About us
After leaving The New York Times and Google, Tara Hankinson and LeAnn Darland met in their new roles at a beer startup in New York City. While working together daily, they realized they aligned in more ways than one–they shared exasperation with the way craft beer and craft breweries marketed towards women, and both wanted to create an inclusive, approachable beer company that would bring beer to a wider market. Just three months after meeting, Tara and LeAnn filed for the LLC that would become TALEA, because when you know, you know.
The flagship TALEA brewery and taproom opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in March 2021, and all TALEA beers are still brewed there. Williamsburg was quickly joined by four additional taprooms, all designed by female architects: Cobble Hill, West Village, Bryant Park, and Penn District. Outside of the taprooms, TALEA beers can be found in 1,300+ retailers, bars, and restaurants across NY State.
TALEA's beers are known for their fruit-forward flavors, playful reinvention of classic beer styles, and high quality ingredients sourced from women-owned providers. They’re beers that you can comfortably share with your hard-seltzer and wine-drinking friends, or open with lifelong craft beer drinkers.
Whether it’s always keeping non-alc options on the menu, making changing stations available in the bathrooms, or serving "easy-drinking beers, perhaps to replace that glass of rosé" (Florence Fabricant, The New York Times), Tara and LeAnn have aimed to build spaces that are welcoming, thoughtful, and beautiful.
Oh, and it’s pronounced tah-lay-uh.
LeAnn
Co-founder, Co-CEO
While serving in the Navy, LeAnn’s interest in craft beer sparked in San Diego, living just three blocks from Coronado Brewing Company’s taproom. She loved the neighbourhood vibe, the feeling of a "third place" where she could relax with friends after a long day, and was intrigued by the limitless possibilities of the brewing process. After the Navy, she pursued a career in corporate finance but never stopped dreaming about having a brewery of her own. She began homebrewing and left her corporate job to join a beer e-commerce start-up that ultimately brought her to NYC, where she serendipitously met Tara. Within three months of knowing each other, they had formed the LLC that is now TALEA Beer Co.
First Memorable Craft Beer:
Gordon Biersch Marzen
TALEA Favorite:
Sun Up Hazy IPA
Other Beer of Choice:
Bell’s Two Hearted
Tara
Co-founder, Co-CEO
Growing up with parents who worked in wine importing and restaurant management, Tara developed a deep appreciation for beverage and hospitality. While earning her MBA, she took wine classes and worked at Wolffer Estate Vineyard. Her desire to bring the hospitality side of wineries to the beer world inspired her to start homebrewing while working in management consulting at PwC and marketing at The New York Times. She met LeAnn at Hopsy, a beer e-commerce start-up, where she led the customer experience team. Tara earned a BSBA from Bucknell University and an MBA from NYU Stern.
First Memorable Craft Beer:
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
TALEA Favorite:
Raspberry Crush Gose
Other Beer of Choice:
Suarez Family Crispy Little
