Brewbound 2023 Rising Stars: Crowns and Hops

Speaker 1 [00:12] Hey there. It's Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante, and I am so excited for this next conversation with 2023 Brewbound rising stars, Benny Ashburn and Teo Hunter, the co-founders of California's own Crowns and Hops. Benny, TO, welcome. Thanks for joining us. How are you guys?

Brew Bund [00:30] ground. Hi, we're always excited to talk to you guys. Again. This is Brew Bund and Pitch Slam was like the Oscars for us, so this is always like the most exciting conversation we can have.

Speaker 3 [00:45] He and I literally had an acceptance speech. It was like only like 5 people left in the conference, and we like got to wrap it up. What's up? We looked

Brew Bund [00:54] at each other like, no, it's us. Oh my God,

Speaker 3 [00:57] I wanna thank my mama. I wanna thank

Speaker 1 [01:00] my daddy. It was you. I love how you guys are just negating the whole script that I just typed out because I was gonna say this one is very special for me because you were the winners of the Brewbound pitch slam in 2019, which is the first year that I joined the team, so it was my first brewbound Live too. We have come a long way since then. Uh, we've made it through a pandemic. The craft beer industry is doing some wild things, but, but you guys are stronger than ever, and we're so happy to be honoring you as rising stars this year. So, you know, for people who might not know, and that should be a very small amount of people these days, can you tell us a little bit about what Crowns and Hops is all about?

Speaker 3 [01:38] Word. Crownston Knobs Brewing Company, um, preserving culture, uh, expanding the palate through world-class craft beer and building community. Um, that has always been our mission from 2019 when we, um, were, were so, uh, incredibly humbled to, uh, win that pitch slam. Um, it was, it was really a moment of confirmation, um, from the industry that I don't think we ever really experienced before, um, to actually, um, set ourselves up and, and rather to present ourselves to the industry, um, and to be confirmed was, was a pretty awesome experience. Uh, but Benny and I are just really focused on bringing diversity and inclusion, and more importantly, racial. Equity, um, accomplishing racial equity in the craft beer industry because ultimately we believe that, um, if we accomplish racial equity or if we actually focus on it, it ultimately is better for, uh, or a goal for economic success for our entire industry. And that's one of the things that Benny and I have been yelling from the rooftops specifically to our fellow brewers, um, and breweries rather, is that, um, seeing Crowns and Hops succeed. is almost a barometer for how we measure the health of our entire industry. Um, so, um, we're excited to, to really continue moving forward with our plans, um, in brewing and, and creating a space in Inglewood, California.

Speaker 1 [03:12] I mean, you won the 2019 pitch lane because frankly, you, you deserved it. You know, your, your beer was on point, your message was so important, and both of those things have only gotten stronger since then. So, Tell me a little bit about uh atrial pills. I know that's something that's really important to you guys, and it's, to me, it's, it's proof positive that you're actually putting your actions where your words are.

Brew Bund [03:35] Yeah, um, in 2020, um, at, you know, the height of COVID and, and the murder of George Floyd, we, we really kind of looked at what was happening inside the industry, you know, a lot of businesses were closing and, and particularly there were a few black-owned breweries that were closing and With there being less than 1%, we can't afford to lose a single black-owned brewery in the industry. So, you know, uh, we kind of put our heads together to identify how can we Create opportunities to help other black-owned, uh, beer brands, especially when we know how hard it is, you know, like right now, we're, we're still in the middle of a, a capital raise, and I, I think as an entrepreneur, you're never not Raising, but the opportunities opportunities, the accessibility to black-owned beer brands isn't as available, I think, uh, as, as to maybe some others. So A Trill Initiative is our nonprofit that focuses, uh, again on driving more racial equity inside of, of the craft beer industry. Um, we have two really important pillars inside of it. We have our, um, 8 trill. Uh, collaborative collaboration series where we partner with other craft beer, larger craft beer brands, uh, to produce beer and the funds. From that beer and all of the funds or a portion of the funds goes into our fund that we award to other black-owned craft beer brands. Um, some of the collaborations we've done, especially the top of last year, we did a really, uh, amazing collaboration with Ali Ash. Um, we've done one with LA Ale Works, Tia, who am I, uh, there's so many, we've, we've been

Speaker 3 [05:16] blessed. The other half, um, yeah, uh, smaller breweries like Trademark, uh, Henhouse Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. Um, and, and I think what we've done in doing so, um, we set a precedent for what it means to collaborate with other black-owned breweries through the Atrial Initiative, um, and stating the objective which is we want to build this. Fund that inherently um improves the health and the well-being of current Black-owned breweries, but also creates a pathway and opportunity and or resources for Black-owned breweries and planning, I think is what Benny and I, um, if you look at the whole point, um, we're leading from the front, um, you know, and that's something that I don't think we saw a lot of, um, when we came up with the ARL Initiative in 2020. Um, we, we, we were Incredibly inspired um by a document published by the WK Kellogg Foundation called A Business Case for Racial Equity, but these documents have been in the world since 2018, you know, and, and, and probably other documents that gave a pathway, but there was no one really picking up the torch and, and, and leading from the front. And, and I think that's where Benny and I, um, kind of really, you know. Made a made a a a intentional plan to, to show up for our community and our industry.

Speaker 1 [06:44] One thing I love and admire about both of you is you're so good at delivering this message, and I know it can be an uncomfortable conversation to have to say, hey, craft brewers, all of you are white guys, but I think they should know more than anybody that The, the, the best way or the most important way to ensure a successful long-lasting industry is to build one that's inclusive, that's diverse, that makes everybody feel comfortable. Cause if there's something that we've seen in the past few years of craft beer, it's that not everybody has felt comfortable. I mean, I don't want to say having a seat at the table, it's more like having a seat at the bar. But the only way that everyone is gonna survive is if we're able to make To make it, it make it stronger for everybody. So you guys are great at that, and I am very eloquently saying something here, but I think what you've been able to do is really inspire the rest of the industry, and I love that about you. So, I mean, what are you most proud of in 2023?

Brew Bund [07:46] Um, I think even from looking at the current pitch slam, uh, uh, what are recipients, I would say, um, and seeing how absolutely diverse it is from when it was Crowns and House, Benny and Tio in 2019 to today, seeing not just one black-owned, you know, beer brand, but like three or four in the same competition. I mean, that says a lot about how far This industry's come and it's, it's not that they weren't always there, it's just they didn't have an opportunity to be seen or to be acknowledged. And now The industry is truly acknowledging the power of these brands, the quality of these brands, the storytelling of these brands, um, and we are sitting at the, at the bar, you know, or no longer needing to build our own bar, but we're all sitting there together, and I think that's what's really exciting about, I think what me and Tio have driven inside of the industry.

Speaker 3 [08:51] Yeah, and I think um it really comes down to this is this is a trend that ultimately was something that um was, was forecasted. But like, you know, the, the fact is the country is becoming more diverse. The fact is by 2050, the country is estimated to be majority brown people, period. Like that, that is, that is the trend, it's not gonna go backwards. So if that's the case and if that's the trend of the community that we are Serving as a craft beer business, as a, as a beverage, uh, business, then what are we doing to ensure that our industry is reflective of that change and of that inevitable change. Um, so, you know, Benny and I have always really just invited people to be a part of a conversation that we just knew that we know is imminent. And, um, you know, I think, you know, obviously I'm sure we'll get into it, but with organizations like the MB2A um or uh our own organization, the ARL Initiative, um, the, the, the roadmap is there and I think we invite people to ultimately just dive in and explore information that has already been Um, you know, uh, forecasted by people way smarter than us. You know, all we do is make it relative.

Speaker 1 [10:10] I mean, I don't think we get to where we are right now without the two of you. So thank you so much. Um, but looking ahead to next year, what does 2024 hold for crowns and hops?

Brew Bund [10:19] Everything. We're taking over the world. No. Um, 2024. It goes the way we want it to go, we will be opening our taproom. Finally, it's taking a little bit of time. What they don't tell you is construction permits, uh, take at least a year and a half years longer than you expect them to take, so. Yes, at least. Um, opening our taproom. I mean, really opening our taproom, that's, I think. Our wholesale business is, is doing well, you know, ideally we, we really go deeper into California.

Speaker 3 [10:57] Also good business doing awesome. We're almost at. 3000 barrels, like, like we're, we're killing it, but, but having the opportunity to sell direct to consumers and, and create the space that is the physical representation of crowns and hops is, is, is beyond exciting.

Speaker 1 [11:14] You're certainly, you're doing it your own way. The DTC stuff I think is so important because it gives you Uh, I mean, it's in, in DTC, a direct connection to your consumers, so you can get data, you can see where they are, what they like, what their habits are, and that's really powerful stuff for you then to bring to a wholesaler, to a retailer, like you can say, hey, we know all these things. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 3 [11:37] Say it louder,

Speaker 1 [11:37] Jess. Uh, something I saw on your website that I loved was the your Oktoberfest box. Uh, like the, the combo of Oktoberfest and HBCU Homecoming. To me that really encapsulates your essence. It's everything. It's traditional beer stuff. It's the like the rich homecoming tradition, rich homecoming cultures and traditions of HBCUs, and you put it all together in one box. How did that go? and what was the, what was the thinking behind it?

Brew Bund [12:06] Um, well, both, you know, me and Tia both went to HBCUs. Uh, Tia went to Howard, I went to Spelman. And um you know, we, we straddle a really beautiful line of culture and like traditional craft beer, right? And there are very few brands that can do that the way, authentically the way in which Tio and I do it. So You know, we looked at what HBCU means, homecoming, the season of homecoming, and what Dopetoberfest, or excuse me, Oktoberfest, which is we call Dopetoberfest, represents to the community. And we we saw so many similarities. It's celebration, it's family, it's connection, it's, it's coming together. Yeah, yeah, it's coming together. And we realized, well, let's really bring it together. Let's shine a light on The beauty of HBCUs and what that means and homecoming and celebration. And then let's take Oktoberfest, this very traditional German holiday and make it our own because, you know, that doesn't really speak to us. We, we don't celebrate Oktoberfest the way you might in Germany, but we sure as hell celebrate Oktoberfest. You know, so.

Speaker 1 [13:23] I love it. I'm, I, it's perfect that that is crowns and hops like in a nutshell, so. Benny TO, you two, I love talking to you. I'm so happy that we can honor you like this this year and just congratulations. We're so, so happy for all of your success. It really, it means a lot to us.

Speaker 3 [13:42] It means a lot to us to see Brewbound really be a part of progress and change as well. Um, it almost goes without saying, I, I just have to echo what Benny said, to see the pitch slam, to, to become more diverse and more inclusive, just really, I think allows for Um, the, the, the Black brewing, brewing community, the Asian, Latin, all these communities to see, we, we also have an opportunity on this platform to show and tell our story, um, that may be different than what you've heard for generations, and it's, it's that type of change that our industry absolutely needs in order to be as competitive, um, and as successful as it, it, it, it can potentially be.