Latest news with #HumanRobotBrewery
Axios
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
How Philly's Hip Hop in the Park became a tour de force
The vibe came before the name. But festival founder Christian "TAMEARTZ" Rodriguez knew he had something that'd stick once his friend said, "This feels like hip hop in the park." Why it matters: As Philly struggles to retain marquee hip-hop shows, an event that started as a benefit concert for Puerto Rico following the devastating hurricane in 2017 has grown into a local tour de force. Driving the news: This Saturday marks five years for Hip Hop in the Park, a milestone celebration headlined by DJs Rich Medina and Cosmo Baker expected to draw about 15,000 people to Eakins Oval. This year's festival lineup — incorporating all four elements of hip-hop (MC-ing, DJ-ing, break dancing and graffiti) — is DJ-heavy, with someone new spinning every half-hour. It also includes appearances from Philly underground rap legend The Last Emperor and the Juice Crew's Craig G. The intrigue: Now that the future of Jay-Z's Made in America festival remains in limbo, these free, community-focused events take on elevated importance, Rodriguez tells Axios. Hip Hop in the Park is a truly Philly affair, with talented graffiti artists once again live painting on a box truck donated by Human Robot Brewery, which is releasing a special-edition lager for the event. Herr's — the local potato heads known for concocting quirky new flavors — is giving away thousands of bags of chips. Zoom in: The festival has grown from humble roots, with no budget or backers when it started as a 2018 fundraiser at a small North Philly park with about 200 attendees. But Rodriguez had proof of his concept. In 2021, he had a small budget, and German-based streetwear and sneaker giant Snipes (its domestic headquarters are in Philly) agreed to sponsor the show, which was moved to the Oval. It's grown there ever since. Now the fête boasts 20 loyal sponsors and a $50,000 spending plan.
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Philadelphia brewers say President Trump's 25% aluminum tariffs could force them to raise beer prices
Small breweries across Philadelphia are bracing for financial strain as President Trump's new aluminum tariffs take effect. They warn that the increased costs could soon be passed on to consumers. Jake Atkinson, owner of Human Robot Brewery in Kensington, says the tariffs leave him with little choice but to raise prices. "If things continue as they are, the price of your beer will go up," Atkinson said. "That is not good. I don't want to do that. I don't have a choice." The 25% tariffs on imported aluminum, announced by Mr. Trump in February, went into effect Wednesday. The president aims to boost domestic manufacturing, but Atkinson says it will be challenging for small businesses like his to absorb the costs. "None of these small businesses have a choice. What's been the hardest thing is it changes daily almost what's happening. Who can keep up?" he said. At Love City Brewing in Callowhill, co-founder Melissa Walter shares similar concerns. "We don't have the buying power and negotiating power of a larger brewery," Walter said. According to Walter, Love City routinely packs 150 cases of beer (3,600 cans) on days when the canning line is in operation, which is about three times a week. To do so, they rely on raw aluminum materials that are now subject to tariffs. "We spend tens of thousands of dollars on aluminum," Walter said. "To have a 25% increase in our raw materials cost, that has to go somewhere. Our cans are manufactured in the U.S. It's just that the raw materials come frequently from Canada." Walter says her team worked hard to keep prices steady during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that may no longer be possible. She fears the impact won't just be on the beer itself but also her employees. "We like to take care of our team. We like to offer them good benefits, and I don't want to have to take any of that away," Walter said. Despite the financial uncertainty, both Atkinson and Walter say they are committed to staying open and serving their communities. "Love City was a dream of ours to create a company that was local and that did good things for the community and created more love in the world," Walter said. "That's our whole reason for being here. And we want to keep being here."
