Boston’s Newest Brewery Serves Pizza Bagels With a Side of Democracy

Democracy Brewing, a worker-owned brewery, fittingly introduced itself to Boston on July 4, opening in the longtime Windsor Button space at 35 Temple Pl. in Downtown Crossing. At the brewery, wages start at a minimum of $15 per hour, and employees have the opportunity to buy an ownership share after their first year.

Co-founder and CEO James Razsa, a former community organizer, told Eater that he and co-founder Jason Taggart, who serves as the brewing director, are focused on creating a culture of excellence, complete with people fully committed to the mission of the brewery.

Taggart, a former brewer at John Harvard’s, has around 17 years of experience and more than 200 beer recipes he calls his own. Democracy will focus on five to start, including the $5 Workers Pint, a light kolsch-style ale that will ideally serve as an approachable point of entry for Democracy’s other beers.

Also in the starting lineup: the 1919 Strike Stout, an Irish-American stout on the drier side with some fruity characteristics, Razsa said, as well as a pale ale, an IPA, and a saison. The brewery will also feature a rotating draft of seasonal brews and will put resources into barrel-aging beers and eventually providing cask beers as well.

The team’s goal is for Democracy to be a public house where all people can gather and enjoy a pint, but there’s also plenty of food to accompany that pint. Watch for the menu to ramp up to its full expression in the coming days, with a number of items featuring beer (pretzels and nachos with beer cheese, for example, as well as beer-battered pickles, beer mustard spaetzle, and more). There’s also Portuguese fish stew, hand pies, and a trio of pizza bagels, not to mention deep-fried Fluffernutters served with jelly ice cream. Head chef Ben Waxler is an alum of La Morra, Ten Tables, the Haven, and a variety of other local restaurants, and the team is striving for a zero-waste kitchen.

As for the space, “it’s exactly what we always hoped it would be,” Razsa said, with the finished result resembling both a Victorian pub and German beer hall, with a vibe that feels both fancy and relaxed.

Democracy Brewing is currently open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

• First Look at Democracy Brewing in Downtown Boston [BM]
• Democracy Brewing Coverage on Eater [EBOS]