Despite the fact that whites currently dominate the beer industry in America, there is an increase in black participation. Although Black Americans make up 12% of the U.S. beer drinking population, just 1% of breweries are owned by them.
In various states and localities around the country, blacks are opening breweries, earning bragging rights as the first people of color to do so. One of them is Richard Young III, who just made history by opening the first Black-owned brewery in Augusta, Georgia. He founded Tapped 33 Craft Brewery.
Young, a former member of the United States Navy, developed an interest in beer while attending college. His fondness for the beverage grew while stationed in Germany and the Czech Republic.
When he returned to the United States, he decided to experiment with brewing beer for fun. After his first craft beer fell short in flavor, things improved after he added some components on his sixth mixing attempt. After honing his technique, he was ready to develop his beer into Tapped 33 technique Brewery.
“It was a dream, now it’s coming true as cliché as it might sound but I really feel like once you put in the hard work once you dedicate yourself to something it’ll happen,” he told wrdw.com in December of 2015.
“Seeing it in cans and on the shelf feels surreal.” It’s a blessing, and it’s one of those things that I can’t put into words since it all began with me dreaming and thinking that I wanted to make a beer for my buddies,” he explained.
The 33 in Tapped 33 Craft Brewery has three different meanings. Blavity relates the number 33 to the abolition of Prohibition in the US, The Garden City, and Young’s hometown idol, the great musician James Brown. Augusta is located on the earth’s 33rd parallel. The worldwide alcohol ban expired on December 5, 1933, and the “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” performer was born in 1933.”
Young’s brewery business relied on more than just passion and experience. He also took workshops to learn more about starting his own brewery. The Atlanta native obtained valuable tools from the Brewers Association, which helps Black brewers, and Georgia Small Business Development.
Furthermore, he volunteered at Savannah River Brewing Company, and as a result of his relationship with the crew, he has been using that brewery for Tapped 33 production.