Firewhistle Brewing will be opening in Downtown Elizabeth Borough this summer. The brewery will be located at 107 North 2nd Avenue, south of Pittsburgh, across the Monongahela River.

We recently spoke with owner and brewer Jason Berman about the new brewery and what beer fans can expect.

We first asked: “Can you explain your name Firewhistle Brewing?” Jason explained to us that he has been an EMT and volunteer firefighter since 1998, as well as a Paramedic since 2003. He loves beer and created this brewery to help the community and give back. The brewery is also located across the street from Elizabeth Borough Volunteer Fire Department Station 139.

BIPA: What stage are you currently in?

Jason: We just finished up construction, and have our licensing. We had our health department inspection and just waiting on our final Liquor Control Board inspection. My hope is to be open at the beginning of August before River Fest.

BIPA: How did you become initially interested in craft beer?

Jason: I’ve been home brewing since 2002, there were a few of us Paramedics who got into it.  Back in the early 2000s, a bunch of my firefighter and paramedic friends went to Rock Bottom in Pittsburgh, and we became regulars. Then in the 2010s, the assistant brewer at Rock Bottom was Meg Seasteadt, and she took me under her wing and showed me the brewing process. She even allowed me to come to a brewday.

I really got into it about 8 years ago, and during COVID I was making a beer probably every 10 days.

Jason: Our main focus will be making 5-6% ABV ales, possibly lagers in the future once we grow. We will have seasonal styles as well, such as a low ABV Radler for the summer, and styles such as IPAs, wheat beers, Irish red, ESBs, and stouts. My favorite to make are malt-forward beers.

Some beers will be named after firefighting terms, and some will be named for benefits and local community efforts. But we are not stuck on only firefighting terms!

BIPA: Can you describe the space you are opening?

Jason: We will be a nano-brewery, operating a 1 BBL brewery. We are opening in a building that dates back to the early 1900s and was once a jewelry store and a computer shop. The 856 sq/ft space will feature a bar with 11 seats and 8 taps. Our taproom will seat about 20 total, with outside seating for about 50. 

The feel of the brewery will be modern/traditional, a place a firefighter would want to drink after work. We will also have a craft cocktail program featuring PA liquor and wines.

BIPA: Will there be food offered?

Jason: We won’t have food at our location, but we will partner with the pizzeria right next door. There are also a couple of other local eateries – a hot dog/burger place and a taco spot – that we will look to partner with. There could also possibly be food trucks on certain days, but we want the focus to be on local community spots.

BIPA: Anything else our readers should know about Firewhistle Brewing?

Jason: We are local guys trying to help out the community, and we love craft beer. We want to give back to the community and make specific beers for the fire department or EMTs. A portion of at least one beer each month will go toward local organizations or non-profits.

We also want to give back to the local artists and musicians, we even bought an old piano locally and wheeled it right into the taproom!

Also, we are located literally right under the fire whistle for Elizabeth Borough Volunteer Fire Department Station 139. If the whistle goes off, we will be giving beer fans a discount on their beer.