The first beer bar in Harlem owned by 3 HBCU grads

At Harlem Hops beer bar and restaurant you’ll find beer, booze, bites and beats, and you may even get a lesson in the African and African-American roots of beer. Opened by three awesome HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) grads, Kevin Bradford, Kim Harris, and Stacey Lee, they wanted more places to patronize within their own community and not have to travel to another neighborhood to enjoy a variety of beers. This was the beginning of the Harlem Hops beer bar and restaurant concept. Harlem Hops now sits on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

So, let’s talk about the history and roots of beer. According to historian Tonya Hopkins, who is also known as the Food Griot, ancient Egyptians developed the malting process and perfected the brewing process at a large scale. This process traveled to Europe following the cultivation process. Some of the earliest brews in the world, such as Pumbe, Tempo Dolo, Burukutu and Tchakpalo, were found in Africa, which were brewed in warmer climates using cereals like Maize, Millet and Sorghum. Beer in Africa was not only used for nutrition, medicine, but also for religious, social and recreational reasons. It was also left in tombs of kings for brewing in the after life and was a key offering to the gods.

Harlem Hops is sure to give you great vibes, great beer and open the door to meeting new people and sparking entertaining conversations.