This pharmacist quit her job to open Minnesota’s first Black woman-owned brewery

Minnesota’s first black woman-owned brewery is about to open in St. Paul’s historically black Rondo neighborhood. Bubble Line Brewing Company is coming to Minnesota at a time when, of the over 200 breweries in the state, only a handful are owned by women or people of color, according to WCCO.

“The brewing industry isn’t very diverse in our state or in general as it stands,” said Brittney Mikell, founder of Bubble Line Brewing Company. “We tend to get a lot of innovation and a lot of new thoughts when there’s diversity involved in the picture. I think that as the brewing world matures because it’s been around for a little bit, that innovation piece is going to be really important.”

The brewery’s name is inspired by a chemistry term Mikell learned in college. A graduate from the University of Minnesota’s School of Pharmacy, the wine entrepreneur said her vision is more than beer.

“Inside the brewery, Mikell envisions plants and flowers, a warm escape in a cold Minnesota winter, with kid-friendly spaces and apprenticeships for brewers of color,” CBS News reported.

Aside from beer, her menu will feature non-alcoholic options like lemonade and lattes. “We’re really focused on innovation — you have to make a damn good beer,” Mikell told Eater Twin Cities.

One of Bubble Line’s key goals is to be recognized as a model for inclusivity and sustainability, as per Black Enterprise. Mikell plans to pay staff a living wage, implement eco-friendly brewing practices, and host community events, the platform added.

She worked as a pharmacist before founding Bubble Line Brewing Company, but after experiencing burnout in her career, she turned to her passion for brewing. She would eventually rise to the ranks of assistant brewer at La Dona Cerveceria in Minneapolis.

She started her venture through crowdfunding and raised more than $20,000 in less than a week. She aims to secure $500,000 in donations to kickstart her business, according to WCCO. Her brewery is set to officially open early next year.