Ray Ricky Rivera

Ray Ricky Rivera is the founder and operator of Norwalk Brewhouse, a self-distributed craft beer brand rooted in Mexican-American culture, and co-founder of Mexican Monk Brewhouse, a community-focused taproom in Paramount, California. The brand is best known for its flagship Bidi Bidi Blonde Blonde Mexican-American ale and culturally driven collaborations that spotlight Latino brewers and creators.

Before entering the beer industry, Rivera spent more than 20 years working in music as a musician, DJ, label owner, band manager, and hip-hop buyer. That background in branding, storytelling, and community building became central to how he built Norwalk Brewhouse without a traditional taproom, relying on collaborations, local press, and direct retail relationships across California.

Rivera co-founded the SoCal Cerveceros Homebrew Club in 2015, helping it grow into one of the largest Latino-led homebrew communities in the country. The club's annual Coldxela festival and its focus on inclusion have become influential forces in Southern California's craft beer scene. Under Rivera's leadership, Norwalk Brewhouse has also pursued cause-based collaborations that benefit local nonprofits and Latino-owned businesses.