Founder
Christopher "C-pher" Mantia
Founder
Founder
I grew up in Germantown and started my beer journey drinking craft beer at a young age. Granted back then it was a lot different. I don't think it would be considered Craft any longer. I Started brewing with friends as you can't drink under 21, but you could buy all the supplies. This started my hunt for different beers and breweries. And Beer a lot better than we could make.
I've had the luxury to travel for my job. This has let me have a beer in a brewery or more in every state in the US except Alaska and Hawaii. Like Frank, I've had beers in several countries; Italy, England, and Canada. This journey led me to start the group, Memphis Beer Drinkers back in 2016.
The goal of MBD started as a place for local breweries, bottle shops, and enthusiasts to have a place to sound off of new brews, new bottles they carried, and the people that drink them, to find out. This has changed a lot over the years to a group of beer drinkers coming together to enjoy what we all love, a good, tasty, pint.
I have since moved to Eastern TN, and no longer live in Memphis, but the team that has kept the site going is doing more than I ever imagined. It makes me proud that something that started as a small FB group, has grown so much. I would go to all the beer festivals and bottle shops and get everyone I could to join. Explaining the mission, discussing brewing, and why the brewery or store should join. The explosion of MBD just shows that you don't have to travel outside of Memphis to get great beer.
And that is what makes me happy that we've grown to what we have. Cheers!
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OBITUARY
Chris passed away peacefully at his home on January 1, 2026 at the young age of 54.
Read the full obituary here.