Black-owned Chicago brewery reigns supreme in Samuel Adams craft brewers competition

Funkytown Brewery co-founders Richard Bloomfield, Gregory Williams and Zachary Day have won the Samuel Adams Brewing and Business Experienceship craft beer competition. “To actually have the owner of Samuel Adams, Jim Koch, drink your beer in front of you and tell you that he can smell the hops exploding, it was a surreal moment,” Day said. (Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times)

Chicago’s Funkytown Brewery, helmed by three lifelong friends from Oak Park, has emerged as the winner of the 12th annual Samuel Adams Brewing and Business Experienceship craft beer competition. 

Fueled by their passion for ’90s hip-hop, devotion to their community and a shared love for craft beer, co-founders Rich Bloomfield, Zack Day and Greg Williams have transformed their humble beginnings into a flourishing beer business.