett Lager finishes with more good pale malt flavor up front, then ends with just enough grassy hop bitterness to balance this beer out. I was worried that I was not going to be impressed with this one. I was worried that waxing nostalgic, and Rhode Island pride, would cloud my judgment. I’m happy to say, that is not the case. Narragansett Lager is a very good, golden lager, just like it was a very good golden lager back in its hey day. My father visiting from RI, brought me a case of long neck bottles($5 a six pack) which sport the 50’-60’s old school Narragansett label on them. We enjoyed many a bottle, and waxed nostalgic about the brewery, and my father hoping the GIQ (Giant Imperial Quart) would make its return some day. I would have no problem drinking this beer again, and only wish my dad had brought me two cases! Narragansett Lager isn’t going to make beer geeks sit up and spin, but this beer very much is a tasty, golden lager along the lines of Straub, or Yuengling’s Lord Chesterfield. It has good pilsner malt flavor, just enough light hop bitterness, is smooth, clean, and very, very drinkable. A good drinking beer, perfect with a ball game, friends, or some burgers and dogs. This is the Narragansett of my past, this will be the Narragansett of my future

A very clean taste for something with so much flavour. A prototypical lager. Not too heavy. A great, somewhat rusty colour. From the bottle is recommended.

You have to be open-minded about this brew. It is far different now that the original recipie has been brought back. It is totally a New England tradition, and one that I never got to experience before the Old brewery shut down. Lately, this has become my "session" brew, for the picnic or the boat. It’s darker than your Bud or Coors, and well worth the $5.25 average six pack price. This one is admirable in its own class. (Not that this class will ever compete with a fine Belgian or English ale, etc.)