Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery has been a longtime favorite Uptown, but Athens residents and students alike are now finding more ways to enjoy the mainstay’s craft beer.
The brewery underwent a slew of expansions over the summer, including opening its new Taproom, distributing cans of select locally brewed beers and offering patrons the chance to indulge in produce from the business’ farm.
“We’re in a constant state of expansion,” said John Host, sales director for Jackie O’s. “(But we are still) unique to Ohio.”
Jackie O’s, 24 W. Union St., became the first Ohio brewery to can its original brews in June. The business is continually updating its list of canned selections, most recently adding Mystic Mama, an IPA with a bitter taste of grapefruit, tangerine and pine needles.
Mystic Mama joined Firefly and Chomolungma on shelves about a week before classes started.
The distribution of Jackie O’s products — which includes Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo — is aided by a brewing facility, which also houses a newly opened drinking space: the Taproom at 25 Campbell St. The room, which opened at the beginning of the summer, maintains the feel of the original Jackie O’s Public House uptown, but a see-through wall reminds drinkers that craft beer is brewing in mass amounts on the other side.
“It’s a quieter atmosphere,” said Matt Spolar, creative strategist for the business.
“It’s where you go with people you know to grab a couple beers. … It’s a little more low key.”
Jackie O’s’ uptown location has a full kitchen where experimentation with brewing takes place. When a new beer is created, it’s brought down to the Taproom, which allows for distribution on a larger scale.
The Taproom facility’s brewing capacity is around 40 barrels per day, compared to the uptown facility’s seven-barrel capacity.
“(It’s a new) way for us to make quality beer,” Host said. “It’s exciting and we’ve gotten a lot of support from the Athens community.”
The Taproom is not only home to craft brews but also acts as the pick-up site for the brewery’s new Community Shared Agriculture program, which is fueled by products from the business’ 20-acre farm on Angel Ridge Road.
Melissa Christen, Jackie O’s farm manager, said the response to the program has been enthusiastic, adding, “It is a nice community to be a farmer.” So far 28 participants have signed up to receive a basket of goods each week that includes milk, eggs and vegetables, along with two items from the Jackie O’s bakery.
The farm is in its third growing season, and also supplies goods to local businesses such as Fluff Bakery & Catering, Avalanche Pizza and Rickshaw Thai. Soon, there will have to be a limit on the Community Shared Agriculture program in order to ensure enough product for everyone, Christen added.
“We want to cut it off at 30 (participants),” she said. “Anyone can order a basket, but they have to give 24-hours (notice).”
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@EmilyMBamforth
