Program to be housed at new Weathered Souls Brewing Co. location in Charlotte, North Carolina
SHAKOPEE, Minn. – April 27, 2022 – Rahr Corporation and craft brewing industry leader Marcus Baskerville today announced the launch of a new, first-of-its-kind incubation program aimed at supporting and creating space for underrepresented groups in the craft brewing industry. The Harriet Baskerville Incubation Program will provide structured brewing education, training, professional mentorship, and resources to women and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) brewers.
The program will be housed in Baskerville’s new Weathered Souls Brewing Co. location opening later this year in Charlotte, North Carolina, and targets brewers who are transitioning to professional commercial brewing and planning to either start or own a brewery. Over the course of one year, 12 brewers will be selected to travel to Weathered Souls for a monthlong immersive program. Rahr Corporation has committed $100,000 to fully fund the program’s first year.
“We are proud to support this unique program that is actively taking steps to diversify our industry and broaden its appeal,” said Rahr Corporation President and CEO Willie Rahr. “Our company believes that fostering a more diverse and inclusive industry is not only morally imperative but can also be a driver of growth for craft beer. Through this partnership, we can help build a stronger and more sustainable brewing industry for future generations.”
According to 2020 data from the Brewers Association, there are approximately 8,800 breweries in the U.S., and less than 65 are Black-owned. And while 22% of the country’s breweries have women in ownership, partnership or majority shareholder roles, women represent only 7.5% of actual brewers.
“Even with the unprecedented growth and popularity of the craft beer movement, women and people of color continue to be left out,” said Baskerville, founder and leader of the program. “Named after my grandmother, the Harriet Baskerville Incubation Program will provide opportunities for those who are underrepresented in our industry to gain hands-on training and education in brewing – hopefully jump-starting incredible careers.”
Participants will learn about brewery maintenance and brewing beer on professional equipment; malting and analytical tests related to brewing practices; yeast propagation, cell counting, viability and health; and how to create, finance and market a sustainable brewing program. They will have access to Rahr’s technical experts and premium products.
The program is set to launch in November 2022. Applications for candidates will be available in August.
ABOUT RAHR CORPORATION
Rahr Corporation is a trusted leader in the food and beverage industries, providing high-quality ingredients and services to customers around the world. For 175 years, the company has been owned and operated by the Rahr family. Rahr Corporation is an international company made up of several business units including Gambrinus Malting, Brewers Supply Group (BSG), BSG Hops, Bevie, Bintani, Bushel Boy Farms and Koda Energy. Rahr operates the largest single-site malting facility in the world at its headquarters in Shakopee, Minnesota. Learn more at Rahr.com.
ABOUT MARCUS BASKERVILLE
Marcus Baskerville is co-founder of Weathered Souls Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas, and creator of the Black is Beautiful initiative, a viral collaborative beer project that has seen participation from over 1,200 breweries in 50 states and raised over $3 million toward organizations and efforts focused on promoting equity and inclusion. Baskerville has received several accolades while operating Weathered Souls Brewing, such as San Antonio’s Brewery of the Year twice, Best 33 Stouts in the World (2019), Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 Top Taste Makers (2020), Craft Beer & Brewing Break Out Brewer (2020), Best Brewery in the U.S. (2020), Top 20 beers by Hop Culture (2021), and many others. To download a headshot of Baskerville, click here.
Media contact:
Madeleine Rush
Madeleine@goffpublic.com
651-214-6937