Meet Roundhead Brewing: Massachusetts’s first Latino-owned brewery

From chef to brewer, Luis started home brewing in Hyde Park about 10 years ago. Luis' beer became popular with family and friends who came to visit his home brewery and buy the latest beers.

Roundhead believes in community connections, because this is also how the brewery started, and where we find continued strength. Luis met his future business partner, Craig Panzer, on the sidelines of their kids' Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer Games, where they got to know each other.

Community connections also gave Luis an opportunity to host a beer tasting, where family, friends, and coworkers all turned out - and got a taste of Luis’ culinary skills as well. The tasting was where Craig got his first chance to experience Roundhead Brewing in action and where they built excitement and formed relationships.

Shortly after that event, Craig and Luis decided to partner on plans to open a five-barrel brewery and taproom business. However, planning and realizing what it takes to open a brewery, especially during COVID, was a challenge - not only did the pandemic affect their personal lives but their professional lives. They had to learn about permits, licenses, and lawyers. However, Luis’ dream remained strong.

Luis and Craig created a five-year business plan and rallied community support to put the plan into action, including a $100k investment from neighbors with an average investment of $300 to support the build-out of Roundhead Brewing Company in Hyde Park. Roundhead is proud to be the first Latino-owned brewery in Massachusetts.

Boston Legacy and women's sports gives us all another reason to be proud and celebrate our community. At Roundhead, our mission is Cerveza que Reune: great beer is the starting point to bring people together. Soccer has the same power to bring people together, as it did Luis and Craig. Community connections make powerful energy. Celebrating women in sports brings people together, especially as role models for other people to see their own potential.

Roundhead Brewing is part of the Legacy on Tap Collective: Connecting local bars and breweries with Boston’s passionate women’s soccer community to create exciting matchday experiences while uplifting local businesses.