When you think of the typical beer enthusiast, usually a caucasian bearded man comes to mind (looks like I fit the bill). Rarely would a member of the black community be the first to come to mind. Why is that?
There are various explanations that have been given. Very few are more than speculation but the question has been raised including on online beer forums and message boards (Madison Beer Review for example). Searching online will also, unfortunately, bring up viewpoints that only reinforce stereo-types.
Does it have cultural connections? Europe has a long history of beer brewing. Is it due to advertising and beer being marketed to white people? Most macro beer commercials consist of a large group of smiling people with one or two designated people of color. Even worse... when they DO feature black people as the main character they make them look ridiculous:
So are there positive examples of African American people in the beer community? Of course there are!
Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewing Co., Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Companion to Beer, author of several books, and world-renowned beer expert.
Whether you are Democrat, Republican, or Independent... if you are a beer enthusiast you have to appreciate Barack Obama's open love for beer. At his Super-Bowl party he requested craft beers be on hand included a Honey Ale brewed by a White House chef.
So remember...this is not an accurate portrayal of all craft-beer drinkers...
And this is not an accurate portrayal of African-American people consuming alcoholic beverages:
