The Wall Street Journal (paid sub. req.) is reporting on the remarkable reversal of fortunes for Narragansett Brewing Company.
Mark Hellendrung bought the rights to the brand from Pabst Brewing in 2005. Since then he’s been on the road, meeting face-to-face with 60 to 70 bar owners and hundreds of beer drinkers throughout New England each week. It appears to be working, as Narragansett was bringing in about $100,000 in annual revenue when he took over. Last year, it posted $3 million in revenue, and is expected to exceed $5 million this year.
Vincent Hemmeter, who owns Vincent’s bar and Ralph’s Diner in Worcester, Mass., says the beer appeals to the same 20-something clientele who once drank Pabst Blue Ribbon at his bar. “It’s anti-cool, so it’s cool,” he says.
