Benny Farber and Chelsey Rosetter
Benny Boy Brewing | Los Angeles
April 2024
Benny Farber was working as a general contractor when he took his first homebrewing class 16 years ago. He was hooked, and started experimenting with different beers, and then ciders, at home. After sharing his creations with friends and family, they eventually encouraged him to open a brewery, so he decided to travel to Belgium to learn more about brewing. He visited Brouwerij de Ranke and was instantly drawn to their old-world brewing style. Once stateside, Farber reached out and asked for an apprenticeship. They accepted, and he returned to Belgium for six weeks, getting his hands into every aspect of production. Back in Los Angeles, Farber rented warehouse space and built a one-barrel brew system to fortify his technique until he and his business and life partner, Chelsey Rosetter, were ready to go out to investors.
Working in PR and marketing for Center Theatre Group, Chelsey Rosetter knew she needed to learn more about the brewing world before opening a brewery. She accepted a job at Eagle Rock Brewery as their taproom and marketing manager, learning the ins and outs of running a successful brewery. Rosetter then moved to Firestone Walker, where she stayed for the next two years, continuing her education while she and Farber started fundraising for their own spot.
The couple began building out their brewery, with Farber tapping into his contracting skills to build the brewery’s chilling system, bars, seating, and cider press. In 2022, they officially opened Benny Boy Brewing. Farber’s wide range of layered beers—relying on whole hops, natural carbonation, and no fining agents—combined with Rosetter’s marketing and management expertise have helped launch Benny Boy into 45 restaurants and bars across the city. With their brewery, cidery, and a robust events program to boot—holiday markets, culinary events around the city, a quarterly Female Founders Night, and Oktoberfest (with lederhosen encouraged)—Benny Boy Brewing has become a staple of the Lincoln Heights community.
