Meet Beny Ashburn
Currently, Disneyland is hosting a Food & Wine Festival that started on March 1st and will continue until April 22nd. The festival offers a diverse selection of over 100 food and beverage options, including plant-based choices, craft beers, and curated wines. Visitors can enjoy a refreshing beer at the Beer Garden in Paradise Gardens Park or savor cocktails at Sonoma Terrace in the Performance Corridor, both of which are perks of the festival.
To sample the festival's culinary delights, guests can purchase multiple festival menu items using one of two Sip and Savor Passes. These passes can be shared among friends and family or used on multiple visits to this year's Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.
Beyond the Food & Wine Festival, visitors can find Crown & Hops selections like Hazy IPA and Pilsner at Lamplight Lounge in Disney California Adventure Park. Beny Ashburn, co-founder of Crown & Hops, discussed the significance of being featured at the festival and how she entered the craft beer industry.
Ashburn spoke about her journey to becoming a beer aficionado.“ My business partner, Teo Hunter, introduced me to the world of beer. What truly captivated me was the culture and community surrounding craft beer. In breweries and taprooms, I witnessed families gathering and engaging in meaningful conversations. However, I noticed a lack of diversity. As a person of color, I felt a sense of discomfort, as I didn't see many people who looked like me. Additionally, the music played in these establishments didn't resonate with my personal preferences. I wanted to create a space that embraced my community. Upon further investigation, I discovered that, at the time, there were approximately 7,000 craft breweries in the United States, but less than 1% of them were owned by Black people”.
She adds, “As I looked more into ownership it was important to me that I could be an inspiration for anyone, not just as a Black woman but a Black Business Owner.”
One of the major differences between beer culture in the United States and places like Germany and England is that in the US there’s more of a focus on the drinking part, whereas in Europe food, and gathering with friends and family is an integral part.
“Craft Beer is a very local, not a big industry,” Ashburn explains. “The majority of the brands aren’t big, like Anhauser-Bush, so when you meet a Craft Beer owner, it's usually someone that has started brewing in the basement or garage and has this dream. I will open up a tap or brewery, and they share the passion with their inner circle. You’re seeing tap rooms or breweries that are a reflection of the owners and the reflection of the owners. It’s not meant to be excluding anyone, but it’s a reflection of the owner. The only way to change that is to create more owners,”
There is a common misconception that Black people, especially women, do not enjoy craft beers. Regular beer is not typically marketed to the community, unless it is malt beer.
”First we need to explain what craft beer is. Traditionally, I think of Heinecken or Corona. One has to learn that there is so much complexity to Craft Beers. There is also so much flavor in craft beers. I was devastated to learn later in life that there were so many layers. I asked why didn’t anyone show me this sooner.I am a cultured woman. How is it that I didn’t know any of this,” she says lovingly.
The other aspect that is important to Ashburn is ,” I want to create a relationship with beer that is enjoyable not abusive. Drinking a Craft Beer is something that should be savored not drowned,”
Renowned for its open-mindedness and deep appreciation of fine beers, Crown & Hops has gained widespread recognition. Go to https://crownsandhops.com/ to find where you can support the brand as well as get merchandise.
