Leopold Sawadogo’s story reads like a crossover between a sports saga and a craft‑beer adventure.
Born in Burkina Faso and raised in Ivory Coast, he first made his mark on the pitch as a professional soccer player before swapping stadium lights for kitchen taps.
After moving to the United States, Sawadogo began coaching youth teams in Montclair and nearby Bloomfield, where his passion for the game found a new outlet.
From the Field to the Fermentation Tank
In 2022 he and his wife Denise Sawadogo launched Montclair Brewery, a venture that celebrates their mixed Burkina Faso‑Jamaican heritage and serves as a gathering place for neighbors.
The brewery’s name nods to the town that became his new home, while the label designs echo the colors of the African continent and the Caribbean.
Soccer and Beer: A Shared Language
Sawadogo often points out that both soccer and beer speak a universal dialect, drawing strangers together over a shared cheer or a clink of glasses.
That philosophy guided the creation of a special World Cup series, where limited‑edition brews are paired with live screenings of matches.
World Cup Celebrations
During the tournament, Montclair Brewery hosts watch parties that attract fans from across the region, turning the taproom into a vibrant arena of chants, snacks and the occasional goal‑celebration toast.
The brews themselves reference the tournament’s historic milestone: a record number of African teams competing, a fact that resonates deeply with Sawadogo’s own journey.
Beyond the beer, the events support local youth soccer programs, reinforcing the coach’s belief that sport can nurture community as much as any craft.
Friends, families and newcomers alike find a place at the bar, where the clatter of bottles mixes with the roar of commentary, blurring the line between spectator and participant.
Nicholas Skyles, a longtime patron, notes that the brewery feels like an extension of the pitches where Sawadogo once chased a ball, now filled with clinking mugs and laughter.
The brewery’s story illustrates how a personal heritage, a love of sport and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit can ferment something far richer than malt alone.