Business

Black Owned Craft Beer Brand Launched By Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter

CHARLESTON CHRONICLE — The first three craft beers under the Crowns & Hops brand are set to launch Spring 2019.

Published

7 years ago

March 9, 2019

By The Charleston Chronicle

Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter, the co-founders of Dope & Dank, a craft beer lifestyle brand focused on curating immersive experiences that bridge communities of color, culture and craft beer, announce the launch of Crowns & Hops, their new craft beer brand. Crowns & Hops is a natural extension and actualization of the Dope & Dank lifestyle brand, and the movements #BlackPeopleLoveBeer and #BrownPeopleLoveBeer.

The dynamic duo that Time Magazine deemed responsible for “Changing the Face of Beer” in 2018, are taking their experience as change agents in craft beer culture to another level with an unprecedented partnership with Scotland-based craft brewer – BrewDog. In October 2018, it was announced that Hunter and Ashburn will be the first beneficiaries of BrewDog’s revamped development fund, an initiative that sees BrewDog helping small craft breweries, brands and start-up businesses get established. In addition to financial support BrewDog will provide material support to brewers such as help with sourcing ingredients and brewing materials, offering its state-of-the-art laboratory for beer analysis and supporting sales growth by introducing recipients to its international sales network. BrewDog will also brew Crowns & Hops alongside its own headliner beers in their brewery locations of Columbus, Ohio and Ellon Scotland for global distribution.

The Crowns & Hops brand will introduce artisanal craft beer to a more diverse community with merchandise, brewpubs and taprooms around the world. Together, Hunter and Ashburn are on a mission to shine a light on the lack of diversity in the global craft beer culture. They will develop concrete steps to open the industry to more diverse audiences and challenge ingrained stereotypes that black and brown people don’t drink craft beer.

Currently, there are plans to open the first flagship brewery and restaurant in Inglewood California, the heart of one of America’s most culturally rich communities for people of color. In an effort to preserve the cultural significance of Inglewood, California and make the Crowns & Hops flagship brewery a reality, funding for the project will be raised through a global crowdfunding campaign in 2019. The campaign launches on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform on March 6. The investors of this crowdfunding effort will be known as the “Crowns & Hops Crew”, the physical collective of all community brand investors who share the passion and goals for authentic cultural representation in craft beer.

“We’ve grown weary of asking for our presence to be acknowledged in a community that has never truly embraced us. So instead of waiting for it to happen organically, we’re doing it ourselves, and creating a community that will become a mecca for those that are searching for it.”- Teo Hunter

“The time is now for cultural ownership! Responsible, authentic culture curated for the people by the people. We are thrilled to partner with BrewDog to help make this vision a reality.” – Beny Ashburn

“Beny and Teo’s passion for changing the world of craft beer is infectious. The Crowns & Hops movement is inspiring brewers, bars, and beer enthusiasts around the world to take an honest and critical look at the ways craft beer culture has consciously and unconsciously excluded people of color. When I first met them, I was completely blown away by how unapologetic and uncompromising they are, and it opened my own eyes to a very serious issue we have in craft beer. It’s these qualities that made us such great partners, and I can’t wait to see what they can achieve with BrewDog’s support.” – James Watt, BrewDog cofounder

The first three craft beers under the Crowns & Hops brand are set to launch Spring 2019 (A Pilsner, IPA and a Stout). The company will be launching a series of tasting experiences, events and festivals across the United States and the U.K. giving the public and investors an opportunity to try their new craft beer.

This article originally appeared in the Charleston Chronicle.

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC