Breaking Barriers in the Brew City: How Veteran Evan Fay Built Detroit’s First Black-Owned Brewery

Frank A. Fiorello | June 9, 2026

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DETROIT, MI (DRCN)— In a city built by dreamers, grinders, and risk-takers, history often arrives without much fanfare. Sometimes it doesn't come with a parade or a proclamation. Sometimes it arrives in a pint glass.

On the corner of Selden Street in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood, a steady stream of customers files through the doors of Roar Brewing Co. The atmosphere is electric. Friends gather around tables, conversations bounce off exposed brick walls, and fresh beer flows from the taps. To the casual visitor, it looks like another successful Detroit business finding its footing.

But Roar Brewing Co. is much more than that.

The brewery has etched its name into Detroit history as the city's first brick-and-mortar Black-owned craft brewery—a milestone decades in the making in a city whose cultural identity has long been shaped by Black entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity.

For founder Evan Fay, however, the story was never about making history.

It was about building community.

From Air Force Bases to Detroit Blocks

Long before he was overseeing brewing tanks and tap handles, Fay was serving his country in the United States Air Force. During his travels, he found himself drawn to the same types of places in every city he visited.

"The local brewery or coffee shop always told me everything I needed to know about a neighborhood," Fay recalled. "That's where people gathered. That's where the real community lived."

That observation stayed with him.

After returning to Detroit, Fay became a familiar face in the city's small business scene, helping establish the popular Café Noir coffeehouse and Chloë Monroe Galleries. Both ventures reflected his belief that successful businesses should serve as gathering places first and commercial enterprises second.

Roar Brewing Co. became the natural evolution of that philosophy.

Challenging an Industry Built Behind Velvet Ropes

The craft beer industry has often struggled with perceptions of exclusivity. For many consumers, breweries can feel intimidating—a world filled with technical jargon, endless style classifications, and unwritten rules understood only by insiders.

Fay wanted none of that.

When the opportunity arose to take over the former Nain Rouge Brewery location, he envisioned something radically different: a brewery where newcomers felt just as comfortable as seasoned beer enthusiasts.

Instead of chasing novelty for novelty's sake, Roar's brewing program focuses on approachable, well-crafted beers that invite conversation rather than competition.

Among the early standouts are a rich Honey Oat Stout, a refreshing Raspberry Wheat Beer, and the Ammo Pilsner, a crisp lager that tips its cap to Fay's military roots.

The goal isn't to impress people with complexity.

The goal is to bring people together.

A New Gathering Place in Midtown

Inside, Roar embraces Detroit's sports culture, creating an atmosphere that feels as much like a neighborhood clubhouse as it does a brewery. On game days, fans pack the taproom to cheer on the Lions, Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings.

Outside, a spacious plaza extends the experience beyond the building itself, creating a communal gathering space in a neighborhood that continues to evolve and grow.

The project was anything but easy.

Opening a brewery requires substantial capital, specialized equipment, regulatory approvals, and an endless list of logistical challenges. Those hurdles can be difficult for any entrepreneur.

Historically, they have proven even more difficult for minority-owned startups seeking entry into the brewing industry.

Yet Fay pressed forward with the same discipline and persistence that carried him through military service.

The result is more than a business.

It is a statement.

More Than Beer

Nationally, Black-owned breweries account for less than one percent of the craft brewing industry. In Michigan, Roar Brewing Co. is only the third Black-owned brewery to establish itself in the state.

Those numbers reveal just how significant this achievement truly is.

But standing inside Roar, surrounded by laughter, conversation, and community, statistics quickly fade into the background.

What remains is something far more important.

A neighborhood gathering place.

A successful Detroit business.

A visible example for future entrepreneurs who may now see possibilities where barriers once stood.

"We wanted to build something that reflects the people who make Detroit what it is," Fay said. "A place where everyone feels welcome."

Judging by the crowds already filling the taproom, Detroit has responded with a resounding roar.

And for a city that has always believed in second chances, bold dreams, and breaking down barriers, that may be the most Detroit story of all.

Let's Be Frank

I'll admit it—I might be a little biased when it comes to breweries. I enjoy a good cold beer, and there's something fun about sampling craft brews when they're done right. Roar Brewing Co. checks those boxes.

What struck me wasn't just the beer, though the selections are excellent. It was the atmosphere. The place feels alive. It feels welcoming. It feels like the kind of neighborhood gathering spot Detroit has always done best when it's at its finest.

Whether you're a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or someone who simply enjoys an occasional pint with friends, Roar makes you feel comfortable walking through the door. There's no pretentiousness, no gatekeeping, and no pressure to pretend you're a beer expert. Just good people, good conversation, and good beer.

In a city filled with unique stories and determined entrepreneurs, Evan Fay has built something special. Detroit's first Black-owned brewery is certainly historic, but what matters most is that it's a place people genuinely want to spend time in. At the end of the day, that's what makes a neighborhood institution.

And if you're looking for me, there's a decent chance I'll be sitting somewhere nearby with a cold one in hand.

“Peace, love, and a loaded gun”

—Frank A. Fiorello