Augusta, GA
Navy Veteran Robert Young Is Reportedly Behind The First Black-Owned Brewery In Augusta, GA – AfroTech
The inspiration to launch his own company — named after the connection between Augusta, James Brown’s birth year, and the end of prohibition — came after Young returned home from his deployment, where he attempted to craft beers in Prague, the outlet details.
From there, the vision to be a brewer was born.
In the early stages, he created beers in his home, leading him to thousands of cans of beer.
“It was a dream, now it’s coming true as cliché as it might sound but I really feel like once you put in the hard work once you dedicate yourself to something it’ll happen,” Young shared, according to the outlet.
He added, “I had this epiphany moment where I was like ah this works. Just seeing it in cans and seeing it on the shelf it’s surreal, it’s a blessing and it’s one of those things that I can’t put it into words.”
It’s no secret that there is a small percentage of Black-owned breweries. There are less than 1% of craft breweries owned by Black Americans in the U.S., according to the National Black Brewers Association. Young aims to serve as an example that Black brewers can excel in the predominately white market.
“Representation of black people in the brewing industry is not a lot so I wanted to create a product that I could influence my culture,” he explained.
While Young has taken his dream project from experimenting in his kitchen to supplying customers with his beer via taps at local bars, he hopes for Tapped 33 Brewing to be on store shelves in the future. According to the outlet, it seems to already be in the works.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the James Brown Linear Park in downtown Augusta, with ceiling tiles now installed inside the park structures.
The tiles feature designs showcasing the Godfather of Soul from different years in his career.
According to the city, the completed park will include an interactive water feature that will “dance” to Brown’s greatest hits. A statue of the music icon will return to a new stage at the park.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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