Beer drinkers now have more choices than standard brands like Bud, Miller or Coors. Small craft beers are a growing niche market creating opportunities for small craft brewers. These are small businesses creating a unique product for a very specific customer.
Enter CrowdBrewed.com. The crowdfunding site allows fans and supporters of the industry to contribute money to brewery projects similar to a process already used by sites like Kickstarter.com.
The new site currently has just three campaigns under way with a total of $122,585 in funding pledged for craft brewing businesses so far.
Of that money, $107,535 has been pledged to J. Wakefield Brewing to open J. Wakefield’s first brewery, in Miami.
In a video on the site, Jonathan Wakefield, brewmaster and founder explains his company’s history:
CrowdBrewed.com is owned and managed by Evisor Inc. Securities, part of the North Capital Private Securities Corporation a private investment brokerage firm.
On its official website the company explains:
In addition to just breweries, CrowdBrewed supports the entire ecosystem of beer. CrowdBrewed welcomes any subset to the industry such as hops farms, craft beer gardens, craft beer festivals, bottling plants and even pubs that support craft beer.
Other campaigns already launched on the site include:
- Pigskin Brewing Company of Columbus, OH, with $15,020.00 pledged as of the end of its campaign September 19, and
- Orbit Brewing Co. of San Diego, which just launched its campaign in October and hopes to use funding for investment in the company’s tap room.
The site charges a flat 5 percent success fee from each successful campaign and no funds are deducted from donors for campaigns that do not reach their goals.
Campaigns are permitted to offer a product or other reward in return for different levels of contribution.
Beer Photo via Shutterstock
Mark Alba
What a great idea for small brewers. I have a friend who just makes custom beer for friends and family and it’s always a pleasure to see how much work he puts into it and how much pleasure he gets out of doing it. I’m not sure if it’s going to be something that everyone can monetize but there are some interesting projects on CrowdBrewing.com
Shawn Hessinger
You said it, Mark! I think, now that the big crowdfunding sites are up and running, you’re likely to see more and more dedicated to niche markets like this one. It’s a great way to gather and concentrate enthusiasm around a very specific interest or business and help put entrepreneurs and potential customers and backers in that niche together.
Aira Bongco
It’s a craft worth investing in. Anyone who enjoys what he or she is doing is worth investing in because you know that every item and every product has a touch of love. I know it may sound dramatic but it’s true. This is why the works of great artists are always more expensive.
An interesting trend to watch, for sure. Just like everything else in business, going niche is the best way budding entrepreneurs can get into a particular market – in this case, the crowdsourcing industry.
We will definitely see more similar to CrowdBrewing.com – in other niches.
Thank you for your support… never really blogged on an article before but we are grateful for your support….. Cheers always and may your glass be half fulllllll. Crowdbrewed.
Dean Rittenhouse
I read an article recently that outlined how craft breweries and brewpubs are helping to revitalize blighted neighborhoods. The brewery moves in and then other businesses follow along with loft developers for housing and so on. It’s great that these very worthwhile breweries are finding more financial support!