The East End’s Jackworth Ginger Beer puts Pittsburgh on the map with a Pennsylvania first

Did you know that Pittsburgh is home to Pennsylvania's first ginger beer brewery?

It's called Jackworth Ginger Beer, and only a few such establishments exist in the country. Co-owners Jackworth Smith and Tyler Lewis are thrilled to be a part of this unique beverage’s revival, and they’re not taking their role lightly as the first in the state. At their brewery, they also make non-alcoholic ginger beer to offer guests, since it feels important that there’s something for everyone to enjoy inside their welcoming space.

Joining A Craft Beverage Corridor

The pair of friends (since college) say it’s been a journey getting to where they are with the business, though it’s a very “lived-in” idea they’ve been working on for years and years. They love being part of their East End community situated on the edge of Larimer, where a craft beverage corridor of sorts has emerged. Goodlander Cocktail Brewery (a first-of-its-kind venue specializing in low-waste draft beverages) can be found directly across the street, and hip KLVN Coffee Lab a stone’s throw away. East End Brewing Company is just around the corner, too.

Jackworth’s flagship product — which happens to be both vegan and gluten-free — is a naturally fermented ginger beer that uses only the freshest ingredients (organic ginger from Peru, cane sugar, lemon and water) and gets fermented to 5% ABV. The owners claim that the taste, crisp and refreshing with a subtle lingering spiciness, is representative of our city — “bold and refreshing.”

Finding A Special Address

For Smith, the venue location feels extra meaningful. He grew up 10 blocks away in Point Breeze, and he was named after his great grandfather who used to drive the 76 Hamilton streetcar line along this very road. The industrial setting feels perfect for their needs, and they’ve fully outfitted the rather compact space with reclaimed treasures from nearby Construction Junction (like ornate windows from a gutted mansion, marble from an old bank, even a holy water fountain).

A patio on the building’s side has proven perfect for events they’ve hosted from chill music gatherings to a “meet your maker” guest bartender series that allows local talents to show off cocktails incorporating ginger beer. (As a bonus, mixologists often want to purchase products to take back for creations made at their own bars and restaurants.) While ginger beer was once an afterthought, Jackworth is helping it get nudged back into the spotlight.

Discovering the Beverage’s Rich History

While Smith and Lewis make it clear they surely didn’t invent the beverage, they’re committed to exploring it. In 2017 Smith moved back to his hometown after living in various cities around the country, knowing he wanted to pursue this dream. He had often wondered why ginger beer was called just that, when it was in fact an alcohol-free soda used in cocktails like Moscow mules or sipped on its own. After some research he learned that actual ginger beer had been wildly popular with American folks pre-Prohibition when thousands of breweries existed; after Prohibition, however, it made a return as a non-alcoholic ginger ale alternative.

So over a decade ago, Smith began diving into century-old recipes and teaching himself about fermentation, perfecting his products as he went (working roughly off cider and mead recipes to guide the way). He says he expanded his knowledge through books, podcasts and “making a lot of really bad batches” of ginger beer along the way. Today the German wine tanks work their magic in the back of the brewery, while a full bar up front serves exclusively Pennsylvania-made beer, liquor, wine, and cider, and features classic cocktails featuring PA spirits alongside ginger beer-based cocktails.

Though they plan to experiment with new flavors in the future, the team currently sells their "Original" 5% ABV as well as their 0% ABC offerings - a “Classic” ginger beer and a “Spicy” version that’s infused with a touch of habanero. (They’re available in 4-pack cans, 24-pack cases, sixtel kegs and half-barrel kegs.)

Anticipating a Bright Future

The owners are incredibly excited about continued community collaborations. Food trucks and pop-ups with culinary talents like Rafael Venciol, who’s opening the city’s first Filipino restaurant, have brought about an exciting aspect to the venue that even the owners didn't anticipate.

The duo says they’re aware of the neighborhood's lower socioeconomic roots, and they’re encouraged by the planned pedestrian bridge that will help connect Larimer, East Liberty and Shadyside. Both can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

“It's an exciting time for ginger beer and for the city,” says Lewis. We, too, can’t wait to see what Jackworth does next.

Enjoying Beverages All Around the ‘Burgh

Beyond this neighborhood and Jackworth’s alluring offerings, there are countless spots around town to try innovative beverages. Visit happening spots from the Strip’s Maggie’s Farm Rum and Soluna’s back-room mezcal bar, to tiki-centric Hidden Harbor, Lawrenceville’s Bar Botanico and Bloomfield’s Tina’s, where they’re passionate about a 50-plus classic cocktail menu and their affordable pricing structure.

Mocktails are certainly having a moment, too, and we suspect they’re here to stay. Try N/A options at Dear James inside Lawrence Hall or neighboring The Vandal, where the Stappi Spritz is said to taste and look like a Negroni, and the Soiree melds together cucumber, lavender, verjus blanc and lemon soda. At Kaya, zero-proof cocktails come along with clever names like the Pina No-Lada and the No-Jito.

No matter what you’re sipping, it feels an exhilarating moment to follow along.

Corinne W

Author

Corinne W

Freelance Writer & Editor

Corinne is happy to be back closer to home (D.C.) after 11 years in the glorious Pacific Northwest. Though she cherishes global adventures, she also lives for discovering local gems, from the best spots for coffee, conversation and soul-nourishing music, to water activities and trails on which to walk a loveable little husky. You can follow her on Instagram at @travelcorx

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