After Losing His Job In 2020, Sheldon Goins Opened The First Black-Owned Brewery In Bowie, MD

After losing his job in 2020, Sheldon Goins made history as an entrepreneur.

While speaking with Fox 5 in Washington, DC, Goins reveals that after transitioning out of his role, he would make visits to the Rips Country Inn located in Bowie, MD. He would bring home six-packs of craft beer, and when his wife, Brittany, noticed the pattern it inspired a business idea.

“My wife was like ‘You might as well start making your own beer at home,'” he explained to the outlet. “Then from there I started buying a whole bunch of random equipment and starting kits, and I made my own recipe. And then my wife noticed again and said, ‘You might as well make a company out of this.’ Of course I listened, and she was right. That same year I created Black Beauty Brewery.”

While Goins had the affirmation from his wife, he also received a head nod when entering his recipe in homebrew competitions, winning the third and even top spot at times.

In August 2022, Black Beauty Brewery officially released its blood orange beer. It is made with Saison ale (a French-Belgian ale) and blood orange puree, spice, pepper, and cloves. That same year, the company also made history as the first Black-owned brewery in Bowie, MD.

Looking ahead, Goins hopes to expand the company across the U.S. The brewery has been straightening its presence across his home region with products being offered at establishments that include The Brass Tap, Craft Beer Cellar, Yard House, the Woodmore Wine & Spirits, and many more.

“Ideally I want to get my beer out across the country,” Goins expressed, per Fox 5. “Different restaurants, stores, different establishments. For right now, I have my beer all across D.C. and Maryland. Working on Delaware. That should be happening later on this year. Hopefully, I am going to have a new beer coming out next year. Like I do with all my beer, I like to find an in-between, between non-beer drinkers and beer drinkers, and try to meet in the middle so that everyone can enjoy it.”