Barrel & Flow Fest highlights Black brewers, musicians, artists in Pittsburgh
The collaboration is in perfect harmony.
Inner Groove Brewing and Driving While Black Records, a label highlighting Black artists, combined to create “Got The Juice.” The beer will be released Friday at Inner Groove Brewing in Verona and served at Barrel & Flow Fest on Saturday at Pittsburgh’s SouthSide Works.
“It was great to collaborate with Inner Groove,” said Jordan Montgomery, owner of Driving While Black Records. “They were so supportive of my idea. I love the taste of this beer and I think it will be a crowd favorite. It’s refreshing and smooth like juice.”
Montgomery, a Hazelwood native who lives in Sheraden, is also a hip-hop artist. He applied to be part of Barrel & Flow, which hosts Black brewers as well as musical and art talents from the Black community, and was matched with Inner Groove. The festival was formerly called Fresh Fest.
In his youth, Montgomery loved Welch’s grape juice. He incorporated his love of the drink when he partnered with Inner Groove for a grape-inspired sour beer.
Being able to help bring awareness to the lack of diversity on the brewing business is a reason Jen Walzer, co-founder of Inner Groove, teamed with Driving While Black Records. She said there are at least 42 breweries in Allegheny County. They all support each other. If someone needs something, they reach out and help is available, she said.
“It is the perfect collaboration because we like to name our beers after songs and use record labels as inspiration,” Walzer said. “It was fun. Anything we can do to help the industry be more diverse we are all for it.”
At Barrel & Flow Fest there will be 75 breweries and four stages showcasing Black musical acts as well as disc jockeys playing throughout the day.
Artists will be doing life painting. Food vendors will be on site.
“It will be a cookout type atmosphere,” said Day Bracey, of Braddock, founder of Barrel & Flow Fest. “We want people to be able to stand around, enjoy some beer, have great conversation and just enjoy themselves.”
The festival is requiring attendees provide proof of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test from within the last 72 hours for entry.
There is an app people can download to get more information about the schedule, breweries, a marketplace and a job board.
A job fair will be part of the event for those interested in getting into the beer industry. Barrel & Flow is also offering grant opportunities for any art project up to $1,000 to help small businesses, Bracey said.
Symposiums and a speaker series will be held Friday. A brewer’s brunch – where attendees can meet some of the festival brewers, artists and collaborators – will be held on Sunday.
“Beer is cool but money is better,” said Bracey. “Guests can meet the brewers. I don’t know ‘Anheuser or Busch’ but I know the local brewers. I hope this festival can help people make connections. That’s what it’s all about.”
According to the Brewers Association, 88% of brewery owners are white while 1% are Black.
“Craft beer, much like a lot of luxury items, isn’t as prevalent in Black communities,” Bracey said. “That is because of barriers to access. The Black community has to leave their comfort zone to get access to experience craft beer and sometimes that can be dangerous.”
Tickets are $50-$75 and available here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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