TOLEDO, Ohio — In a Toledo suburb, there’s a taproom. By the time you pull up a chair, you are part of the family. That’s the vibe at Black Frog Brewery. Owner Christopher Harris was looking for a hobby, so he tried brewing beer.
"After I made that first batch, it was I was just so amazed that I made beer,” said Christopher Harris, Owner of Black Frog Brewery. “And then that's where my passion grew because it was like I actually made this beer in my hands."
Ten years ago, he started Black Frog in his garage, later moving into a brick and mortar.
"Another name for Toledo is Frogtown. And with me being a Toledo native, I just kind of put the two together. Black Frog Brewery. So, I am the black frog," Harris proudly said.
The bees on the logo represent the honey malt, a signature in all of the 40 beers Harris makes.
"I only make beers that I love to drink and brew, so I won't do a style that I don't love, because I really don't think I'm gonna put my whole heart into it," said Harris.
Black Frog is the first Black-owned brewery in Northwest Ohio. And it will be the first in Northeast Ohio, too, when the brewery opens early next year as part of the MidTown Collaboration Center that’s currently under construction.
“It's in the historical neighborhood of Hough. They were looking for, an African American brewer, you know, to represent that community,” said Harris. “Unfortunately, there's only three of us in the state of Ohio."
Last year, Lucas County, Toledo and Cleveland recognized October 10th as Black Brewers Day. The day was chosen in honor of Theodore Mack, the first African American to own a brewery in the U.S. It opened on that same day in 1970.
"We're going to try and work with Cuyahoga County. And then we're going to try and get the whole state to recognize October 10th as National Black Brewers Day," said Harris.
Black Frog’s tagline is a "great beer for great people." For Harris, Cleveland fits the bill.
“First and foremost what we want to do is try and support the community and make the community better," said Harris.
You’ll be able to enjoy food, brews and live music. Black Frog Brewery is going to work with Pearl’s Kitchen and the community-led music venue in the MidTown Collaboration Center. making it a true destination location.
