Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream
Philanthropic Initiative Aims to Provide Valuable Mentorship &
Brewing Support Through Signature Program
BOSTON, July 10,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Adams Brewing the
American Dream, the revolutionary philanthropic program aimed at
providing mentorship and access to capital to food and beverage
entrepreneurs nationwide, today announces the winner of its
12th Brewing & Business Experienceship. Chicago's Funkytown Brewery is welcomed to the
coveted class of emerging craft brewers to receive support and
unique experiences on behalf of Samuel Adams.
The Brewing & Business Experienceship is an annual program
that invites craft brewers nationwide to apply for the chance to
win unparalleled access to brewing and business resources from
experts at Samuel Adams, including founder and brewer Jim Koch. One lucky craft brewer is selected to
come to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, work side-by-side with a
team of mentors and collaborate on a specialty beer with Samuel
Adams. The winner will also travel to the preeminent craft beer
event of the year, the Great American Beer Festival, to shadow and
experience alongside Samuel Adams.
For the second year in a row, the Brewing & Business
Experienceship was deliberated in-person by a crowd of beer lovers
and judges at the Crafting Dreams Beer Bash. This special
event, held on Friday, June
23rd in New York
City, gathered Funkytown Brewery and five other finalists
from across the country to sample a beer of their choice and share
their unique business stories live. The event was a true showcase
of the breadth of Brewing the American Dream's support for small
food & beverage businesses, featuring local food vendors within
the network such as Harlem Chocolate Factory, Bridge's Kitchen,
Jikonikwenu, SAMBUXA and more.
Proudly Black-owned, Funkytown Brewery was founded by childhood
and lifelong friends Rich
Bloomfield, Zack Day and
Greg Williams who share a passion
for their hometown of Chicago and
home brewing. Largely influenced by the Chicago craft scene and 90's Hip Hop and
R&B, Funkytown Brewery started home-brewing in a family
garage. The brewery later launched in 2021 with a mission to
introduce craft beer to underserved communities and provide a
deeper understanding of different beer styles, tasting notes,
aromas and colors. Today, Funkytown Brewery aims to serve craft
beer deserts and add diversity and representation to the shelves of
established retailers.
"We are so proud to announce Funkytown Brewery as our latest
Experienceship winner," said Jim
Koch, Founder and Brewer of Samuel Adams. "Not only was
their signature 'Hip-Hops and R&Brew' a standout among voters
at the Crafting Dreams Beer Bash, but their mission of expanding
the craft beer community to underserved groups really resonated
with us. When I started Samuel Adams, educating drinkers was key,
and the dedication Rich, Zack and Greg show in sharing their
knowledge with all is a reminder of the passion that will always
keep the movement alive."
"Winning Brewing the American Dream's Brewing & Business
Experienceship feels amazing at this stage of our business as we
are taking the next steps to expand operations and increase
awareness of our brand," said Rich
Bloomfield, Funkytown Co-Founder. "We've been around since
October 2021, so working directly
with Sam Adams provides validation,
exposure, and mentorship that will help us successfully transition
Funkytown to the next level."
In the months ahead, Funkytown Brewery will join Samuel Adams in
Denver for the Great American Beer
Festival and in Boston to craft a
special collaboration brew. Details on release date and
availability in respective taprooms within Boston and Chicago will follow.
For more information on Brewing the American Dream, visit
www.brewingtheamericandream.com.
About Brewing the American Dream
In 2008, Samuel Adams launched its core philanthropic initiative,
Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream. In partnership with Accion
Opportunity Fund, one of the nation's largest non-profit small
business lenders, the program supports small business owners in the
food, beverage, and brewing industries through access to business
capital, coaching, and new market opportunities. The goal is to
help strengthen small businesses, create local jobs, and build
vibrant communities. Since the inception of the Samuel Adams
Brewing the American Dream program, Brewing the American Dream has
worked together with Accion Opportunity Fund and other non-profits
in loaning more than $99 million to
more than 4,100 small business owners in the food and beverage
industry. Brewing the American Dream employees, together with local
business partners and community organizations, have provided
coaching and mentoring to more than 14,000 business owners across
the country helping to create or maintain more than 9,000 local
jobs.
About Boston Beer Company
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing
Samuel Adams beer and the Samuel Adams brand is currently
recognized as one of the largest and most respected craft beer
brands. Our portfolio of brands also includes Truly Hard Seltzer,
Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Dogfish Head Brewery and
Hard Mountain Dew as well as other craft beer brands such as Angel
City Brewery and Coney Island Brewing. For more information, please
visit our www.bostonbeer.com.
Media Contact:
5W Public Relations
btad@5wpr.com
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SOURCE Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream