Evan Fay, a U.S. Air Force veteran and entrepreneur, is making history in Detroit with the launch of Roar Brewing Co., the city’s first Black-owned brewery. The new venture, which opened on March 23, 2025, occupies the former space of Nain Rouge Brewery and adds to Fay’s growing portfolio of community-focused businesses.
Fay’s passion for craft beer began during his military service, particularly while stationed in Wyoming, where he was drawn to the thriving beer culture in nearby Fort Collins, Colorado.
“I found a love for craft beer while in the military,” Fay shared with WXYZ-TV Detroit.
Roar Brewing Co. debuts with a honey oat stout as its flagship beer, alongside other varieties like pilsner, wheat beer, saison, and farmhouse ale. Food options are still in the works and Fay plans to bring in food trucks to complement the brewery’s offerings.
Reflecting on the significance of his brewery, Fay told Crain’s Detroit, “I think it’s wild there hasn’t been a Black-owned brewery in the city before. I know it’s a big claim, so I did a lot of research on it. That wasn’t a motivating factor, but it’s humbling. We want to be here. We want to exist for a long time for when other Black breweries come into the city to thrive.”
Only about 1% of the nearly 9,800 U.S. breweries are Black-owned but Fay is optimistic that the craft beer industry will be more diverse.
“There’s a great ecosystem in Detroit to support small businesses, but in craft brewing, there aren’t as many direct pathways. Typically, you turn to people in your community who have done it before, but with no Black-owned breweries in the city, we had to look outside our immediate circles for guidance.
“I want this to be accessible for people to enjoy and learn. It’s more of an experience as opposed to being just a bar,” he said.
This isn’t Fay’s first Detroit business venture. In 2024, he and business partner Asher Van Sickle opened Café Noir, a French-inspired coffee shop in North Detroit. The café was designed as a gathering place for the community.
“Yes, we want to offer coffee and really good food, but we also want to be community-centric… We just want to offer a space that is inviting,” Fay told the Detroit Metro Times at the time.
With both Café Noir and Roar Brewing Co., Fay continues to prioritize connection and inclusivity, reinforcing his commitment to Detroit’s neighborhoods.
