Imbibe 75 Person to Watch: Ray Ricky Rivera

Paramount, California

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A fixture of the Southern California brewing scene, Ray Rivera can finally welcome the public to a space of his own: Mexican Monk, a 1,400-square-foot beer bar in Paramount, California, that opened this past autumn. Rivera has worked in nearly every facet of beer, from co-founding Latino homebrew club SoCal Cerveceros to launching a beer distributorship to starting his own beer brand called Norwalk Brew House. But until now, he’s never had a physical location to showcase his knack for hospitality and his passion for uplifting fellow Latino beer lovers.

It’s a fraught time to open this bar in a neighborhood where immigration raids have instilled fear and anxiety around gathering in public. But Rivera, a third-generation Mexican American, says it’s more important than ever to see his dream through. He’s worked to build a bar and community space where Spanglish is the norm and nearly every drop of beer on tap is brewed by Latino brewers. “You can come to this space and we’re going to understand who you are. If you’re Latino, you can come here and not feel out of place,” Rivera says. “While you’re in our space enjoying your beverages and having conversation, you’ll be safe and we’ll do our best to be there for you.”

Hospitality also means extending a hand to guests who might be new to craft beer. The draft list is designed to offer accessible and diverse beers that anyone can appreciate, like Norwalk’s Bidi Bidi Blonde Blonde. “I just want to run a tight ship, a place that has great service where anybody from any background can have a great experience, whether you’re Latino or not,” Rivera says. “But if you’re Latino, you’ll know us right away. You get it.”

Click here to read more about some of 2026’s other Imbibe 75 People and Places to Watch.