Through Ahsan Washington
October 27, 2025
National American Beer Day, held on October 27, recognizes the tradition of black beer brewed in the United States. This year, our focus shifts to the undeniable impact of Black-led breweries. Although Black-owned craft breweries comprise less than one percent of all U.S. operations, Black brewers are reshaping the conversation, creating standout brews, protecting heritage, and championing equality within an industry built on community and craft. BLACK BUSINESS celebrates that excellence by providing a glimpse into the innovators, brands, and movements that are defining brewing culture and catalyzing change in the brewed beer industry and landscape.
Haarlem Brewery
Harlem Brewing Company opened in November 2000, led by Celeste Beatty, an entrepreneur and brewer who became the first black woman to own a brewery in the United States. The brand makes beers that resonate with the hi-style of Harlemstory. Every donation contributes to the cultural story of the neighborhood. Although headquartered firmly in Harlem, the operation has moved south, launching Harlem Brew South in North Carolina. Essentially, the company is trying to rectify the underrepresentation of Black owners in the craft beer arena.
Cajun Fire Brewing Company
Cajun Fire Brewing Company (New Orleans, LA) came on the scene thank youA letter to brewmaster CEO Jon Renthrope, a Black and Native American entrepreneur determined to put the South in charge of its craft beer destiny. Their Honey Ale, along with a range of signature brews, combines visceral flavor with the bold inventiveness of modern brewing, delivering both a tasty sip and a purposeful pour. Although the taproom is located in the heart of New Orleans, the brand’s reach extends beyond the Crescent City, earning Cajun Fire a spot as a pioneer on the national craft beer map. By filling a glaring gap in representation, the company is also pumping life back into East NOLA, strengthening the community spirit and economic pulse of the neighborhood.
Hippin Hop
Hippin’ Hops, the brick-and-mortar brewery and taproom that’s set up shop in Atlanta, serves signature pours like the assertively jumping forward “Baby Mama Drama” IPA and the sour, summery sour ‘So Peachy’, each alongside a full restaurant menu that feels more like a dining experience than a snack. The space is buzzing with a neighborhood-oriented atmosphere, earning its reputation as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s Black Craft beer scene. Hippin’ Hops creates a communal, rich gathering place around craft beer. It is an oasis that is often missing from the more generic mainstream beer landscape.
Urban Garden Brewing Co.
Urban Garden Brewing Co., a company born in 2021 in Washington, DC from a vision of Eamoni, is on a mission to create a large-scale, Black-owned brewery in the capital’s thriving beer scene. Currently, Urban Garden Brewing Co. produces small batch craft ales under contract. In the meantime, the foundation for its physical brewery center was laid.
Moorish brewery company
Moor’s Brewing Company, in Chicago, Illinois, was founded by three friends, Damon Patton, Jamhal Johnson and Anthony Bell, right on the South Side of Chicago. The brewery company already ships its craft beer to more than 500 locations, and its owners are looking forward to opening a Black-owned taproom in the city in 2025. Launched on Juneteenth in 2021, Moor’s is a testament to ambition and cultural representation in the US.
Brown girl brew
Operating out of New York and Chicago, Brown Girl’s Brew® was founded by Christina Thomas, a woman connecting craft beer, dessert-inspired flavors and Black female entrepreneurship in a space where women of color remain scarce. The brews read like a dessert menu with Carrot Cake Amber Ale, Lemon Pound Cake Lager and Banana Pudding Hefeweizen. It’s already making its way through New York, New Jersey and beyond.
Rhythm Brewing Co.
Located in the heart of New Haven, Connecticut, Rhythm Brewing Co. is the brainchild of Connecticut brewery owner Alisa Bowens-Mercado. She combines a music-driven version called ‘The Rhythm Nation’ with the timeless craft of brewing, turning every glass into a jam session of sorts. Since its launch in 2018, the Bowens-Mercado story has highlighted the racial and gender barriers that still loom in the craft beer world. Bowens-Mercado also underscores how a edgy, niche-focused brand can serve as a fulcrum for Black-owned breweries.
Full Circle Brewing Co.
Fresno, the Full Circle Brewing Co. from California, proudly carries the title of Central Valley Brewery. It functions as both a full-scale craft brewery and a vibrant live entertainment venue. The operation has put a spotlight on brewing entrepreneurship and entering emerging markets and craft beer regions that are traditionally off the map, while keeping live events and community engagement at the forefront.
Vine Street Brewing Co.
Vine Street Brewing Co. is located in Kansas City, Missouri and proudly carries the honor of being the state brewery. Are relaxed, welcoming taproom offers a range of beers. Since opening its doors in 2023, Vine Street Brewing Co. quietly underscoring how the craft beer stock movement is finally taking hold in the Midwest, and reminding its consumers and peers that diverse ownership matters, especially in markets that often fly under the radar.
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