PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- To celebrate its 125th anniversary, Providence, R.I.'s Narragansett Brewery has created a new line of craft beers in honor of a local legend who shares the same birth year (1890): H.P. Lovecraft.
H.P. Lovecraft spent most of his life in Providence as a struggling author, only achieving literary fame posthumously. Commonly referred to as the "Father of Modern Horror," he is often cited as an influence on other notable authors and artists from Stephen King to Metallica to Ridley Scott. Lovecraft is best known for creating Cthulhu, a fictional deity described as being part man, part dragon and part octopus. It is this creature that inspired the Cthulhu Mythos, a cultural mythology and shared fictional universe used by Lovecraft's successors.
"When the brewery was shut down [in the 1970s], the spirit of Narragansett never died; it went underground, to a deep and dark place. Since reclaiming our beer in 2005, we've worked hard to stay true to our roots," said owner Mark Hellendrung. "But after being in that dungeon for so long, we came back with some baggage. Just like the nameless protagonist from 'The Outsider,' we emerged in the light a little different. A little … strange. Think of this brew as our bold, our obscure, our tampered-with mind. It won't be for everyone, and if it isn't for you, you'll know exactly who it is for. This is our Lovecraft."
Brewed in collaboration with Sean Larkin, Head Brewmaster for Narragansett and owner of Revival Brewing, Lovecraft Honey Ale is made with a base of honey malt and finished with a touch of hops, producing a "bold yet sweet" honey-colored ale.
"The spirit of alchemy and mischievous behavior is alive in this brew," the company said on its website. "Backboned by the combination of five pale malts, the beer opens up with a hint of honey sweetness, then turns with a herbal hop crescendo and a smooth finish. The Lovecraft Honey Ale was inspired by the Space Mead consumed by winged Byakhee as protection from 'interstellar space travel' in Lovecraft's 'The Festival'."
Lovecraft Honey Ale is 7% alcohol by volume. It will be available in 16-ounce Tall Boys as well as a very limited run for tap.
Providence-based artist A.J. Paglia designed the label artwork for Lovecraft Honey Ale.
The second beer in the series will be Innsmouth Old Ale, which will be released in April, named for Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth, according to a report by Blastr. Two other beers will follow.
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