History of Gillespies Ginger Beer
THE BUSINESS
Established in 1993 by Fran, Allan and Robbie Gillespie the business was
a graduation from a ‘backyard’ ginger beer making operation. The family
had been brewing a ginger beer from an old recipe given to Allan from his
mother in Northern England and selling bottles at the local market. The
product proved to be very popular and after some discussion and planning
‘Gillespie’s Ginger Beer’ was born.
There were two primary drivers behind the establishment of the business. Firstly it was to allow the family more financial freedom but beyond this Robbie had expressed a desire to attend university once he had completed college. Since the family was only living on a small income it was decided that more money would be needed and the business was established with this goal in mind.
While the business has grown, it’s goals and the family’s attitude has remained the same. The business has always been regarded more as vehicle of opportunity, something that opens doors they may have otherwise remained shut, as opposed to an end in itself.
Ginger Beer has been made for centuries; some have even placed its origins in ancient China. As mentioned above the recipe for Gillespie’s originates in Northern England, specifically in Allan’s childhood home of Chester Le Street in Durham County near Newcastle. While it was necessary to alter the recipe for commercial production the product remains true to original brewed in the bottle process and thus maintains the fullness of body and zest that is lacking in carbonated ginger beers.