Mike Potter

Homebrewer Mike Potter founded Black Brew Culture in 2015 to expand Black presence in the craft beer industry, on the drinking side of the bar and in production. In addition, he co-founded and presented Fresh Fest Beer Fest, the nation’s first Black craft beer festival in 2018. Also in 2018, Black Brew Culture released its first beer, For the Culture, a collaboration with Pittsburgh’s East End Brewery. In 2019, he was named one of Imbibe 75’s “People to Watch,” and was recognized in Time Magazine’s Beer installment “Changing the Face of Beer.”

In 2020, he expanded upon his earlier festival model to create Blacktoberfest, a celebration of African-American’s past and present cultural connection to beer, food and the concept of circular economics within community. Also in 2020, he established the lecture series Black Table, Black Tent, and The B.L.A.C.K. Beer Initiative, a five-point manifesto to increase the awareness and support of Black people in craft brewing. Through its online platform, symposium series and curated beer events, Black Brew Culture educates and advocates for access, equity and ownership in the beer industry, connecting craft brew culture with Black culture.