Our Story

Tucked away in a harbor on the island of St. Thomas, you’ll find our brewery bearing the namesake of the neighborhood it calls home, the bohemian fishing village of Frenchtown.
Frenchtown Brewing
2015
2015

2015

Frenchtown Brewing Company opens in August 2015 as a 3-barrel nano-brewery.

Thirsty, craft brew-starved locals and travelers from around the world visit Frenchtown for a truly authentic, island hopped beer.
Stop by the brewery located in Hop Alley for a tour and taste of house favorites and seasonal brews. Leave with your favorite in a refillable stainless steel growler perfect for the beach. Look for Frenchtown Brews served fresh from the tap in local restaurants around the island.

Our Brewer

Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown, Founder and Brewer

You’ll find very few people around the U.S. Virgin Islands, or anywhere for that matter, that are as passionate and committed to brewing exceptional craft beer as Kevin. Prior to founding Frenchtown Brewing Company with friend Nicolas Van Heurck, Kevin honed his skills as a home brewer wanting to find the perfect balance between his love of the islands and his passion for traditional Belgian-style beer. He also did his homework, traveling extensively and doing his best to sample all 507 Belgian beers. Along the way he collected brewing tips from some of Belgium’s most respected brewers.

Kevin credits several brewers who mentored him while building Frenchtown Brewing including Ted Miller, owner of Brugge Brasserie and Outliers Brewery; Kevin Matalucci, owner and head brewer of Twenty Tap; Chris Bauweraerts, founder of Brasserie D’Achouffe and Jim Matt, head brewer of Rhinegeist Brewery.

1990s

1990s

Frenchtown Transforms

Frenchtown now boasts a thriving entertainment center with multiple restaurants, bars and nightspots all within walking distance. Home to “Frenchies” and other colorful characters, Frenchtown is a multicultural and welcoming neighborhood founded on the freedom to enjoy life...and some really good beer.

Frenchtown Boats
1980s

1980s

Founder, Kevin Brown moves to St. Thomas for Marine Research

In the late 80s, Kevin escaped Indiana to accept a position with the University of the Virgin Islands in Marine Research and Analytical Chemistry. While Kevin quickly and eagerly adapted to island life, he lamented the lack of drinkable beers available on-island. What’s a 3rd generation Belgian and self confessed ‘hop-head’ to do? Adopting a do-it-yourself approach, he and fellow hop-starved university scientists started home brewing. Kevin honed his brewing skills and earned rave reviews from fellow beer aficionados who heartily encouraged him to share his ‘island hopped™’ brew with the masses. All he needed was enough space to brew on a larger scale and a little courage.

Island Hopped
1800s

1800s

Early Settlers

French Huguenots left Brittany and Normandy in the 17th and 18th centuries to settle on St. Barts. Seeking prosperity many moved west in the mid 1800s to St. Thomas where some chose the fertile mountains for agriculture while others preferred the life of a fisherman and settled in a tiny community just west of Charlotte Amalie, today known as Frenchtown.

Frenchie