Minority Group-founded Breweries

[jsun]

I find it interesting when non-disenfranchised groups (notably, heterosexual white males) get up in arms about minorities getting attention for entering their playground. The recent example that comes to mind is Michael Sam...you have all these people complaining about how he shouldn't get attention for being the first openly gay NFL player. And now we have people here saying that we shouldn't give extra attention to minority brewers in a hobby/industry dominated by white males. Makes you wonder what it is they REALLY have an issue with...

 

[houstonbg]

Three Weavers in Los Angeles was founded by Lynne Weaver and Alexandra Nowell.

EDIT: Not sure if women meet the definition of minority for your purposes, but they are definitely underrepresented in brewing.

Not a minority, but Throwback Brewery was founded by women. Great beer, and they seem to be doing well too.

Women are part of the definition. Circling back to my original post, I am going off the social science definition of minority group, which states that "minority" refers to categories of persons who hold few positions of social power.

In the world of beer, women most definitely fall under that definition.

 

[houstonbg]

I find it interesting when non-disenfranchised groups (notably, heterosexual white males) get up in arms about minorities getting attention for entering their playground. The recent example that comes to mind is Michael Sam...you have all these people complaining about how he shouldn't get attention for being the first openly gay NFL player. And now we have people here saying that we shouldn't give extra attention to minority brewers in a hobby/industry dominated by white males. Makes you wonder what it is they REALLY have an issue with...

Hi jsun,

While the theme of your comment is noble, I don't feel it's productive to this thread. Now, I am in no way trying to dictate what you can and cannot say, I just think there are better places to talk about that and this thread is not one of them especially considering we just got this thread back on track after being derailed.

I mean no disrespect, and I'm open to chatting with you via private messages about what you said if you're interested? Let me know. Thanks!

 

[Homercidal]

I find it interesting that people try to ignore the FACT that people are different, rather than celebrating those differences. Yes, there are stereotypes, and yes there are people who use those stereotypes to insult or demean people who are different from themselves. I think the intent is a major consideration. It can also be easy to insult without meaning to.

But it seems impossible to find humour in ANYTHING these days without being labeled a racist or bigot. Even if a person held the minority person in high regard and cared for them as much as any human cared for another human, a slight comment nowadays brings down the wrath of Hell upon them.

Imagine if a black brewer won awards for a Watermelon Wheat. Of COURSE the thought of the classic black people love watermelon stereotype is going to go through a lot of people's minds. It's not a thing the careful person is going to say out loud, because it's derogatory. An Asian brewer might be made fun of for brewing a rice lager. (Which makes no sense because a LOT of beer is made with rice, but that kind of supports my point...) It's the same thing.

These things will pass over time. Young people are more tolerant than their older generations. The hate will tend to die off, but it will be replaced by other forms of hate. It's who we are, for the most part. It starts to get into a debate forum discussion at that point.

But, the point I make is that the stereotypes are not inherent in the minorities themselves, but in the racists, bigots, and bullies. Beer is a great way to show how invisible the race and gender is. Any person, regardless of minority, can become a world class brewer if they are only smart enough, talented enough, driven enough, and given enough of a chance.

And here is the problem. The beer won't tell who made it, but there could be barriers to bringing a brewery to the market based on race or gender. There could be barriers based on race to moving up the chain to becoming a brewer. There could be perceptions from the populace, in some areas, that could form a barrier to growth or acceptance. If people harbor those biases and know the owners, brewers, or whatever, are a despised minority, then they will not support that establishment with their dollars.

It really is an interesting subject. I am curious about the proclivity of brewers to be white, with beards. It's like today's stereotype similar to Jewish people and financial institutions, Chinese laundry services (Ancient Chinese Secret!), etc.

 

[jsun]

Sorry for going off-topic.

 

[houstonbg]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed positively to this thread. I truly appreciate the help.

I've gone ahead and put together a spreadsheet of all prior mentioned breweries that were either founded by those in the minority, or whose brewmaster is in the minority, and reached out to them with a single question.

This list includes New Glarus Brewing, Three Weavers, the Brooklyn Brewery, and Throwback Brewery.

I'm working on reaching out to Black Frog Brewery now, but I'll have to do that via their Facebook page. The website that they have set up is barren.

 

[alewhatcuresyou]

Tying race to anything nearly always ends up being more about race than than anything else, And the one to make it an issue nearly always ends up being the one with an issue.

 

[SupervisingChildren]

As someone who majored in sociology, I find this thread of interest as when people have the skills and drive to succeed, great beer is possible! Keep up the work OP!

 

[divrguy]

Great story here about Theodore Mack Sr. & The Peoples Brewing Company.

http://www.falstaffbrewing.com/Theodore_Mack_Peoples_Brewing.htm

Also this one in Oakland.

http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_...ck-owned-microbrewer-brothers-brewing-company

In a quaint garage on a quiet street in a beautiful and serene subdivision on the outskirts of Toledo, Ohio, inconspicuously lies the home of Toledo’s newest craft brewery. This is no ordinary brewery, however. This is the home of the first minority-operated brewery in the city – and quite possibly the state.

http://www.brewreviewcrew.com/black-frog/




Cheers!

 

[jtratcliff]

Golden Road in Glendale, CA was also co-founder by woman: Meg Gill

 

[Cyclman]

This group might have some helpful information: http://pinkbootssociety.org/

As long as someone brews great beer, and is a good business person (maybe reverse that order, actually) they'll be successful in this industry. One of the things I find in my visits to scores of brewpubs around the country is that craft beer lovers are more open than the average citizen (hey I have drunk beer with bull testicles in it!). I think openness to differences is partially what makes us want craft beer.

On the other hand, in some way, all craft brewers are inherently in a minority. All of them struggle against the tide of corporate flavorless beer.

 

[CastleHollow]

Here's a story about An Bui, a Vietnamese restaurateur in Richmond who just opened The Answer brewpub, hiring a local former homebrewer as his head brewer:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/entert...cle_ff003abc-19b0-50e2-81af-23172cd01184.html

I should note that his restaurant, Mekong, won craftbeer.com's "Best Beer Bar in America" award two years in a row.

 

[JINKS]

http://cabinetmountainbrewing.com/
Saw a news story 2 women I didn't catch the names

 

[ktblunden]

Golden Road in Glendale, CA was also co-founder by woman: Meg Gill

Forgot about that one. One of my favorite (semi) local breweries.

 

[julioardz]

I find this thread interesting. I may be going off topic, but it makes me think of majority-minorities and minority-majorities. When looking at it through that lens, some may argue that most recent breweries in Texas, New Mexico, and California were open by minorities, meaning bearded white guys (non-Hispanic whites in general) are the minority in these states. I'm not sure about Hawaiian breweries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Majority_minority

However, when it comes to the founders of my favorite local breweries in Texas, I would bet they are mostly, non-Hispanic white males. There's one brewery, Twisted X, doing this Tex-Mex theme with their beers, so I thought maybe they would be the exception, but I just read their story on the brewery website. They're (white) Texans making Mexican style beer. I've tried a few and like them better than all the Mexican beers I've had.

Rogness Brewing Company (same owner as Austin Homebrew Supply) has Forest and Diane Rogness as co-owners and states she helps with recipe development.
http://rognessbrewing.com/about/

 

[Headley_Lamarr]

18th Street Brewery in Gary, IN. Drew is a great guy and great brewer.

www.18thstreetbrewery.com

 

[Homercidal]

I find this thread interesting. I may be going off topic, but it makes me think of majority-minorities and minority-majorities. When looking at it through that lens, some may argue that most recent breweries in Texas, New Mexico, and California were open by minorities, meaning bearded white guys (non-Hispanic whites in general) are the minority in these states. I'm not sure about Hawaiian breweries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Majority_minority

However, when it comes to the founders of my favorite local breweries in Texas, I would bet they are mostly, non-Hispanic white males. There's one brewery, Twisted X, doing this Tex-Mex theme with their beers, so I thought maybe they would be the exception, but I just read their story on the brewery website. They're (white) Texans making Mexican style beer. I've tried a few and like them better than all the Mexican beers I've had.

Rogness Brewing Company (same owner as Austin Homebrew Supply) has Forest and Diane Rogness as co-owners and states she helps with recipe development.
http://rognessbrewing.com/about/

It's almost as though people from one race and nationality could actually enjoy the lifestyles of other races and nationalities...

Amazing.

 

[ktblunden]

I find this thread interesting. I may be going off topic, but it makes me think of majority-minorities and minority-majorities. When looking at it through that lens, some may argue that most recent breweries in Texas, New Mexico, and California were open by minorities, meaning bearded white guys (non-Hispanic whites in general) are the minority in these states. I'm not sure about Hawaiian breweries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Majority_minority

However, when it comes to the founders of my favorite local breweries in Texas, I would bet they are mostly, non-Hispanic white males. There's one brewery, Twisted X, doing this Tex-Mex theme with their beers, so I thought maybe they would be the exception, but I just read their story on the brewery website. They're (white) Texans making Mexican style beer. I've tried a few and like them better than all the Mexican beers I've had.

Rogness Brewing Company (same owner as Austin Homebrew Supply) has Forest and Diane Rogness as co-owners and states she helps with recipe development.
http://rognessbrewing.com/about/

The divide is even more poignant when you point out that even in areas where white people are the minority, they are still the only ones opening breweries.

 

[NitsujNella]

How about Harlem Brewing Company? Their Sugar Hill Golden Ale is real good!

http://www.harlembrewingcompany.com/

 

[passedpawn]

Local brewery to me, Barley Mow Brewing, was founded by a husband and wife (Colleen Dingman). It's small but rapidly growing.

http://www.barleymowbrewingco.com/

 

[divrguy]

Black owned brewery
Soweta Gold Brewery
http://www.sowetogold.co.za


Cheers!

 

[divrguy]

Latino owned Brewery

http://thelatinkitchen.com/article/americas-first-latino-owned-craft-brewery


Cheers!

 

[Talgrath]

I recently found out Stoup was founded by a mostly female trio; more info here.

http://www.stoupbrewing.com/about/

 

[Wayne1]

Caution Brewing Co founded by Danny Wang and his wife Betty. Originally started to supply beer for his father's noodle shop. Now has two tap rooms. They purchased and are brewing on Odells' original 5 barrel pilot system.

Comrade Brewing Co. was founded by David Lin. While a Chinese-American, he is very proud to be brewing on an all American made brew system.

 

[Homercidal]

Wait, are females a minority now?

 

[Talgrath]

Wait, are females a minority now?

In owning breweries? Yes.

 

[SophieMC]

I am trying really hard to own a small brewery and when I finally do it, I will definitely be a minority since I am a latin woman that's definitely a minority! And that's cool. This will diferentiate me from the rest of the white guys with beards

 

[tagz]

Glad to see this thread got back on track.

 

[unionrdr]

I think it's definitely a worthwhile question to ask. I'm sure it's something many never consider. It just goes to show that breweries, like this site, can be full of all kinds of folks from different ethnicities & cultures. Looking at all the different countries represented here on HBT, it's inevitable that some would rise above the rest to become commercial craft brewers. Works for me. I don't care who you are, good beer is good beer. They may have a way of brewing it, or recipe that differentiates their beer somehow. Or they may brew a certain style better than many others do. I think that's the beauty of it. Take Garret Oliver for example. A highly educated man & that really knows what he's talking about. Their beers are decidedly different, but in a good way that I've tasted thus far. And their Spent Grain Chef pages show that they care about getting the most out of their beers & grains. It also shows what can be done with an inventive mind & knowledge.