These Black-Owned Breweries Give Us Hope for the Future

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/black-owned-breweries-us/food-and-drink



A year ago I debuted my very own brew, Piano Keys Imperial Stout. It’s made with Ugandan vanilla beans and Nicaraguan cocoa nibs with an ABV of 10%. I created it at the invitation of New Belgium when they invited me to be a consultant of their new diversity program. New Belgium not only loved the idea for my stout, they granted me creative control down to the Piano Keys name, concept, branding, and ingredients.

And not only was the collaboration successful (we’re planning a second run in spring 2020), but every turnout for the draft-only releases throughout Atlanta, Asheville, and Fort Collins brought together the most diverse crowds each venue has ever hosted. We followed with a symposium in Atlanta featuring a panel of minority beer influencers and entrepreneurs alongside New Belgium's executives to strategize more progress in the industry.

This collaboration leads into a very important topic. I believe beer brings everyone together to whet the palate, and this New Belgium collaboration truly did that, Now let's talk about getting more Black breweries actually making and selling their own lagers and ales.


Kofi Meroe and Amado Carsky of Sankofa | Courtesy of Sankofa

Within the past several years, the craft beer industry has flourished. It’s produced a plethora of styles and has become a lot more accessible in bars, restaurants, and even airlines. But when it comes to the people who actually own the breweries, who produce the plethora of sours, pilsners, IPAs, stouts and other varietals, we’re not seeing the same amount of diversity. African Americans own roughly one percent of the independent breweries throughout the US.

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