Mawson's Original Drinks

The story of Mawson's Sarsaparilla begins in 1933, when milkman Joe Mawson came to Oldham and bought a herbalist's shop. The back room of Joe's with its piano, card tables and home-brewed beer was soon a popular meeting place for local people.

Joe brewed up to forty gallons a day of the non-alcoholic beer in the cellar of the shop. A mixture of more than twenty herbs was boiled for forty minutes before being left to cool with a slice of yeast-covered toast floating on surface. The concoction was then worked for twenty-four hours, casked and kept for twelve hours more before being ready to serve. Joe charged 4d a pint.

These days Mawson’s drinks are handcrafted in Staveley by Lakeland Artisan. In the 2019 Great Taste Awards, Ginger Cordial, Dandelion & Burdock, Sarsaparilla and Spiced Fruit Punch all received awards.

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