{"id":58957,"date":"2025-08-01T11:57:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpstartinc.org\/?p=58957"},"modified":"2025-09-22T12:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T16:13:17","slug":"small-business-big-conversations-chris-harris-of-black-frog-brewery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpstartinc.org\/small-business-big-conversations\/small-business-big-conversations-chris-harris-of-black-frog-brewery","title":{"rendered":"Small Business, Big Conversations: Chris Harris of Black Frog Brewery"},"content":{"rendered":"

On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations, I sat down with Chris Harris, the entrepreneur behind Black Frog Brewery and the man making history by opening Cleveland\u2019s first Black-owned brewery.<\/p>\n

From Garage Hobby to Thriving Taproom<\/h5>\n

Chris\u2019s journey began in his garage in Holland, Ohio, where brewing beer started as nothing more than a hobby. That hobby quickly became a passion project, and before long, he was serving craft beer to an eager local community. With a name inspired by his hometown\u2019s nickname, \u201cFrog Town,\u201d Chris embraced the moniker and proudly calls himself the Black Frog.<\/p>\n

What started small has grown into a thriving taproom and a story of entrepreneurial determination.<\/p>\n

Bringing Black Frog to Cleveland<\/h5>\n

Now, Chris is bringing his brewing expertise and community-first vision to Cleveland. Inside the MidTown Collaboration Center, Black Frog Brewery will not only pour beers brewed with heart (and his signature honey malt), but also create a welcoming space where everyone feels like family.<\/p>\n

This expansion is more than business growth, it\u2019s a milestone in representation, making history as the city\u2019s first Black-owned brewery.<\/p>\n

Collaboration and Community Impact<\/h5>\n

Chris isn\u2019t doing it alone. He\u2019s already planning collaborations with fellow MidTown neighbors like Chef Tiwanna Scott-Williams of Pearl\u2019s Kitchen<\/a>. Together, they\u2019re turning the neighborhood into a destination where food, drink, culture, and community intersect.<\/p>\n

For Chris, every pint served is about more than flavor. It\u2019s about connection, inclusion, and creating a movement that leaves a lasting impact.<\/p>\n

Hear His Story<\/h5>\n

Chris Harris\u2019s journey is one of passion, pride, and purpose. From garage experiments to MidTown milestones, he\u2019s proving that entrepreneurship can bring people together in powerful ways. I hope you find his story as inspiring as I did. Watch this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations below to hear Chris share his journey in his own words.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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This season of Small Business, Big Conversations is brought to you in partnership with Erie Bank<\/a> and Impressia Bank<\/a>, both dedicated to helping small business owners access the capital and resources they need to grow their ventures.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chris Harris\u2019s journey began in his garage in Holland, Ohio, where brewing beer started as nothing more than a hobby. That hobby quickly became a passion project, and before long, he was serving craft beer to an eager local community. With a name inspired by his hometown\u2019s nickname, \u201cFrog Town,\u201d Chris embraced the moniker and proudly calls himself the Black Frog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58961,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-small-business-big-conversations"],"yoast_head":"\nSmall Business, Big Conversations: Chris Harris of Black Frog Brewery - JumpStart Inc.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chris Harris\u2019s journey began in his garage in Holland, Ohio, where brewing beer started as nothing more than a hobby. 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