Crowns & Hops Unites with Full Circle to Form Nation’s Largest Black-Owned Brewery Group
April 19, 2024 – Four of the country’s biggest Black-owned breweries will now be uniting under one house, according to a report today from Brewbound.
Full Circle Brewing, based out of Fresno, California, announced that it is forming a partnership with Inglewood, California’s Crowns & Hops Brewery. Full Circle had previously purchased Sonoma Cider in 2020, as well as San Francisco’s Speakeasy Ales & Lagers last year.
The new group will be called Circle of Crowns Brewing Group, and is projected to be the largest Black-owned brewing group in the national by volume.
Arthur Moye, Full Circle’s CEO, purchased the company from original owners Don Anderson and Bill McEvoy in 2016. Originally a CPA, Moye sold his accounting practice and partnered with investors Derek Frank, Gary Winter, Cassidy Jakovickas, LaTricia Adkins, Joe Denham, Sarah Moffatt, and Diego Arambula to purchase the brewery.
Crowns & Hops Brewery was founded in 2019 by Teo Hunter and Beny Ashburn. The pair had previously collaborated on a lifestyle brand called Black People Love Beer, which was later renamed Dope & Dank before morphing into the brewery.
As part of the deal, each side will retain their equity stakes. Crowns & Hops will be brewed at Full Circle’s production facility, and the brands will share a sales team and distribution resources.