Latinx-Owned Business Review (from home

Latinx-Owned Business Review (from home)

Pretentious Barrelhouse

By Rolando Rubalcava (English)

Pretentious Barrelhouse is a brewery established in 2017. Its beer selection is dedicated to sour beers only, inspired by the palate of owner/former-chemist/ Southern California native Joshua Martinez. Every beer selection is a variation on the sour beer model, ranging from sweet to bitter, offering them on draft and bottled. The space itself is warm and inviting, with Edison bulbs and barrels for décor, giving its indoor and patio area a rustic aesthetic. There are even games like retro arcades and ski-ball, making it a space great for get-togethers with friends.

This place sounds amazing, and I would love to visit sometime. Unfortunately, I can’t do that, because we’re still in a pandemic. At the time of writing of this article, the US is facing a public health emergency from COVID-19, with the death rate blowing past the 500,00 death mark. Non-profit organizations dedicated to helping BIPOC owned businesses are helping, but the first place to start is by using our own purchasing power. In an article for Al Dia, Maria Samaniego, Senior Program Manager at The Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program states, “Every dollar spent at a Latino-owned business supports them in creating jobs, sustaining families, bolstering other businesses, and providing valuable services in cities across the country,”. At nearly $2.3 trillion, the purchasing power of Latinx clientele goes a long way. I decided to support Pretentious Barrelhouse by using eleven of the $2.3 trillion to try out a sour beer from my local bar, purchasing it via curbside service.

The Verdict

I tried a bottle of Sybarite w/ Peaches. The bottle itself has the same characteristics as the place: a pleasant aesthetic that is not shy letting you know you are about to consume something special. At 5.8% ABV, it did not take long to remind me why reviewing this beer with dinner was a good idea. (plus, now I don’t need a cab to get home). I would be eager to try more flavors, especially the kind that are more hoppy, like a good amber beer, until I remembered that it is not up to me pick something I already like, as it is to try something new. The selection is pretentious like that.

Photo Credit: Rolando Rubalcava

For more info on supporting Latinx businesses during the pandemic, visit the Online Directory created Al Dia Magazine here: https://bit.ly/3byDPgg

For a list on Latinx businesses in Columbus, find them at the Experience Columbus website: https://bit.ly/30wDRPBTo learn more about Pretentious Barrelhouse, visit their website: https:// bit.ly/3t8xVIJ