Biscuits, Beer, and Black History: How One Brooklyn Brewery Is Brewing Change

A taste of the South has arrived in Brooklyn — with a powerful story behind it.

A new Black-owned Brooklyn brewery is making waves by combining Southern comfort food, craft beer, and cultural education. DaleView Biscuits and Beer, founded by Chris Gandsy, is not only serving up fluffy, buttery Carolina-style biscuits and small-batch brews — it’s also serving a side of Black history, Today.com reports.

Located in Lefferts Gardens, a historically Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, DaleView stands out as the only Black-owned brewery in New York that brews its beer on-site (Today.com). Each pint pays homage to unsung civil rights heroes, with beers named after figures such as Dr. Paul Bogle and Diane Nash, inviting customers to learn something new with every sip.

But this story isn’t just about beer — it’s about resilience, community, and representation.

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From a Father’s Day Gift to a Full-Blown Dream

Ironically, Gandsy wasn’t even a beer drinker when his journey began. Ten years ago, his wife gifted him a home-brewing kit for Father’s Day. What started as a simple hobby soon became an obsession — one that brought family and friends together over backyard tastings. “People believed in me,” Gandsy told Today.com. “My wife and close friends pushed me — like, ‘You can do this.’ Why not spread the joy?”

Encouraged by that support, Gandsy began brewing professionally, drawing inspiration from his South Carolina roots — particularly from his 93-year-old grandmother, whose biscuit recipe remains at the heart of the menu. “I wanted to bring a piece of home to Brooklyn,” Gandsy explained in an interview with Eater NY, “something that felt familiar but also new — Southern soul with a Brooklyn heartbeat” (Eater NY).

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Brewing for a Purpose

Out of more than 8,500 breweries in the United States, only around 60 are Black-owned, according to data from the Brewers Association (The Guardian). That makes DaleView part of a small but growing movement to diversify the craft beer industry — an industry long dominated by white male brewers.

Even in New York City, representation remains limited. While Harlem hosts two Black-owned breweries, both operate as contract brewers, meaning they use shared facilities to produce their recipes. DaleView, by contrast, brews its beer on-site — a distinction that reflects Gandsy’s desire for creative independence and community connection.

Gandsy hopes his work can help build a pipeline for young brewers of color, offering mentorship and hands-on opportunities in an industry that has historically lacked diversity. “My goal,” he said in a recent interview with The New York Times, “is to help create equity in this community and open doors for others. If we can change mindsets through beer and food, that’s a start” (The New York Times).

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More Than a Brewery — A Community Hub

Beyond the brews, DaleView is a space for connection. Gandsy often hosts local pop-ups, community dinners, and storytelling nights focused on celebrating Black excellence and neighborhood history. The walls of the taproom feature portraits and stories of civil rights pioneers — part art exhibit, part education.

“I wanted a place where I could be part of the community,” Gandsy told Thrillist. “Beer can bring people together — it’s a universal language. If you make something with care, thought, and love, people feel that energy” (Thrillist).

And that energy radiates through DaleView’s menu — where comfort food meets consciousness. Visitors can enjoy flaky biscuits topped with fried chicken, honey butter, or vegan mushroom gravy — alongside beers like Freedom Flight IPA and Nash Golden Ale, each crafted to honor a legacy.

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The Bigger Picture

Experts say breweries like DaleView represent a broader cultural shift. The craft beer industry, once considered niche and exclusive, is slowly becoming more inclusive thanks to entrepreneurs like Gandsy who are blending culture, storytelling, and hospitality (Forbes). “Beer is more than a beverage — it’s a bridge,” noted a recent NPR feature on Black-owned breweries, “and people like Chris Gandsy are using it to connect communities that have long been left out of the conversation” (NPR).

For Gandsy, success isn’t just measured in sales or recognition — it’s about belonging. “The neighborhood is changing,” he said. “I want DaleView to be part of that change in a positive way — creating unity, not displacement.”

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Raising a Glass to the Future

At its core, DaleView Biscuits and Beer is a love letter — to the South, to Brooklyn, and to the people who believed in one man’s dream.

So, whether you’re stopping by for a plate of biscuits or a pint of purpose, DaleView offers something much richer: a story of heritage, heart, and hope — brewed right in the heart of Brooklyn.

Visit DaleView Biscuits and Beer at 1170 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, or follow them on Instagram @daleviewbeer for updates on new releases and community events.

Cheers to Chris Gandsy — and to every pour that’s rewriting history.