Black Beauty Brewery is more than just a craft beer company; it's a story of resilience, innovation, and passion. Founded by husband and wife duo Sheldon and Brittany Goins during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Black Beauty Brewery has quickly made its mark as Bowie, MD's first black-owned craft beer company and Prince George's County's second. This trailblazing brewery is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of beer recipes, ensuring that each brew stands out in the competitive beer industry.
Interview with Sheldon & Brittany Goins
Founders of Black Beauty Brewery
Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Sheldon and Brittany Goins and their mission to highlight the significant contributions of African Americans in the craft beer world.
Can you share the story behind why you decided to start your company?
During the hardships of 2020, the love for making beer and hard cider surfaced. Homebrewing and entering competitions throughout the years have helped hone the skills needed to succeed within this craft business. Through hard work and determination, Black Beauty Brewery has become P.G. County's Second Black-Owned Beer Brand.
From the beginning of our craft beer journey, making INNOVATIVE craft beer for the community to enjoy has always been a want and need. Being young African American entrepreneurs provides the opportunity and platform to raise awareness of the presence of African Americans in the craft beer industry and the contributions that have been made to it.
How do you think your background and identity have influenced the way you run your business in the alcohol industry?
I've always been open to trying new things that the average person may be apprehensive about. So I think that helps with my creativity and willingness to introduce new flavors to the market and not playing it safe. Combining my creativity with Brittany’s determination and work ethic helps us run the business successfully and keeps Black Beauty Brewery moving forward.
What were your biggest challenges when you got started, and what is your biggest challenge right now?
The biggest challenges we faced in the beginning were expenses and licensing. The biggest challenge right now is funding the mass production of beer to distribute throughout the DMV area and beyond. In addition, we would love to provide scholarships to minorities who are interested in entrepreneurship and agriculture.
What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who are interested in entering the alcohol production industry?
Advice I would give to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to build connections with others in the industry you are looking to pursue. Networking is such valuable experience and you can learn the do's and don'ts when just getting started. I'd also suggest testing out your products amongst family and friends that are going to provide honest feedback to ensure you have a profitable product.
What inspires you to keep going when things get hard?
What inspires us to keep going when things get hard is our children. We always want to model perseverance for them. Also the relationships we have built within the beer community help keep us motivated to push forward.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you or your company?
Sheldon is an Alumnus of Bowie State University, a brother of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated, and a Prince George's County native. Brittany is an Alumna of Delaware State University, and a New Castle, DE native.
Black Beauty Brewery is a shining example of how passion and innovation can drive change and create outstanding craft beers. Be sure to follow their journey on social media @blackbeautybrewery and visit their website at blackbeautybrewery.net for the latest updates.
Cheers to Sheldon and Brittany Goins for their remarkable contributions to the craft beer industry!
Because Diversity is the taste of life®!
Remember to enjoy responsibly.
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