Travelers at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this month got a taste of two featured beers as part of a tap takeover celebrating National Black Business Month.
Our URW Airports team recently learned about a growing number of Black-owned craft beer companies in the Chicago area and invited two breweries to take over the taps at two Terminal 5 restaurants operated by Areas.
From August 8 – 14, Turner Häus Brewery had beer on tap at Tortas Frontera restaurant while Moor’s Brewery took over the tap at Hub51, both located in Terminal 5. The tap takeover was touted with signage throughout the restaurants and employees were trained on the products to help showcase the beers to customers. Both restaurants sold out of the featured beers.
“It was an opportunity to celebrate and highlight these unique Black businesses,” said Wally Kruce, URW General Manager Airports, ORD. “We are always looking for ways to bring local companies into the airport. We recently introduced Brown Sugar Bakery products to the airport and it is exciting getting to support our local businesses and help the airport better reflect the diverse communities we have in Chicago.”
Of the more than 8,000 craft breweries nationwide, approximately one percent are Black-owned.
Moor’s Brewing Company started on Juneteenth 2021. The company offers four different varieties including a porter and an India pale ale and is sold at more than 250 locations throughout the city and suburbs.
“Having our beer featured at O’Hare’s Terminal 5 during National Black Business Month is a tremendous honor,” said Jamhal Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer, Moor’s Brewing Company. “We are grateful to URW, Areas and Hub51 for extending us the opportunity to share our beer and our brand with global travelers. We take great pride in our product and our culture, so we feel very fortunate to be able to bring a taste of it to O’Hare.”
Turner Häus Brewery is a microbrewery located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Their product was first developed as a home-brewed craft beer and has evolved to offering a variety of beers. All of its beers are named after women in the Turner family.
“It is truly a dream come true to evolve from brewing beer at home to serving passengers from around the world at O’Hare,” said Blair Turner Aikens, Turner Häus Brewery Co-Founder. “We are passionate about what we do and thankful to URW, Areas and Frontera for helping to spotlight Turner Häus Brewery. It is a privilege to be helping shine the light on Black-owned craft breweries.”
URW and Areas are continuing to partner with the breweries in hopes to continue to feature their products.
