Black-owned brewery and burger joint coming to NoDa

Why it matters: It’s Georgia’s first Black-owned brewery and it’s expanding to Charlotte, which hasn’t had a Black-owned business making and selling beer since Three Spirits closed in 2019. 

Next year Charlotte will have two, with Weathered Souls Brewery Co. opening in April.

Context: Owner Clarence Boston is a born and bred North Carolinian, and has ties to the cities dating back decades.

He once owned Boston’s Mortuary on Statesville Road, and he lived in NoDa for about five years before moving to Atlanta.

“We just really missed Charlotte,” he told me when I asked him about the expansion.

Boston also co-owns Firehouse Bar & Lounge, and Recess in Plaza Midwood.

Flashback: Boston says he got his drink-making skills from his great-grandmother, who used to make fruity wine out of muscadine, peaches and green apples. “But we didn’t really like wine so they bought me and my brother a home brewing kit and we started making beer,” Boston said.

Now it’s 22 years later, and Boston has a successful brewery, a distillery, and an oyster bar — and he’s bringing those skills to Charlotte.

Details: Hippin Hops will open at Bainbridge NoDa on North Davidson Street. It’s at 2509 North Davidson, across from the original Amelie’s location. 

It’ll have indoor and outdoor space, totaling 3,900 square feet.

They’ll also serve gourmet burgers.

As for their beers, Boston tells me they specialize in sours, IPAs, wheat beers and stouts. Their “So Peachy” is their best seller.

“We’re trying to open it up to people who don’t really drink beer,” Boston said.