CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A statewide initiative is aiming to increase diversity in the brewing industry. 

According to the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, minorities own 12 out of nearly 350 breweries in the state. 

What You Need To Know

  • An initiative to increase diversity in brewing is offering paid internships

  • The Many Faces Brewery Internship Program will be for 10 weeks

  • Each participating brewery will release a beer designed by their intern to help raise funds for next year

Town Brewing Company in Charlotte is spearheading the Many Faces Brewery Internship Program. 

The 10-week, paid internship will provide mentorship and offer training experience to people of color with interest in the craft beer industry. 

Town Brewing Co. Director of Brewery Operations Brian Quinn said he felt craft beer was not living up to its promise of being a force for good within the community. 

“You look at the demographics and it doesn't look like the communities they're situated in. It's just a lot of people that look like me and beer is supposed to be for everybody,” Quinn said. 

Through fundraising and sales from the release of the Many Faces West Coast IPA, Town Brewing, Good Road Ciderworks, Wiseman Brewing, Bond Brothers Beer Company and Archetype Brewing will be able to host interns this summer. 

Lashea Johnson recently graduated from a paid internship at Sugar Creek Brewing Company.

“I had never brewed by myself and I had a very shaky understanding of the brewing process before this internship,” Johnson said. 

General Manager Marques Nash came up with the idea after calls for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd last summer. 

“It’s to change the culture, literally from the inside out,” Nash said. “We couldn't wait too long because it was so raw for me and I wanted change now.”

Johnson and Nash will now serve on the board of the Many Faces Brewery Internship Program. 

"Just by being an example. Just by showing people there’s a path they can take in this industry. By showing people, there’s a place for them. By showing minority customers they are welcome in these tap rooms,” Johnson said. 

For her, having a paid internship made a big difference. 

“Unless you have some sort of privilege where you don’t have to work, then it’s pretty difficult get the kind of education you need for this industry,” Johnson said. 

Each brewery will release a beer designed by their intern, and the proceeds will help sustain the program for next year. 

You can also donate to the program here. 

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