MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The newest beer to hit the shelves in Memphis is also from the city's first Black-owned brewery. Beale Street Brewery is a celebration of all things Memphis and hopes to grow a new demographic of craft beer drinkers.
"We want to be apart of the what’s right with Memphis conversation," Kelvin Kolheim said. “We feel like this is Memphis’ brewery and we want to make Memphis proud."
Kolheim opened Beale Street Brewing Company after several years of home brewing.
He hasn't opened a physical space yet as they continue to find a permanent home, but until then, he's still pushing out beer to local stores.
Kolheim is humble of the fact that he's the first Black-owned brewery to open in the city but what he does say is his brewing company is intended to be a celebration of Memphis.
“It’s a flag that you can stick in the ground and hang our hat off but we like to say that we look to celebrate all Memphians," he said. "It’s another accomplishment. We’re proud. Wish there was more. Hopefully there will be more.”
Beale St. Brewing currently has two beers on the shelves with two more hitting stores next week. All beers have a special nod to Memphis.
The signature brew, Space Age Sippin is a hazy IPA that celebrates Memphis hip hip legends 8Ball and MJG. The second is the Centsational IPA, a nod to Penny Hardaway.
"It's a cheers to all Memphians," Kolheim said.
Recently, Kolheim and eight other Mid-South breweries and craft beer businesses collaborated to make a '"Black" Is Beautiful' stout which will be sold at all local taprooms. The beer is part of a nationwide movement by breweries to come together to support Black Lives Matter.
“It’s something that needs to be celebrated to start dialogue and conversation with some challenges that are in the world today," Kolheim said.
Kolheim said he hopes through his brewery and the collaborative beer, there can be a growing dialogue around Black issues but also growing a Black demographic of craft beer drinkers in a predominately white craft.
“People don’t know what they don’t know so we’re trying to introduce craft beer to a whole different demographic with celebrating our Memphis community with it," he said. "It’s coming. I don’t know that I say it’s a challenge. It’s an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to educate people on craft beer and what craft beer has to offer.”
The "Black" Is Beautiful stout is expected to go on sale starting Saturday and can first be picked up at Memphis Made and Meddlesome. The following weekend it is expected to be available at Wiseacre, Ghost River and Crosstown.
Proceeds from the beer sales will go to benefit MICAH.
For a list of where Beale Street Brewing Co. products can be found, click here.
