OUR STORY
TIMBER CITY GINGER BEER
Established 2014
Timber City Ginger Beer all started with a recipe. In 2014, Kyle McKnight was working as the chef and started making ginger beer. The spicy brew was a hit and Kyle was brewing ginger beer more than he was cooking. After years of working in restaurants in Colorado, New York and Seattle, he was excited about the opportunity to start his own business. He took a sample of his ginger brew to his friend Kara Patt (now McKnight). Kara had years of experience in hospitality, and loved the idea of co-founding a ginger beer company. The two set out to start Timber City Ginger Beer, hoping to create a dry, ginger forward, farmer driven ginger beer.
Timber City Ginger Beer sold their first bottles at a Seattle Farmer’s Market in Spring 2014, selling out in 90 minutes. After that, they quit their jobs and started making 10 gallon batches of ginger beer in a kitchen space near Pioneer Square, growing the local following with their “OG” Timber City (made with loads of ginger, water and sugar). Partnering with folks at the farmer’s markets, Timber City expanded their brews using local farm botanicals, creating unique blends of bright and refreshing ginger beer.
After a while, Timber City grew out of ten gallon batches and moved production to their current brewery in South Park, Aug 2014. Timber City is now available throughout Western Washington at over 300 accounts in grocery, bars and restaurants through direct sales.
THE TIMBER CITY TEAM
KARA MCKNIGHT, Owner & Operator
Kara is the co-founder and logistical rock-star. She runs and directs the sales and operations behind the brew. Originally from Boulder, CO she graduated with a Masters from NYU in Food Studies. You can find her listening to Prince, thinking about unicorns and /or throwing a good party.
KYLE MCKNIGHT, Owner & Operator
Kyle is the head brewer, recipe master and founder of Timber City Ginger Beer. Colorado born and raised, he spent the first part of his career behind the lines of kitchens across the country. Nowadays, you can find him diligently brewing the spicy concoctions that define Timber City Ginger Beer.