By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — Locally based brewery Crowns & Hops continues to expand its footprint after being named the winner of the 13th annual Brewing & Business Experienceship, sponsored by Samuel Adams Brewing.
“This recognition from Brewing the American Dream is a remarkable milestone as we look to evolve our business to new heights,” said Beny Ashburn, co-founder of Crowns & Hops. “Teo and I are excited that this opportunity will not only enhance our ability for continued impact locally, but also propel us towards the broader footprint we’ve always envisioned. As we go deeper down the path of community building, culture preservation and palate expansion through world-class beer, we are proud to have Samuel Adams in our corner.”
The Brewing & Business Experienceship is an annual opportunity for craft brewers across the country to contend for unparalleled expertise from Samuel Adams’ professionals, including founder and brewer Jim Koch.
Crowns & Hops beat five other brands to achieve the coveted title.
“While all our finalists were incredibly talented and passionate about craft brewing, Crowns & Hops made a unique impact with their infectious energy, creative thinking and ongoing drive to promote diversity through their brews,” said Jennifer Glanville, director of partnerships for Brewing The American Dream. “In every step of the process, we were impressed with Beny and Teo’s forward-thinking business mindset and dedication to creating a more inclusive future in the industry.”
Each year, one standout brewer is selected to join a team of mentors at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery to fine-tune skills for business growth and co-create a specialty beer. The winner also attends the Great American Beer Festival, the premier craft beer event, to uniquely experience the industry alongside Samuel Adams.
“Each year, this program moves us deeply as we witness the immense talent that lives within the craft beer industry, and Crowns & Hops is a shining example of it,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. “Their infectious energy, dedication, and passion for growth stood out to us. These qualities are vital to keeping the beating heart of the craft beer movement strong for many years to come. Beny and Teo’s commitment to furthering the innovation and inclusivity of craft beer demonstrates the spirit and drive that will continue to invigorate our industry.”
Crowns & Hops continues to pave the way for more Black and brown faces across the craft beer industry. Their focus is achieving racial equity and attaining true representation of the Black community in craft beer, with a mission to reach 13% Black ownership among breweries in the U.S.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
