USA, MA: Roundhead Brewing to become New England�s first Latino-owned brewery

New England�s first Latino-owned brewery is coming soon to Boston after getting license approval from the state. The founder of Roundhead Brewing told Boston 25 News he�s aiming to open by August in the Westinghouse Plaza complex in Hyde Park.

Luis Espinoza, who�s originally from Peru, has been researching and experimenting with creating his own beer for the last 10 years. He spends a lot of time in the basement of his Jamaica Plain home finetuning the recipes of his signature microbrews.

�Sometimes my wife is calling me, and she can�t find me because I�m down here,� Espinoza explained. �I got into beer fermentation and started from there, reading books and informing myself.�

Espinoza is hoping to inspire other aspiring minority-owned businesses by proving that it�s possible.

�Being the first Latino brewer in New England is so exciting,� Espinoza said. �Every culture has a little bit to offer in the brewing world. I hope, with this brewery, I can give opportunities to others.�

The father of two credits his supportive family and his business partner, who helped turn his dream into a reality.

�We were applying to banks, and during COVID, banks were not providing capital,� said Craig Panzer, who met Espinoza at a youth soccer game. �I think that�s a real challenge, particularly for communities of color.�

Panzer said the Boston Impact Initiative Fund played a pivotal role in assisting.

�They said, in good times and bad, they aren�t going to stop investing in small businesses that could have an impact on the community,� Panzer said.

In addition to opening the brewery and taproom later this year, Espinoza and Panzer are now looking into ways to get Roundhead Brewing beer on retail shelves.