Christopher Harris, Who Started Brewing Beer In His Garage, Has Opened Cleveland’s First Black-Owned Brewery
Cleveland, OH’s first Black-owned brewery has touched down.
The origins of Black Frog Brewery traces back to 2014 when its founder Christopher Harris, who is also a husband, father, and veteran, began working on the craft from his garage, an Instagram post reveals. Two years later, he scaled the business from his garage to its first location in Holland, OH, and it has been a part of the nearby community ever since.
According to its website, Black Frog Brewery offers five different core beers crafted in-house: Amphibian (Pale Ale); Flying Frog (India Pale Ales); Cream of the Frog (Cream Ale); Ebony Prince (Milk Stout); and Froglicious (Honey Brown Porter). It also offers specific brews for its summer, spring, fall, and winter seasons and has a lineup to honor legends in the Hip Hop community such as Left Eye (Kolsch Watermelon) and Aaliyah (Kolsch Raspberry).
“Our Hip Hop Beer Series, where we raise a glass to hip hop legends! Each brew is crafted with inspiration from our brewmasters’ favorite artists, blending unique flavors that celebrate the spirit of the genre. Cheers to great beer and legendary vibes,” a statement on the company website read.
Now, the brewery’s classic and tailored offerings has made its way to Cleveland, OH, News 5 reports. On Friday May 9, a grand opening was held for the city’s first Black-owned brewery located in the Midtown Collaboration Center on East 66th St.
“It’s because of the neighborhood is why I’m here,” said Harris, according to the outlet, as he shared he wanted to help revitalize the area.
The expansion is also a family affair as Harris is joined by his wife and children, who are all involved in the business.
“Black Frog Brewery is more than a business-it’s family and legacy. Meet his wife, Diane, son and daughter, Chris Jr. and Bryttani, and brewer, Brian-the team behind the brews. With every pour, they honor tradition, push boundaries, and bring people together. Swing by and say hello when we open in Cleveland,” a post on the business’ Instagram page reads.
