Women's Week 2021 - Female Microbrew Evening Reception

Celeste Beatty

Founder

Harlem Brewing Company

By following her truth - she calls it Brewing it Forward, Celeste has tapped into her passion for creating beers that infuse flavor, passion and pride. She has used her influence to help open doors for a new generation of brewers and indy beer distributors She launched Harlem Brewing Company in 2000, inspired by her love of the craft and the Harlem community. She became the first African American woman brewer to launch a commercially distributed beer, and later went on to sell her beers in Walmart, the largest food and beverage company in the world.

She introduced her Harlem “Sugar Hill” Golden Ale, a nod to its famous neighborhood namesake, in 2001 and has since launched several Neighborhood Original recipes including her award winning Harlem Renaissance Wit, Harlem 125th Street IPA, and a hard cider - Harlem Strawberry Hill. Today, her beers are widely distributed throughout NYC and along the east coast as well as Japan and the UK. Celeste and her beers have received many awards including Entrepreneur of the Year from the Harlem Business Alliance twice, Best Brew NYC, Best Amber Ale - Beer and Bacon Fest, Emerging Entrepreneur Award - Clinton Foundation and the Local Hero Award from the Association of Resident Theaters.

Celeste has garnered international media coverage with features on Reuters, The Root, NBC, Fox News, MSNBC, Forbes and People Mag. When she’s not testing out new home brew recipes, you might find her in a garden, training up hops or sharing a tasty Harlem brew!

Mary Izett

Co-Owner

Fifth Hammer Brewing Co

Mary Izett is Co-Owner & Multitasker of Fifth Hammer Brewing Co in New York City. She is the author of Speed Brewing: Techniques and Recipes for Fast-Fermenting Beers, Ciders, Meads, and More. Mary is a BJCP National ranked beer judge, co-hosted Fuhmentaboudit!, a weekly podcast on all things fermentable and has written for Ale Street News, All About Beer, and Zymurgy magazines.

Tara Hankinson

Co-Founder

Talea Beer Co

Co-Founder of TALEA Beer Co. We are opening our first production brewery and taproom in Williamsburg in 2020! We launched in April 2019 with our "SUN UP" hazy IPA, which sold out in one month. Since launching, we've released 9 different beers across 130+ bars and restaurants in NYC, including all NYC Whole Foods and Foodkick (same day delivery). We aim to be the preeminent female-forward brewery in NYC. Contact me at tara@taleabeer.com.

I'm an MBA Strategist with tenure at wine, media, airline, hospitality, and beer companies. Perpetual student of wine, spirits, beer, and homebrewing, holding Advanced Certificate from WSET and currently studying for the Certified Cicerone exam. Runner and 2x Marathoner. 

LeAnn Darland

Co-Founder

Talea Beer Co