(Courtesy Samuel Adams / Boston Beer)

One of DC’s first Black-owned craft breweries will receive mentorship and financial support this year thanks to Samuel Adams.

Here’s the deal…

Brewing the American Dream, is the philanthropic arm of Samuel Adams aimed at providing mentorship and capital to food & beverage entrepreneurs nationwide. Each year the Brewing & Business Experienceship arm of the program invites brewers nationwide to apply for the chance to win unparalleled access to brewing and business resources from experts at Samuel Adams, including founder and brewer Jim Koch.

One lucky craft brewer is selected to come to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, work side-by-side with a team of mentors and collaborate on a specialty beer with Samuel Adams. The winner will also travel to the preeminent craft beer event of the year, the Great American Beer Festival, to shadow and experience alongside Samuel Adams.

The 2026 Brewing & Business Experienceship was deliberated by an enthusiastic audience and group of experts at the annual Crafting Dreams Beer Bash, hosted on June 11^th  in in Brooklyn, New York.

The celebration brought together six passionate finalists from across the country—each pouring their signature brew and sharing their entrepreneurial journey. And guests were invited to taste, connect, and cast a vote, which played a critical role in the final selection of this year’s Experienceship recipient.

(Courtesy Samuel Adams / Boston Beer)

And this year’s recipient was Soul Mega.

Founded in Washington, DC, Soul Mega has built its identity around more than just beer. The company sits at the intersection of craft brewing, music, art, and community building.

Founder Elliott Johnson began homebrewing in 2011 and honed his skills through pop-up tastings and community events before officially launching the Soul Mega brand in 2017.

Commercial distribution followed in 2019, and since then the brewery has expanded throughout the Mid-Atlantic, with big retail placements including Whole Foods Market and Total Wine. Its flagship Worldwide American Pale Ale also earned a Silver Medal at the Tasting Alliance Global Beer Competition.

At the Beer Bash, Soul Mega presented its Metropolis IPA, an American IPA with bright citrus and stone fruit notes, and clearly it was the hit of the evening.

“One of the things I love most about this industry is seeing entrepreneurs build something that reflects not just great beer, but a genuine sense of purpose,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. “Soul Mega has grown from grassroots tastings and community gatherings into a brand that uses craft beer as a catalyst for culture, creativity, and connection.”

“This is an incredible opportunity for our team and a testament to the community that has supported Soul Mega from the very beginning,” said Elliott Johnson, founder of Soul Mega. “Brewing the American Dream has long been a champion of small businesses, and we’re excited to learn from the Samuel Adams team,  and accelerate the next phase of Soul Mega’s growth.”

In the coming months, Soul Mega, will collaborate with Samuel Adams on a special release beer and join the team at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

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