“We didn’t set out to be the first Native-woman-owned brewery in the United States, but I’m told we are,” says Shyla Sheppard, founder of Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. She and her partner, Missy Begay, take inspiration from the American Southwest, incorporating traditional Indigenous ingredients into their craft beers. Sheppard, who grew up in western North Dakota, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation), learned much about her heritage from her grandmother. Begay, meanwhile, was born in Albuquerque and raised on the Navajo (Diné) Nation. The couple use those experiences to inform their beermaking, bringing a diverse perspective to the industry.
A Native-Owned Brewery Inspired by the Southwest
In New Mexico, Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay are making craft beers with traditional Indigenous ingredients.
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By
Sue Williams