Houston is finally getting its first Black-owned brewery, as Carl Roaches Jr. and partners Miguel Rodriguez, Jonathan Brown, and Devon Daniel prepare to open For The Culture Brewing later this year.
The launch caps off a long journey for the founders and marks an important milestone for diversity in Houston’s booming beer scene.
Homebrew Hobby Leads To Ambitious Brewery Venture
Roaches Jr. and Rodriguez, along with friends Brown and Daniel, bonded years ago over a shared passion for flavorful craft beers. As homebrewing hobbyists, they garnered recognition in local competitions before deciding to turn pro.
In 2018, the team was able to purchase a three-vessel brewhouse system for garage brewing operations. However, finding a brick-and-mortar location proved extremely difficult over the next three years.
Securing A Site Poses Major Obstacles
The For The Culture team encountered numerous roadblocks trying to secure a physical brewery space. From property disputes to landlords backing out over permitting issues, the hurdles seemed endless.
Roaches Jr. does not mince words in describing the frustrating process, saying it felt nearly impossible to find an affordable location “where you don’t have to sell your organs.”
Partnership With Women-Owned Brewery Breaks Logjam
The breakthrough came in 2021 when For The Culture joined forces with Ovinnik Brewing, a women-owned startup facing its own challenges.
The two breweries will operate under a joint entity called Craft Culture X in Houston’s Lazybrook/Timbergrove neighborhood. The partners broke ground in January 2022 on a two-phase buildout featuring an indoor taproom and sprawling outdoor beer garden.
Opening Houston’s First Black-Owned Brewery
When For The Culture finally welcomes its first guests later this year, it will rank as Houston’s first-ever Black-owned brewery.
The founders aim to provide more diversity in an industry still dominated by white males. Roaches Jr. hopes the brewery will inspire more people of color to pursue brewing careers.
“I want For The Culture to be a model for other people of color, so they can say: ‘I want to be in beer, too. I can do this,’” he said.
The brewery name – evoking Black culture and identity – reflects the founder’s mission to fully represent Houston’s diversity through beer.
Paving The Way for Better Representation
While marking a major milestone, For The Culture is still an outlier in Texas’ beer landscape. With over 350 total breweries statewide, Black-owned operators account for less than 1 percent.
Roaches Jr. and partners had to traverse numerous financial, logistical and regulatory obstacles that underrepresented groups often face in the alcohol industry.
But by passionately chasing their vision, these pioneers have opened the door for others to follow. For The Culture’s long-awaited debut will be cause for celebration across Houston’s beer community and beyond.
