By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Métier Brewing Company (MBC) is more than a brewery—it’s a celebration of craft, culture, and community. Co-founded by Rodney Hines and Todd Herriott, the brewery takes its name from the French word “métier,” meaning vocation or calling. For Hines, the name reflects the company’s deeper mission.
“The more poetic translation is one’s calling, one’s destiny. And I hope that part of the vibe you get as you enjoy our beer, either at home in our cans, or if you are in our space, that there is a feeling of enjoying our beer and the art behind it,” said Rodney Hines, MBC CEO & Co-Founder. “Being in our space might make you feel like you are at home, and it feels like it might be part of your destiny to be in this space and to be with us, which is why that is the name of our company.”
Since opening its first location in Woodinville over six years ago, MBC has grown into a beloved fixture in the Seattle area, championing inclusivity and representation in the craft beer world. With a focus on creating welcoming spaces and telling stories that honor Black and brown communities, MBC has become a destination for beer lovers and community builders alike.
“In the last two years, we opened our flagship taproom in the Central District, on Cherry Street near MLK. We have also partnered with the Seattle Mariners and are in partnership for Steelheads Alley, which is dedicated to the Negro League Baseball team that played here in 1946 called the Seattle Steelheads,” Hines said. “The walls there tell the story of Black folks, brown folks, women, and men who were left out of the MLB, and some of the legends represented locally in the MLB.”
Hines, who entered the brewing industry through his passion for beer and the sense of community it fosters, described what drew him to the craft.
“For one, my love of the craft of beer brought me to this industry, and then the community, the discussion, and the life that can happen around beer,” said Hines. “I love the feeling of a warm pub where strangers may meet strangers, have meaningful conversations, and dialog, and enjoy some live music, maybe some jazz. But, most importantly, enjoy tasty and delicious beer like our Coconut Porter.”
According to Hines, MBC is all about strengthening the community and creating a welcoming gathering space for families, friends, and those who appreciate exceptional beer. When selecting suppliers and brewers for MBC, Hines said that he relied on the mission to help him make the selections.
“We always go back to our mission statement, and that is to brew exceptionally good beer. We can’t do anything unless we have exceptionally good beer, and to build a stronger community, to inspire bigger dreams for all, and that all starts with our team members and supporting them,” Hines said. “We want our success to be tied to the success of other Black and brown folks who have just not been seen in this industry.”
“All the artwork on our cans is done by Black and Brown folks, the coffee in our beer is from Boon Boona and other Black and brown roasters, many of our hops are from Loza Farms, probably one of the only Latino-owned hop farms in the country. We have had great partnerships with Wa Na Wari and Arte Noir, our logo was created by Conflare, a Black women-owned company. So, wherever we can, we utilize people from the Black and Brown community,” Hines said.
MBC’s storytelling sets it apart in the craft beer industry. Beers like Central Calling, a West Coast IPA, pay homage to historically Black neighborhoods across the U.S. The can’s artwork, designed by Garfield High School graduate Damon Brown of Creative Lou, reflects the brewery’s commitment to honoring local culture and history.
“On a given day, you’ll see elderly Black women joining with others, sometimes wearing their beautiful Sunday hats, and our mostly folks of color staff who are from the community working with us gives a range in variety of who shows up, who is drawn to, and feels comfortable in our space,” Hines said.
As one of fewer than 20 Black-owned breweries with brick-and-mortar locations in the U.S., MBC plays a vital role in expanding diversity in the craft beer industry.
“When you look at us and 23rd Avenue, the only other Black-owned brewery in the state, you get a unique Black culture vibe that I don’t think you get in other craft breweries,” Hines said. “I think there are less than 20 Black-owned breweries with brick-and-mortar in this country out of 9,600, and that is not reflective of America. I think there is a need to ensure that we all exist and grow, because I think the industry needs to sustain itself, and sustaining itself with those who have historically shown up in these spaces isn’t enough.”
Aside from serving great beer, Hines strives to uplift Black folks in the community by working with Black-owned businesses, creating opportunities for people of color, and opening doors for future leaders who are more reflective of the nation’s diversity.
“The last piece of our mission is to inspire bigger dreams for all, but we know that for many of us, the ceiling has been placed in our dreams. And we call BS on that, we want everyone to realize their dreams. So, we work with
Reuben’s and have launched a mentorship program for women and people of color to gain access to the brewing industry through business management courses,” Hines said.
Hines also highlighted a recent collaboration with Lil’ Brown Girl, a quick-service restaurant under the umbrella of Communion R&B and That Brown Girl Cooks!
“Finally, we recently launched a partnership with Communion’s catering Lil’ Brown Girl, and I think it may be the best fried chicken sandwich in town that you can get in our space,” Hines said. “All of the little pieces we do at MBC make us a unique place that you will want to come to again.”
“At the end of the day, we’re here to build a stronger community, share exceptional beer, and show what’s possible when everyone gets a chance to dream big,” Hines said.