2024 Startups to Watch: Vine Street Brewing toasts to expanding reach of award-winning Black-owned brand

Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its ninth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2024’s companies.

Click here to view the full list of Startups to Watch — presented with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and independently produced by Startland News.

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Vine Street Brewing Co. emerged in 2023 as a rising star on the brewing scene in Kansas City — and then the nation. The first Black-owned brewery in Missouri, the brewery established its home (and taproom) in the 18th and Vine Jazz District after years of anticipation.

“The momentum this year has been incredible,” said co-founder Kemet Coleman, whose company continues to notch victories in beer competitions, earning spots on industry “best of” lists across the nation. “I’m a little surprised that people have stuck around and continued to be so supportive.”

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Elevator pitch: Vine Street Brewing Co. is Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery. Located in the historic 18th and Vine district near Downtown Kansas City, we focus on brewing ales and lagers fermented in the spirit of jazz and hip-hop.

• Founders: Kemet Coleman, Woodie Bonds Jr., Elliot Ivory
• Headquarters: Kansas City, Missouri
• Founding year: 2023
• Current employee count: 13
• Funding amount raised to date: $35,000
• Noteworthy investors: N/A
• Noteworthy programs completed: Alt Cap Your Biz, Kansas City G.I.F.T.

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Coleman, a hip-hop artist with a background at Boulevard Brewing Company and collaborations with Crane Brewing Company, brings a unique blend of creativity and industry knowledge. 

“When my time at Boulevard was done, I realized I still wanted to be in the beer industry,” said Coleman. “In 2020 I was like, I see a brewery in my future.”

Collaborating with homebrewers Woodie Bonds Jr. and Elliot Ivory (both now head brewers for Vine Street Brewing), the trio embarked on the venture soon after. Coleman’s focus lies in bringing his music and marketing expertise to the table, complementing Bonds Jr. and Ivory’s brewing skills, he said. 

“While they could hold down making an actual beer, I could hold down getting people excited about a brand,” said Coleman. 

Building that spirit of community comes in a variety of flavors at Vine Street Brewing — The festival Bonds Jr. started that ended a few years ago, Hip-Hops Hooray, brought together great homebrewers from Kansas City and professional brewers.

With five DJs playing hip-hop music, it was a lively time, Coleman said. For this new year, they are planning to bring it back in full force.

The brewery’s location, nestled in the historically Black 18th and Vine district, also serves as a hub for both the local community and beer enthusiasts. 

“It’s at the nexus of tourism and community. Being within the black part of town, it was just a lot of opportunity. It was a no-brainer,” said Coleman.

Looking ahead to the new year, Vine Street Brewing is gearing up for expansion. A new fermentation tank signals increased distribution, with plans to reach deeper into Missouri.

“Expanding our reach really is the big part. It would be a dream to open additional locations of taprooms and bring our vibe to different parts of either the city or different parts of the state.” said Coleman. 

Vine Street Brewing also is heading toward that goal by securing partnerships with major players in the food and beverage industry.

“We’re working on deals with Whole Foods right now,” revealed Coleman. “We’re also working on a couple of other pretty major partnerships that haven’t been solidified yet.”

From left, Vine Street Brewing Company co-founders Kemet Coleman, Woodie Bonds Jr., and Elliott Ivory with their craft beer creations on the ground floor of the new brewery at 2010 Vine St. in Kansas City, Missouri; photo courtesy of Vine Street Brewing

The brewery’s flagship products, such as the popular black lager “Jazzman” and their fruited sour series “Life of the Party,” popular among beer enthusiasts and non-beer drinkers alike, will continue to be sold in stores in Kansas City. 

Even with plans to expand to other locations, Vine Street Brewing still is holding true to representing its hometown.

“We’ve been putting the brand in a place that is transcendent here in Kansas City. It’s a story that represents us,” said Coleman. “We feel like we have an entire city that we can represent even when we’re outside of it.”

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Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2024

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Startups to Watch is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn