CRANSTON, R.I. — On this day in 1890, Narragansett Brewing Company officially opened its doors, kicking off a legacy that would make it the largest lager producer in New England by the early 1900s.
Narragansett Brewing Company was founded in 1890 by a group of German-American entrepreneurs who saw opportunity in Rhode Island’s growing immigrant population and thirst for quality lager. The brewery quickly became a powerhouse, using modern brewing techniques and aggressive regional distribution to expand throughout New England. By the early 1900s, ’Gansett had grown into the largest lager producer in the region, shipping beer to homes, taverns, and ballparks across the Northeast. Even Prohibition couldn’t permanently derail the brand as the company survived the dry years by producing near-beer and soft drinks, then roared back when alcohol was legalized again.
In the mid-20th century, Narragansett became a cultural icon, thanks in part to legendary Red Sox broadcaster Curt Gowdy, who famously signed off games with, “Hi, Neighbor, have a ’Gansett!” The slogan cemented the beer’s image as a friendly, everyday staple of New England life. Although the original brewery eventually closed, the brand was revived in 2005 and proudly returned to its Rhode Island roots in Providence. Today, more than 135 years after it first opened its doors, Narragansett Brewing Company remains one of the state’s most recognizable and beloved homegrown brands.
Revived in 2005 and proudly back home in Providence, ’Gansett remains a Rhode Island original 135 years later.
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