Cleveland Welcomes Its First Black-Owned Brewery in Midtown
Cleveland has a new reason to celebrate. On May 9, 2025, Christopher Harris opened Black Frog Brewery’s new taproom inside the Midtown Collaboration Center. This marks the city’s first Black-owned brewery, a milestone for both the local beer scene and Black entrepreneurship.
Harris, a U.S. Army veteran and proud family man, brought the venture to Cleveland with his wife and children. “It’s because of the neighborhood is why I’m here,” he told News 5. He chose Midtown for its untapped potential, aiming to uplift the community with both quality beer and opportunity.
A Family Legacy Brewed in Toledo
Harris didn’t start big. Back in 2014, he brewed beer in his garage in Toledo, Ohio. His hometown’s nickname, “Frog Town,” inspired the name Black Frog Brewery. What began as a one-man hobby quickly turned into a full-fledged business.
By 2016, he opened his first location in Holland, Ohio. His wife and children joined him on the journey, turning the brewery into a family-run success story. Together, they’ve created something unique—bold, community-centered, and built on love for craft beer.
Flavors That Honor Culture, Seasons, and Sound
Black Frog Brewery offers five standout beers: Amphibian (Pale Ale), Flying Frog (India Pale Ale), Cream of the Frog (Cream Ale), Ebony Prince (Milk Stout), and Froglicious (Honey Brown Porter). Each one is brewed in-house and reflects Harris’s creative spirit.
But there’s more. The brewery also has a Hip Hop Beer Series that pays tribute to music legends. Kolsch Watermelon honors Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, while Kolsch Raspberry salutes Aaliyah. “Each brew is crafted with inspiration from our brewmasters’ favorite artists,” the website explains. “Cheers to great beer and legendary vibes.”
Uplifting a Community and Crafting New Paths
The new taproom is more than a place to grab a drink. It’s a space rooted in community care and neighborhood pride. The Midtown Collaboration Center, where the brewery is located, is part of a $32 million project aimed at revitalizing the area.
Harris hopes his presence will open doors for others, especially in a field where diversity remains limited. Out of thousands of breweries across the U.S., only about 120 are Black-owned, according to the National Black Brewers Association. Harris wants to change that—one pint at a time.
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