Augusta, Georgia is now home to its first Black-owned brewery, thanks to Navy veteran Robert Young. The founder of Tapped 33 Craft Brewhouse, Young has transformed his passion for brewing beer into a thriving business.
Originally from Atlanta, Young was previously stationed in Augusta’s Fort Gordon as well as abroad. Traveling around the world, he discovered and developed an appreciation for good brews in places like Germany and the Czech Republic, according to WJBF.
In Prague, he tried his hand at crafting his own beer. Brewing became a hobby of his and he continued creating his recipes after returning home to the United States. Young began volunteering at the Savannah River Brewing Company and continued brewing at home, creating thousands of cans of beer. Now, he is making history with Tapped 33 as part of a small percentage of Black-owned breweries.
Behind the Name
The number in the brewery’s name wasn’t just chosen at random. It is significant in numerous ways. For one, Augusta is situated on Earth’s 33rd parallel. The number also pays homage to music icon James Brown, who was born in Augusta in 1933. It was in the same year that Prohibition ended.