The Year in Beer

Name: Narragansett Lager

Brewer: Narragansett Brewing Co., Providence, R.I.

By the numbers: About 150 calories per 12 oz.; 5 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: I don’t usually drink beer out of cans and I don’t usually choose American-style lagers, but this was a gift so I decided to give it a try. Upon doing a little research, I find that the brand has a pretty good story, at least in New England. According to their website, this was the best-selling beer in New England starting at the end of Prohibition until the 1970s. It was also the official beer of the Boston Red Sox from 1944 to 1975. AND, as you can see on the can, it’s the official beer of the clam. There’s even a recipe for a clam bake on the can. The brewery closed in 1981 during the terrible macro-brew takeover of America, but it was re-established in 2006. Anyway, it’s not a bad beer for the style. It pours the typical straw color with a bright white head. It has more body than typical and a sweet flavor, likely from the corn in the malt. Lightly bitter, but no real hops.

Try it with: A cruise to New England and Canada. I didn’t go on the cruise, but my parents did… and all I got was a can of beer. But really, that’s a pretty good souvenir, isn’t it? My mom chose this beer because she didn’t want to pack a bottle in her suitcase and because she wanted to get something that you could only get in New England. Mission accomplished.

    — Posted by Mike Freimann