Kemet Coleman has a knack for bringing firsts to KC with his brewery Vine Street Brewing Co. The first black-owned brewery in KC, Vine Street Brewing is hosting our city’s first hip-hop beer festival: Hip-Hops Hooray! Beer Fest.
“As someone who’s been a rapper and hip-hop artist since middle school, this festival feels like a natural extension of our brand,” says Coleman. “Vine Street Brewing’s mission is to ‘craft beers and experiences fermented in the spirit of jazz and hip-hop,’ so Hip-Hops Hooray! is truly a dream come full circle.”
The festival will be hosted outside Vine Street Brewing’s historic jazz headquarters (2000 Vine St. KCMO) on October 25 and 26, 12 pm – 4 pm.
On October 25, the festival will kick off with a Brass & Boujee Halloween party featuring a costume competition and a 20-piece big band that fuses jazz and hip-hop; Coleman is part of the band. Hip-Hops Hooray! goers will get free access to this portion of the festival but tickets are also available separately.
On the second and last day of the festival, over 30 local breweries will be in attendance including heavy hitters like Boulevard, Alma Mader Brewing, BKS Artisan Ales, Friction Beer and more.
“Homebrewers will have the opportunity to brew special beers with commercial brewers, so there will definitely be unique collaborations and exclusive releases on tap,” says Coleman.
The pillars of hip-hop will also be showcased on October 26 with a couple dozen top-tier artists representing their craft in DJing, MCing, breakdancing and graffiti. The artist lineup has yet to be released.
To keep updated with Hip-Hops Hooray! Beer Fest, follow @vinestbrewingco.
