Episode 10: Chris Maestro, Founder of Bierwax
“We are one of the early adopters of this idea in the States”
Chris Maestro spent twenty years as an educator until he decided to follow his passion and open up one of the most iconic bars in New York City, the Hip-Hop themed craft beer bar, Bierwax. Inspired by his visits to jazz and Hip-Hop bars in Amsterdam and Tokyo, Chris decided to create his own vision of this format in Brooklyn, NYC. Frequented by craft beer lovers, Hip-Hop aficionados and the occasional famous DJ or MC, Bierwax is also one of the few BIPOC-owned pubs in the city. Now with the Covid-19 pandemic regulations in effect, Bierwax continues to break new ground in the craft beer scene, while also giving Hip-Hop heads and vinyl lovers a place to call home.
Bierwax is located at 556 Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn, NYC.
For more info, https://www.bierwaxnyc.com and https://www.instagram.com/bierwax/?hl=en .
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Episode #10 Notes
1:00 - What is Bierwax?
6:30 - Vinyl bars in Tokyo: how do they operate?
9:30 - On spinning records whilst serving drinks.
12:15 - How did you get into craft brews with your background as an educator?
16:30 - How did you finance starting up your bar?
19:15 - What’s it like being a person of color in the bar and craft brew world?
20:45 - Is there a group or association supporting non-white folks in the craft brew space?
28:30 - What are your employment policies, especially during COVID?
35:40 - How has Bierwax been recieved by the beer and the hip hop community?
44:20 - What’s next for Bierwax?
46:45 - Who is your favorite member of the Wu-Tang Clan?
50:40 - If you were stranded on an island, what keg would you have with you?
56:45 - What’s on your bookshelf?
Star Wars, Alphabet Squadron - Alexander Freed
Black Reconstruction in America 1860 - 1880, W.E.B Du Bois
The Monster at our Door, Mike Davis
