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Est. 2018Beer

Rhythm Brewing

Founded by Alisa Bowens-Mercado · New Haven, CT

Verified Licensed

Verified against the DISTRYB licensing directory — public federal & state alcohol records for Rhythm Brewing.

The Story

Rhythm Brewing Co. was founded by Alisa Bowens-Mercado in New Haven, Connecticut. As the first Black woman to own a beer company in the state, she created Rhythm Unfiltered Lager — a crisp, clean lager inspired by her love of salsa dancing.
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Alisa Bowens-Mercado

Founder

Alisa Bowens-Mercado founded Rhythm Brewing Co. in New Haven, Connecticut, becoming the first Black woman to own a beer company in the state.

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Stories about Rhythm Brewing

Barrel & Flow Fest 2026: Pittsburgh Ignites Black Craft Beer Innovation

Pittsburgh's Barrel & Flow Fest returns, gathering over 35 Black-owned breweries and distilleries for a weekend of groundbreaking collaborations and community celebration. This premier event continues to champion diversity, culture, and entrepreneurship in the craft beverage industry.

Barrel & Flow Fest Returns to Pittsburgh, Celebrating Black Brewing Excellence

Pittsburgh is set to host the award-winning Barrel & Flow Fest, a pivotal event amplifying Black voices and innovation within the craft beer industry. The festival will showcase over 35 Black-owned breweries and numerous unique collaborations.

From the Encyclopedia

The Contemporary Impact of Black-Owned Breweries in American Craft Beer

Black-owned breweries are reshaping the American craft beer industry, serving as vital community hubs and driving cultural innovation. Despite facing systemic barriers, these establishments are fostering economic opportunity and promoting diversity across the nation.

The Enduring History of Black Americans in the Beer Industry

From ancestral brewing traditions to modern craft innovation, Black Americans have shaped the beer industry, overcoming systemic barriers to establish ownership and celebrate their rich heritage.

Discriminatory Lending Practices and Their Impact on Black Ownership in the American Beverage Industry

Discriminatory lending practices have historically limited Black entrepreneurs' access to vital capital, severely impacting their ability to establish, grow, and sustain businesses within the American beverage industry. These systemic barriers have perpetuated wealth disparities and hindered the full realization of Black ownership in the sector.

Hella Coastal: Oakland's Pioneering Black-Owned Brewing Brand

Hella Coastal is an Oakland-based, Black-owned brewing brand founded in 2020 by Chaz Hubbard and Mario Benjamin. It emerged from a shared passion for homebrewing and a commitment to fostering diversity, community, and education within the craft beer industry, further exemplified by its participation in a historic alliance of Black-owned breweries in 2026.

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On the public record

Rhythm Brewing appears in the DISTRYB licensing directory as Federal TTB Permit CT-P-21131 — a public page about this business that nobody here controls.

If this is your business, claim it on DISTRYB and it becomes yours to run: your catalog, your wholesale accounts, your compliance filings.

Claim Rhythm Brewing on DISTRYB →See the record

How we know this

On this being a Black-owned business:

“Hello, my name is Alisa Bowens-Mercado, and I am the founder and owner of the first Black-woman owned beer brand in Connecticut history - Rhythm Brewing Company.”
https://rhythmbrewingco.com/blogs/news/lady-lager-brewing-to-the-beat-of-her-own-drum