Navy Vet Launches Historic Brewery
Augusta, Georgia resident and Navy veteran Robert Young has opened Tapped 33 Craft Brewhouse – the first ever Black-owned brewery in the city.
Transforming his passion for brewing into a business, Young is now distributing his signature “Good Googly Moogly” juicy IPA at bars and restaurants across the area.
Young first discovered his love of craft beer while stationed overseas in Europe. When he returned stateside, he began home brewing and volunteering at a local brewery before deciding to make his dream of opening his own brewery a reality.
Paying Homage to Local History
The brewery’s name, Tapped 33, references multiple connections to Augusta. The number 33 acknowledges the 33rd parallel that Augusta sits on, as well as recognizing famous Augusta native James Brown’s birth year of 1933.
It also signifies 1933 as the year Prohibition ended in the United States. Young creatively wove aspects of local history into the vision for his pioneering brewery.
Inspiring Black Entrepreneurs
As one of less than 1% of Black-owned breweries nationwide, Young wants Tapped 33 to inspire more African American entrepreneurs to enter the industry.
“Representation of Black people in the brewing industry is not a lot so I wanted to create a product that I could influence my culture,” Young told local station WTMV.
After first releasing Good Googly Moogly IPA locally on tap, Young now hopes to get Tapped 33 brews into retail stores as demand continues growing. Through hard work and dedication, his once “dream” business has taprooms flowing for Augusta beer lovers.
