These Black-Owned Breweries and Causes Give Us Hope for the Future

Represent! Here are 70 Black-owned breweries to know and support.

Since writing this article a very long two years ago, we are happy to announce that, although Black-owned breweries still only make up under one percent of the total throughout the U.S., there has been a significant hike in the total number to add to this list.

Plus, there has been a welcomed implementation of initiatives, foundations, and events to boost the awareness and address the glaring racial disparities in the brewing industry. Fundraising, education, charity, networking, media, and resource sharing are just a few of the progressive combatants against underrepresentation.

Weathered Souls Brewing Company founder and head brewer Marcus Baskerville’s Black Is Beautiful has continued to be a very successful collaboration effort with other breweries worldwide—the current count at print date is an astounding 1,221 participating breweries throughout all 50 states and 22 countries globally since its inception in 2020.

“I told my staff originally that we’d get to 200 breweries, and we got to 300 on the first day," Baskerville says. “This is definitely something I want to continue since racial inequality isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The overall message started in craft beer but it doesn’t have to end there.”

Then there is world-renowned brewing icon and author Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery founding the Michael James Jackson Foundation in 2020, which provides scholarships to accredited courses in brewing and distilling throughout the nation. The goal is to continue garnering financial support of at least $100,000 in scholarships annually.

Crowns & Hops
Crowns & Hops

The dynamic duo from Crowns & Hops Brewing—Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter—alongside beer giant BrewDog, initiated the 8 Trill Pils Initiative leading to $100K supporting five Black-owned craft beer brands. That, along with Crowns & Hops’ beers dedicated to HBCUs and empowering merch, has made the brewery one to watch.

“We’re often put in situations where we’re the only ones, you know?,” Ashburn says. “And in the craft beer industry in particular, you find that to be the case. So walking into a brewery with your ‘Black people love beer’ or ‘Brown people love beer’ t-shirt, is one way to take stake in the industry and feel comfortable sitting at the bar, asking questions, and being that expert in something that you love.”

On a personal contribution to the cause, the BrewGether fund is a groundbreaking partnership that I established with New Belgium in 2019 utilizing a portion of the sales from our Piano Keys Chocolate and Vanilla Imperial Stout collaboration to directly impact nonprofits geared towards youth-serving and sustainability in Black communities.

Shining a light on gatherings to raise awareness, support, and promote BIPOC brewers nationwide, look out for Mike Potter’s globetrotting Blacktoberfest via Black Brew Culture, the Barrel & Flow Black arts and beer fest in Pittsburgh, nonprofit Craft x EDU’s ongoing events led by executive director Dr. J Jackson-Beckham, and entrepreneur Jen Price’s burgeoning Crafted For Action multiple-day conference happening annually to name a few motivated to change the narrative.

“The future is very bright for Black-owned breweries and the craft beer industry as a whole,” Potter says. “So many people are making major moves to contribute to this movement for equity and the impact is measurable. The drinking part of any festival is fun, but there is also the opportunity to learn more about the industry, the people making significant contributions, and the overall elements shaping it.”

In the filming industry, director Aaron Hosé and his team are reaping numerous accolades and awards worldwide for the One Pint At A Time documentary putting an invaluable and visually captivating spotlight on the adversities of Black Americans realizing their dreams to own a brewery.

Acknowledging those who have persevered, we are so excited to add a significant increase to our current Black-owned brewery list through a lot of research, word of mouth, and even getting texts from fellow beer enthusiasts. (That’s how we found out Houston is reportedly about to have its first Black-owned brewery called For the Culture opening later this year.)

So please take note, visit, and support this updated list of Black-owned breweries below. Any missing? Feel free to reach out and let us know what we can add.

Black-owned breweries you should support

DaleView Biscuits and Beer
DaleView Biscuits and Beer

Mid-Atlantic

Shoutout: Dale View Biscuits and Beer
Brooklyn, New York
In order to stand out in the competitive brewing industry—especially as a Black-owned brewery—having more than stellar ales and lagers to showcase surely helps when possible. Brewer, chef and entrepreneur Christopher Gandsy does just that with Dale View Biscuits and Beer. Revered as the only Brooklyn-based Black-owned brewery to craft beers on site, Gandsy flosses his Southern-influenced cuisine including Grandma’s gluten-free biscuits, organic coffee roasted in Brooklyn, and solid brews named after Civil Rights leaders, the niche is successfully created.

1865 Brewing Co Phoebus, Virginia
Black Viking Brewing Montgomery County, Maryland
Dale View Biscuits and Beer Brooklyn, New York
Earth Tap Brewing Annapolis, Maryland
Four City Brewing Co Orange, New Jersey
Hackensack Brewing Co Hackensack, New Jersey
Harlem Blue New York, New York
Harlem Brewing Co New York, New York
Harris Family Brewery Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Joyhound Beer Co Baltimore, Maryland
Mack Brewing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Montclair Brewery Montclair, New Jersey
Patuxent Waldorf, Maryland
Sankofa Washington, DC
Soul Mega Washington, DC
Two Locals Brewing Co Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Green Bench Brewing Co.
Green Bench Brewing Co.

South

Shoutout: Hippin’ Hops
Atlanta, Georgia
My hometown of Atlanta continues to make Black history. Within the past year, there’s the unprecedented opening of three Black-owned, brick-and-mortar breweries; two are under the Hippin’ Hops enterprise thanks to entrepreneur Clarence Boston with another on the way this year, and Grammy-nominated rap group Nappy Roots just hosted the grand opening of their Atlantucky brewery in February. Lifestyle brand Draught Season is also doing numerous beer collaborations with Black breweries nationwide and creating merch to educate the masses including brandishing the true statement, “Beer Is Black History.”

Atlantucky Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Bay Cannon Beer Company Tampa, Florida
Bastet Brewing Tampa, Florida
Beale St. Brewing Memphis, Tennessee
Blackman Brewing Dallas, Texas
Cajun Fire New Orleans, Louisiana
Dirtbag Ales Hope Mills, North Carolina
Down Home Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Harlem Brew South Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Hippin’ Hops Brewery & Oyster Bar Atlanta, Georgia
Hip Hop Heads Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Green Bench Brewing St. Petersburg, Florida
Khonso Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Our Culture Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Proximity Brewing Durham, North Carolina
Rocky Mount Brewery Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Seguin Brewing Seguin, Texas
Soul Brothers Brewing Atlanta, Georgia
Spaceway Brewing Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Three Odd Guys Brewing Apopka, Florida
Urban Jungle Brewing Austin, Texas
Weathered Souls Brewing San Antonio, Texas

Brockton Beer Company
Brockton Beer Company

New England

Shoutout: White Lion Brewing
Springfield, Massachusetts
White Lion Brewing founder Raymond Berry, Jr. and his team made history becoming Springfield, Massachusetts’s first craft beer brand to go to market, let alone being the first Black-owned in the city. Now with events popping off regularly in their lively taproom and 25-plus beers under their name boasting captivating can designs, White Lion continues to represent minority ownership and longevity in the brewing industry while making a difference.

67 Degrees Brewing Franklin, Massachusetts
Brazo Fuerte Watertown, Massachusetts
Brockton Beer Brockton, Massachusetts
Crue Brew Brewery Raynham, Massachusetts
Rhythm Brewing New Haven, Connecticut
White Lion Springfield, Massachusetts

18th Street Brewery
Photo courtesy of 18th Street Brewery

Midwest

Shoutout: 18th Street Brewery
Hammond, Indiana
The Midwest has always been one of the most significant contributors to the craft beer scene. For example, 18th Street continues to hold down Indiana with its multiple awards. The brewery has just continued to expand its increasingly devoted following one tasty release at a time—so much so that it was able to expand capacity with a new facility in nearby Hammond. From his Deal With the Devil IPA to the outstanding Hunter milk stout series, head brewer Drew Fox just keeps delivering the sudsy goods. If you’re in Hammond, stop by The Sour Note, a side project brewery focused solely on—you guessed it!—sour beers.

18th Street Brewery Gary, Indiana
734 Brewing Ypsilanti, Michigan
Alematic Artisan Ales Huber Heights, Ohio
Arctic Circle Brewing Chesterfield, Michigan
Black Calder Brewing Kentwood, Michigan
Black Fire Winery & Brewery Tecumseh, Michigan
Black Frog Brewery Holland, Ohio
Black Horizon Brewing Willowbrook, Illinois
Cincy Brewing Cincinnati, Ohio
Crafted Culture Brewing Gahanna, Ohio
Esoteric Brewing Cincinnati, Ohio
Funkytown Brewery Chicago, Illinois
Hop River Brewing Fort Wayne, Indiana
Montgomery Brewing Montgomery, Minnesota
Moor’s Brewing Chicago, Illinois
Turner Häus Brewery Chicago, Illinois

Crowns & Hops
Crowns & Hops

West

Shoutout: Crowns & Hops
Inglewood, California
The West has seen a growing presence of Black-owned breweries especially in California. Crowns & Hops continues an incredible run leading up to their brick-and-mortar grand opening soon in Inglewood. Every Crowns & Hops release is intentionally crafted to showcase Black history and culture, from the flavors to the can art to each beer’s name. In honor of Black History Month, the two released a four-can series: HBCU Hazy IPA, Urban Queen Imperial Stout, Miles to Italy Italian Pilsner, and Royal Verses West Coast IPA.

7Five Brewing Las Vegas, Nevada
Assembly Brewing Portland, Oregon
Crowns & Hops Inglewood, California
Full Circle Brewing Fresno, California
Hella Coastal Oakland, California
Hogshead Brewery Denver, Colorado
Kitsune Brewing Phoenix, Arizona
Métier Brewing Woodinville, Washington
Nexus Brewery Albuquerque, New Mexico
Novel Strand Brewing Denver, Colorado
Oak Park Brewing Sacramento, California
People’s Republic of South Central Los Angeles, California
Policy Kings Brewery Cedar City, Utah
Sage Brewing Pasco, Washington
Thunderhawk Alements San Diego, California
Warcloud Brewing Los Angeles, California

 

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Ale Sharpton is an award-winning journalist, blogger, photographer, and beer authority based in Atlanta. Follow him @AleSharpton.