Today I’m bringing you something different. This is the story Ted Mack and his brewery, Peoples Beer in Wisconsin. 

Mr. Mack passed away in 2019 so I’m interviewing Clint Lanier, whose new book, Ted Mack And America’s First Black Owned Brewery hit the market a few months ago. 

This is a fascinating story of guts and activism that has inspired generations of modern brewers to pick up their mash paddles and make their mark on beer history. As the first brewery in America that was 100% black owned, it stood for something more than just a simple business, it was activism through capitalism.

Peoples was only open a few years before Mr. Mack watched the walls literally come down. He fought racism, corruption, illegal and unfair competition and the US government before it was all over. 

The brewery closed in 1972 and the similarities to what the team at Peoples faced to today surprised the Hell out of me. 

Clint did a ton of research to get the book right and I thought he did a great job, spending years on this project. He started writing it in…..actually I’ll let him tell it. 

Buy Clint's book

Learn About William's brewery in Atlanta

Check out where Peoples Beer is made today

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Where to get my book