Tag: Black-owned beer brands

Happy National Beer Day! What better way to celebrate the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage than by supporting the Black entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the brewing industry? BLACK ENTERPRISE is highlighting some incredible Black-owned breweries that are not only crafting delicious beers but also driving diversity, innovation, and cultural development within the industry.

Brewing Diversity and Flavor

The beer industry continues to grow, and Black ownership is proving vital to its future. These breweries showcase a commitment to unique cultural approaches, community engagement, and expanding the horizons of craft beer. From Atlanta to Los Angeles and beyond, these brands are transforming the landscape.

Featured Black-Owned Breweries to Support:

• **Atlantucky Brewing (Atlanta, GA):** Born from the collaboration between Nappy Roots members Skinny DeVille and Fish Scales, and brewer Brandon Garnett, Atlantucky operates as a contract brewery while building its own facilities. They leverage music industry connections and host cultural events, participating in the “Black Is Beautiful” initiative to link their products with social impact.
• **Beale Street Brewing Co. (Memphis, TN):** Founded by Kelvin Kolheim, this brewery integrates Memphis musical traditions into its brewing process. Each beer pairs specific styles with musical selections, featuring blues-themed packaging and narrative-driven taste profiles that pay homage to Beale Street’s rich musical heritage.
• **Black Beauty Brewery (Bowie, MD):** Sheldon and Brittany Goins, a husband-and-wife team, founded this brewery in 2020. Sheldon turned his homebrewing hobby into a commercial business after losing his job during the pandemic, making it the first Black-owned brewery in Bowie, Maryland. They now sell products throughout the state.
• **Black Horizon Brewing Company (Willowbrook, IL):** Charles St. Clair established this small-batch, community-focused brewery in the Chicago suburbs. They prioritize intentional partnerships, often working with Black brewers to increase their exposure and foster sustainable growth through local connections.
• **Brown Girls Brew (New York City, NY):** Christina Thomas created this brand in 2021 to establish a space led by Black women within craft beer culture. Operating through pop-ups and community events rather than a traditional brewery, Brown Girls Brew focuses on inclusion and building community.
• **Grown Folks (Los Angeles, CA):** Launched in 2024 by Danica Dias, this Black- and woman-owned beverage brand celebrates Louisiana Creole heritage. Grown Folks offers craft beer, including their Front Porch American light lager, and soul food-inspired hard seltzers like Peach Cobbler and Ambrosia flavors.
• **Kitsune Brewing Co. (Phoenix, AZ):** Tyler Smith founded Kitsune Brewing Co., a craft beer brand known for its global branding approach and story-based marketing that incorporates Japanese elements. This demonstrates how Black-owned beer brands are exploring diverse conceptual influences and markets.

On National Beer Day, let’s celebrate the innovation, passion, and cultural richness that Black-owned breweries bring to the industry. Supporting these businesses not only means enjoying a great cold one but also contributing to a more diverse and vibrant future for craft beer.