Narragansett Beer Acquires New Brewery Location in Providence

GoLocalProv Business Team

Narragansett Beer Acquires New Brewery Location in Providence

PHOTO: Rendering courtesy of Narragansett Beer
Narragansett Beer has acquired a new brewery location in Providence along the India Point Park waterfront. 

"We could not be more excited about bringing brewing operations back to Rhode Island in such a perfect location. Since 1890, Narragansett has been Rhode Island’s beer. To have a brewery right at the top of Narragansett Bay, that’s easy to get to in Providence, and is connected to the picturesque India Point Park and the East Bay bike path is really a dream come true," said Narragansett Beer president Mark Hellendrung. 

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As GoLocalProv reported back in May, the location 271 Tockwotten Street & 230 India Street was controlled by Brown and was used by the University for storage.

It is assessed by the City of Providence for $1,067,800. The property was been being advertised for sale at $1,695,000.

The brewery is set to begin operation in the spring of 2020. 

According to the press release, Narraganset will continue to produce beer at The Guild in Pawtucket after the opening of the India Point facility.

"Narragansett will have options across a network of right-sized breweries for the different beers we make depending on the amount needed,” added Hellendrung.

The New Location 

The 18,000 square foot space will an outdoor beer garden and an indoor taproom. 

The taproom will open in the fall where consumers can experience a variety of beers, as well as, the history of Narragansett Beer. 

Narragansett's full list of beers will be available inluding its Fresh Catch Golden Ale, and seasonal beers such as Fest Marzen Lager, as well as, Del's Lemon and Watermelon Shandy. 

According to Hellendrung, the new brewery will produce about 2,500 barrels of small-batch craft beers in a year. 

The building will also have a special event space. 

History

The company, which claims the legacy of the original 1888-founded company, writes on its website, “It all started with John H. Fehlberg, Augustus F. Borchandt, Herman G. Possner, George M. Gerhard, Constand A. Moeller, and Jacob Wirth. In 1888, these local businessmen—”The Original Six”—came together to form the Narragansett Brewing Company. With $150,000 in capital and funds from Butterine (Fehlberg’s predecessor to margarine), a brick brewing house was built. In December of 1890, the first beer was produced, and the following year the company officially incorporated.”

The company was sold a number of times over the years and went shuttered in the 1970s.

The company was resurrected — “In early 2005, lifelong Rhode Islander Mark Hellendrung, along with a group of New England investors, purchased the rights to Narragansett Beer from Falstaff. Former Brewmaster from ‘Gansett’s glory days, Bill Anderson was brought on board to ensure the authenticity of the brew. That October, for the first time in a quarter-century, Narragansett Beer was back in bottles and on bar taps."

One of the investors in the company is Governor Gina Raimondo. She led the investment by Point Judith Capital when she was an active partner in the company. 


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