The craft beer community in NW Arkansas just got a little more worldly. Ozark Beer Co. is collaborating with BlackMan Brewing, coming to us from South of the border. The new collaborative craft beer offering will be featured during BITE LITE, a component of the 2022 Bite NW Arkansas Event Series which kicks off at Railyard Park in Downtown Rogers on Friday, July 29. Ozark Beer has been working with Bite NWA from the beginning. This year they have the opportunity to bring to the party, nomadic brewer and founder of BlackMan Brewing, Barrett Tillman. Together they are creating a new taste of Northwest Arkansas. 

Barrett Tillman is the man and the vision behind BlackMan Brewing. Currently based in Costa Rica, Tillman has experience at every level of the craft beer process. After spending years at Deep Ellum Brewing in Dallas, Texas, he stepped away to create something new and uniquely his own, leaving him to define the journey along the way. His business model is different from that of most brewers, however. As a nomadic brewer, Tillman works in collaboration with existing breweries to release specialty products rather than operating his own brewery. Wherever his journey takes him, he enjoys exploring local ingredients and mixed fermentation using native microflora.

The connection was first made when Bray met Tillman in February as BlackMan products were introduced to Northwest Arkansas for the first time. Into+View Art Gallery and Studio hosted a tasting as part of the Reflections of the Black Experience and Black History Month artist reception in Downtown Rogers. For Ozark Beer Co., the story began there. But, while there was a spark, the relationship wasn’t immediate. There were long conversations and emails over a few months before a collaboration took shape. Barrett said his opportunities to work with other brewmasters creates space for a new narrative. "Luckily craft beer can bring people together. I’m advocate for community, the people we meet and the stories we create.”

Our friends at Ozark Beer Co. are in complete agreement. “This collaboration has been one of the most enjoyable ones for me,” says Bray. “Barrett brings such a wealth of knowledge to brewing and life. He has worked extensively in recipe development, barrel fermenting and sour beers. He has worked and run a large production facility that increased rapidly under his direction,” she continued.  “He had a whole other career before he got into brewing; he is a world traveler. He is a great person to get to know and brings a different and interesting perspective to the craft beer world." 

From his perspective, Tillman explains, “The voice and vision is created together, we are advocating for inclusion and a healthier community. I feel there’s an opportunity in NW Arkansas to open closed doors in business and in the community," he continued. “I see the push for minority business, entrepreneurs, incentives, and community advocates. There are too few in the greater NWA area and many are under financed.”

Bray confirms the community has given so much to their business and recognizes there is a lot of opportunity for entrepreneurs in NW Arkansas. “We are living through an interesting time," she reflected. "The area is changing and growing so much that it is unrecognizable from 10 years ago, and it will be incredibly different 10 years from now,” she continued. “That can be scary, but it is also exciting.” Bray confirmed. "Individuals have the opportunity to make choices in who they support and where they spend their money, which in essence determines what this area looks like in the future," she continued. “At Ozark, our employees work, live and have families in NWA, and we want to see our community become more diverse and inclusive as it grows,” she explained. "Having the opportunity to collaborate with Barrett, and bring BlackMan Brewing to NWA, is one way we can foster the environment we would like to see.”

Since June, Tillman and the team at Ozark Beer Co. have worked diligently on a recipe. Mark your calendars and join them for a meet and greet with Barrett Tillman, a reception and can release and tasting of this and other BlackMan options, Thursday, July 28, 5:30 p.m.

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