Narragansett Beer and Wheel Horse Whiskey announced a rare dual release: Narragansett Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter and Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Finished Bourbon Whiskey. Both expressions are born from the same set of barrels and the shared spirit of two Ocean State icons.

This collaboration goes beyond a simple barrel swap. With histories tracing back to the late 1800s – Narragansett Brewing Company, founded in 1890, and Wheel Horse, distilled at Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co. since 1885 – the partnership honors their parallel legacies while bridging beer and whiskey in a true back-and-forth exchange.

“This collaboration came together naturally, celebrating both our shared history and our shared backyard,” Mark Hellendrung, President of Narragansett Beer, said in a news release. “Wheel Horse is an award-winning distiller located just minutes down the road, which meant we could trade barrels while they were still fresh. The result is one of the most layered, complex beers we’ve produced, and pairing it with Wheel Horse’s bold whiskey makes it even better. Whether you’re a beer lover or whiskey fan, we can’t wait for our New England neighbors to get a taste.”

The Narragansett Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter (9.8% ABV) is a dark, velvety lager aged in freshly emptied Wheel Horse Bourbon barrels. Brewed with locally malted barley from Stone Path and layered with roasted malts, it delivers notes of toffee, cold brew coffee, and dark chocolate, rounded with vanilla, oak, and a touch of Bourbon spirit.

Once the porter was removed, the barrels returned to Wheel Horse, where Kentucky Straight Bourbon – already aged four years – was finished for another 4-5 months. 

“We do a lot of cask-finishing at Wheel Horse, but most of it is using spirits or wine casks like Armagnac and port,” Stephen Corrigan, Barrel Master at Wheel Horse Whiskey, said. “This collaboration with Narragansett was the perfect opportunity to craft our first beer-finished whiskey. The style of the beer they chose, Baltic Porter, paired beautifully with our Bourbon, bringing a rich texture and roasted, chocolatey flavor to the profile.”

To mark the releases, Narragansett and Wheel Horse will host a launch party on Thursday, October 2nd from 5-8 PM at the Narragansett Brewery in Providence as part of the ‘First Thursday’ series, giving guests an exclusive chance to taste both releases.

While available, visitors to the brewery can enjoy the Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter on draft or take home 16 oz. 4-packs. The Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Finished Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $39.99) will be available in select retail stores across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and online.

Read more: Wheel Horse Whiskey Releases First Barrel Proof Whiskey

ABOUT NARRAGANSETT BEER

Narragansett Beer has been brewed since 1890. ‘Gansett is a straightforward beer that has been a New England tradition for generations, producing a classic family of award-winning American lagers & ales. Today, ‘Gansett is produced in Providence, R.I., and Rochester, N.Y. and is the 23^rd largest craft brewer in America and the fastest growing in the Northeast. For more information, visit www.NarragansettBeer.com.

ABOUT WHEEL HORSE WHISKEY

Wheel Horse is an independent bottler and blender based in Rhode Island. Wheel Horse whiskeys are distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky, at Green River Distilling, originally founded in 1885. For more information, visit www.wheelhorsewhiskey.com.