What You Need To Know About Black Brew Culture's Blacktoberfest 2022
Black Brew Culture's Blacktoberfest is an annual festival that celebrates Black-owned breweries and restaurants, per their website. The B.L.A.C.K. Beer Initiative aims to uplift Black-owned breweries, particularly smaller, craft breweries. They aim to educate consumers about which brands are Black-owned and promote their brews so they will be available to purchase in stores.
According to the Charlotte Observer, a 2019 survey conducted by The Brewers Association found that less than 1% of breweries in America were Black-owned. The Blacktoberfest website states that those already rare breweries may have taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Blacktoberfest has expanded the festivities to several different days across the month of October and will be holding festivals in three cities: Durham, Atlanta, and St. Louis. From live entertainment to good food, specialty brews, and even a 5K race, these festivals are sure to be a night of fun for all who attend!
When and where is Blacktoberfest held?
This year's Blacktoberfest will be held in three separate locations, according to the website. Durham Bottling Company in Durham, North Carolina, is holding the event for the second year in a row. The festivities will take place on October 22 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $250 and can be purchased from Ticket Tailor.
Hippin' Hops Brewery in Atlanta, Georgia — one of the largest Black-owned breweries in America — will host for the first time this year. The Atlanta festivities will take place on October 15 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and tickets — which range from $30 to $250 — can be purchased from Ticket Tailor.
In St. Louis, The Page at Carter Commons will host the festivities on October 1st from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. This will be the first time the festival will be held in St. Louis. They will be hosting the Twilight Run, and registration can be purchased through Run Signup. Tickets, which range from $15 to $45, can be purchased through the Blacktoberfest St. Louis website.
What to expect from this year's festivities
Durham Bottling Company's 12,000-square-foot event space will play host to a variety of vendors and entertainers, including Mike's Vegan Cookout, Mama 'Nems, Tilted Crown Products, and Sipping Black Only. The featured performances from ZOOCRÜ, DJ Bro-Rabb, and DJ Gemynii will keep attendees on their feet, dancing as they enjoy food and drinks throughout the evening.
Over in Atlanta at Hippin' Hops Brewery, attendees can enjoy food from Smokey Steve's BBQ and Gumbeaux Girlz while enjoying performances from DJ Rasta Root, Emperess Rah, and mikeflo. In addition to Hippin' Hops brews, attendees can enjoy drinks from breweries like Alematic Artisan Ales, Soul Brothers Brewing, Funkytown Brewery, and more.
St. Louis attendees can even participate in the first annual Twilight Run. Registration for the run includes a beer sampling ticket, a tee shirt, and a pretzel-shaped medal, according to Run Signup. Proceeds from the run will benefit Beyond Housing: A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the communities around St. Louis. After the run, attendees can grab a bite from Jive Turkey LLC, Original Family Smoke House, or Propel Kitchen while sipping on some brews.