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From a Code Violation to Massachusett’s Only Latina-Owned Brewery

Hot Plate Brewing Co. is the sole Latina-owned independent brewery in Massachusetts, co-founded by Sarah Real and Mike Dell’Aquila. In their early days of homebrewing, a code violation resulted in their Brooklyn condo being without gas for several years. Undaunted by this setback, Sarah Real took the unconventional route of brewing on a hot plate, meticulously crafting and refining her recipes. Five years later, Hot Plate Brewing Co. opened their remarkable 7-barrel brewhouse and attached taproom in Downtown Pittsfield, where they have 12 beverages on tap, including Easy Listening Favourites which won first place in the English Beers category at Homebrew Alley XV in 2021 (two years before the taproom even opened).

Join us for a conversation with Sarah and Mike to discuss their journey, and how resilience and innovation has fueled the success of Hot Plate Brewing.