Hop into the Stories Behind These Latino-Owned Breweries

a group of friends cheering with beer glasses

There’s no denying that every cerveza has a story to tell, from the moment of brewing to that satisfying first sip. And with all the possibilities in the beer world, we get to taste so many unique and delicious flavors.


Latin America has been playing the beer game for thousands of years, from brewing chicha, a corn-based brew, to fermenting agave into tasty drinks. Now, Latine folks are shaking up the U.S. craft beer world, bringing their rich cultural heritage, a burst of diverse flavors, and some ingenious brewing methods into the mix. The outcome? An ever-growing scene of Latine breweries crafting beers that are not only incredibly unique and mouthwatering but also stay true to their roots, attracting all kinds of beer aficionados.

So, let's hop into these Latine-owned breweries (pun intended), where age-old traditions meet bold experimentation.

Mujeres Brew House

Southern California's Mujeres Brew House is a nod to the original brewers – women. This amazing all-female-run, Latina-owned brewery, created by Carmen Velasco-Favela, strives to rewrite the craft beer industry's narrative and rules. They're not about conforming but about crafting their own path in the brewing world.

For the inside scoop on Mujeres Brew House's world, follow @mujeresbrewhouse.

Atrevida Beer Co.

Atrevida Beer Co. is a woman-forward Latin-inspired brewery in Colorado Springs. Headed by the audacious Jess Fierro, founder and brewmaster, the brewery stands as a testament to her fight against biases and financial hurdles. The team behind Atrevida, which means "bold" in Spanish, includes Jess's husband Rich Fierro, a veteran, who you might recognize as the man who courageously disarmed a gunman a while back. Atrevida's aim is simple - to foster community and inspire conversations over their narrative-driven brews.

Get a taste of what's brewing with Atrevida Beer Co! Tap into the action at @atrevidabeerco

5 Rabbit Cervecería

Stepping into the 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, you're stepping into a story. The first Latine-owned and operated craft cerveceria in the U.S., it infuses the passion and richness of Latin culture into every beer. And the people behind this awesome place? Mila Ramirez, who hails from Peru, her husband Andres Araya from Costa Rica, and their buddy Randy Mosher, a big name in the Chicago beer world. These three are shaking up the craft beer scene with their mix of authenticity, creativity, and straight-up love for what they do.

Keep tabs on 5 Rabbit Cervecería’s latest by following their social media account @5rabbitbrewery

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Xicha Brewing

Xicha Brewing in West Salem, Oregon, represents a cultural blend, merging elements from Mexican culture and the Northwest into their flavorful beers and dishes. Co-owners Ricardo and Margarita Antunez emphasize their inspiration from Mexican candies' flavor profiles, aiming to offer something unique and culturally diverse in their beers.

Want to join Xicha Brewery's exciting journey? Hop onto @xichabrewing!

Deadbeach Brewery

The story of Deadbeach Brewery began in a small garage in El Paso, with owners Gabriel Montoya, Jason Hunt, and Justin Ordonez brewing their own beer. They soon became one of the first breweries in El Paso, stimulating a real beer culture in the city. Artisanally brewed and aged in fine wood casks, Deadbeach sees its future in national distribution and the perpetuation of El Paso's rich beer culture.

Stay in the loop with Deadbeach Brewery’s latest! Follow the buzz at @deadbeachbrewery.

Del Cielo Brewing Co.

Del Cielo Brewing Co., a Latino family-owned brewery in Downtown Martinez, began as a love story - a love for craft beer. Founders Luis and Cielomar turned their casual home brewing sessions into a brewery dedicated to creating quality beers. Their mission to brew community through quality beer is mirrored in their many partnerships and purpose-driven beers.

Catch all the action with Del Cielo Brewing Co. at @delcielobrewing.

a woman giving the side eye to a man

Have you ever met someone who seems overly confident, self-centered, or even downright rude? Maybe they constantly talk about themselves, disregard your feelings, or even manipulate situations to their advantage. And, if you're anything like us and countless other Latinas, you might've thought, is this person just a purebred a**hole, or are they a narcissist?

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Image by Sayuri Jimenez.

Nathalie Molina Niño has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers, and now, she’s focusing her attention on a new mission: demystifying corporate boardrooms for women, especially Latinas. Molina Niño is the President of Known, an asset management and financial services firm, a veteran tech entrepreneur and builder capitalist, and a board member at the iconic lingerie Brand, Hanky Panky, and others.

Like many corporate boards, Hanky Panky hadn’t publicly disclosed its board composition until recently. After the brand survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Molina Niño decided it was time for more women, specifically more Latinas, to know what it means to be on corporate boards.

Coincidentally, the decision to finally be more vocal about this topic aligned with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which served as the perfect kick-off to the work.

"Something that rarely gets talked about and I think almost gets kept opaque by design is boards,” she explains in a recent Instagram announcement. “[This Latinx Heritage Month], that’s what I’ll be talking about.” Her goal? To equip more Latinas with the knowledge they need to navigate onto for-profit boards, where they can thrive and build multi-generational wealth.

For-profit corporate boards often feel like an exclusive club. And in many ways, they are, especially for Latinas, who hold the smallest percentage of board seats in Fortune 500 companies compared to other racial groups. According to the latest report from Latino Board Monitor, while Latinos hold 4.1% of these board seats (compared to 82.5% held by white people), only 1% go to Latinas. Molina Niño, a first-generation American of Ecuadorian and Colombian descent, is part of this boardroom minority.

When asked about her experience as a Latina board member during a recent Zoom interview, she said, “It’s been lonely. There’s not a lot of Latinas on boards.” She went on to explain that even serving on boards of Latina-founded businesses gets lonely because, “A lot of the times, people who serve on their boards represent their investors and, as a result, [...] you still don’t see a lot of Latinas on those boards.”

This lack of representation drives Molina Niño’s determination to increase Latina presence in corporate boardrooms. By sharing her insights, she hopes to give Latinas a roadmap to claim their seats at the table. “If you don’t know where to go, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there,” she says.

The Road to the Boardroom

Getting onto a for-profit corporate board isn’t an overnight achievement, but it’s not an unattainable dream either. People often think you need to be a CEO or have a certain type of background, but that’s one of the biggest myths about boards in Molina Niño’s experience. What they’re really looking for is expertise — whether that’s in finance, marketing, sustainability, or even technology. If you have that expertise, you’re already an asset. It’s simply a matter of which road you should take.

Understanding what boards are and how they operate is key to unlocking opportunities. For-profit boards serve as the governing body for companies, overseeing direction and financial stability, and guiding CEOs and executives in decision-making. But Molina Niño emphasizes that not all for-profit boards are created equal.

“There are two kinds [of for-profit boards] [...]. There’s the publicly traded business board and then, on the privately held side, there are, I would argue, two types of boards [...] the traditional business board and the venture-backed business board,” explains Molina Niño. Traditional businesses are often family-owned or long-established and may only form boards to meet requirements, like securing financing or transitioning through an ESOP. Venture-backed boards, on the other hand, are typically filled by investors who hold major stakes in the company.

According to Molina Niño, understanding the difference between them is how you can create a successful strategy. With publicly traded business boards, the whole world is privy to them, so, “The way that you get in there is a little bit more transparent. Sometimes those publicly traded companies will hire a recruiter to help them find new board members,” explains Molina Niño. For private companies, on the other hand, there’s no legal requirement to make announcements. As a result, most people don’t know anything about them or their inner workings.

“Usually what happens in traditional businesses that don’t have venture-capital investments is that the Founders, Executives, or the board members, if one existed already, they usually go to their friends,” and people they deem experienced to fill board seats. In other words, it’s the founder’s decision, and that’s an entirely different approach than hiring recruiters. When it comes to venture-backed business boards, the seats on the board are filled by whichever investor writes the biggest check.

This is why an understanding of the different types of boards and acknowledgment of their own strengths is what will help Latinas define a sound strategy. Whether that’s working with a recruiter, networking and connecting with founders to build trust, or making the biggest investment.

The Path for Latinas

For Molina Niño, the key to getting more Latinas into corporate boardrooms is education. Knowing what a board looks like and how it functions is how you can position yourself to get on it. In openly talking about this, without the mystique it’s usually shrouded in, Molina Niño is providing women, especially Latinas, with invaluable insights. “If we had Latinas understanding what are the three types of for-profit boards I think that, on their own, they would be able to figure out what their best chance is and adjust their careers to make themselves more competitive,” states Molina Niño.

When asked about the impact of increased Latina representation in boardrooms, Molina Niño flips the narrative. “Boards don’t help Latinas by offering them seats; Latinas help businesses thrive by being on their boards,” she says. “The whole point of sitting on a board is that you have experience and expertise, and as Latinas, you also have some cultural experience that everyone wants. [...] At the end of the day, we [Latinas] have to realize that we have a ton to offer and we have to be selective about where we put that expertise,” she explains.

As demand for access to the Latina consumer rises, Molina Niño predicts that more Latinas will find themselves recruited into boardrooms. But she’s not content to sit back and wait for that moment. By openly sharing her journey and insights, she’s making sure other Latinas know their worth and have the tools to claim their place at the table. “I realized that quietly being on boards that helped me personally is not helping other Latinas. [...] I was lucky enough to have friends who could advise me and share their experiences, so that’s why I’m doing this,” she stated.

With Hispanic Heritage Month as the backdrop, Nathalie Molina Niño’s mission is clear: “My goal is just to give Latinas enough information so they can make a plan for how to eventually get on a board that they’re paid to be on and that will eventually help them build generational wealth.”

flags of latin american countries fly behind performers wearing culturally traditional clothing

Ever noticed how September in Latin America is just one big celebration? As we wave goodbye to summer and avoid winter as long as we can, the streets come alive with parades, music, and festivities. Many Latin American countries celebrate their freedom this month, commemorating their hard-fought battles for independence from colonial domination. Let’s dive into these significant days and understand what makes each unique.

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