The latest beer from East End Brewing Co. is a gin and tonic.

Yes, really.

The Larimer brewery just released G&T Hard Seltzer.

It’s been more than year in the making.

“It was a new flavor profile for us,” said Scott Smith, owner of East End. “It does have a small amount of hops to balance the sweetness. We think it is perfect for spring, a season which we are wishful for right now. It is a different animal, but sometimes people might want something other than beer.”

Yes, you read that right! ?Releasing later today, as it comes off the canning line, is our first hard seltzer.

Plenty of research, trials, and sampling’s went into this. But we landed on a drink more relatable to us, and hope you’ll agree!

Read more below! pic.twitter.com/2FRw64qGYh

— East End Brewing (@EastEndBrewing) February 17, 2021

The drink is technically a “hard seltzer” because East End doesn’t have a license to handle distilled beverages. Smith said he wanted to make something that wasn’t just “another fruited, alcohol-containing drink.”

They began with a couple hundred pounds of juniper berries, dried orange peels, and other botanicals that are found in gin. Then they introduced a second set of flavors common to tonic water, such as gentian root for bitterness, and some fresh lime.

It is 7.5% alcohol, gluten-free and available in four-packs of 12 oz. cans at the brewery for $12, online and for delivery to 42 Pittsburgh-area ZIP codes.

“How do we drink it? With or without ice?” said Smith, whose brewery canned 53 beers and ciders in 2020. “We have people in different camps on this, because you don’t usually put ice in beer, but you do with gin and tonic, so it’s a toss-up.”

East End is closed for indoor dining, but some customers will order food and beer and sit on the patio, wrapped in blankets, Smith said.

Smith said when they first make a beer they usually create a 20-barrel pilot batch. With the seltzer, they did smaller amounts because it was a different kind of venture. They had several discussions about taste and texture and even appearance in a glass, he said.

Smith said the idea isn’t too far-fetched because he has been at beer judging events and festivals where afterwards they drank a gin and tonic. He will consider making more, he said.

“We like to stay busy and keep ourselves entertained,” Smith said. “Sometimes our customers need something else in their glass other than beer. It’s quite a departure for us, and I don’t know if it’ll even be remotely popular. But I’m proud of the innovation and approach we’ve taken that resulted in this ‘legitimate’ beverage that still fits in with who we are.”

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