Been keeping an eye on these guys and their kickstarter is at less than 8,000 with 3 days to go. Their goal is 30,000 and apparently it is all or nothing (they will get 0 if they don't reach their goal). However they seem to have a lot of plans and their posts make it seem like they are a for sure thing. Anyone have any more details about whether they are going to open or not if the kickstarter doesn't reach its goal? Would love to see a new brewery that focuses on NEIPAs and have heard good things about their beers but the kickstarter isn't looking too promising.
The problem for me is that I feel NEIPAs are just another fad. While I do like the beer style, I am not one to pay $10 for a crowler of an IPA (like I see a lot of places doing). If $30k is going to stop them from opening up, then they need a better plan. 30k is nothing when it comes to opening a brewery. I hope the best for them, because I am always for new breweries trying something new. I am just tired of crowd funding in general.
This was discussed in another thread, ditto here. I think the thing that chaps me about this is the lack of value for what you invest. If you truly think you can brew beer at a large scale, and you can roll with the tide when beer styles fall from grace and the next one comes along, then put together a business plan and go get investors, or go to the bank and get a loan. If you want me to invest in your startup, you have to give me something of perceived value, not a 2 T shirt, 2 pints a trucker hat and an invite to your soft opening for $500. If you want people to help put you in business, then give something of value to me that might not be that much value to you. For example for $500 you give me a punch card for 100 beers where I can have 1 beer a week on that card. If I show up that week it cost you a $1 and I paid you $5 for it. If I don't show up you made $5 that week. Be creative with this stuff instead of just asking us to give you $$ for shit we can get at a Tap Takeover for free. Note: For those who remember, this reminds me of when Texas Big Beer was trying to do a kickstarter to pay for their Licensing fees. There is a good editorial here about this type of fundraising http://www.shadetxcraft.com/editorial-texas-big-beer-crowdfunding-2/
Just say no to kick starters. If you want my money to help your business, produce a product I'll purchase.
I still like the way H&G did it for their San Marcos taproom - basically the investment crowd funding where they promised you a return on your investment over time. I give away enough money for beer these days. I don't need more just to give more away. I don't blame breweries for doing it, people still tend to throw money at you so it can't hurt to ask. I also think they did this for publicity more than actually needing the money. It gets people talking about it and if they make $30k, great, if not, people still talked about you and have an idea that you're opening. I just won't throw money in. Unless it is a brewery opening a block from my house where I can walk to within 5 minutes.
Good afternoon, BA's. I have to agree with aschwab here. Well, I partially agree. I don't necessarily think the 'Northeast IPA' is a fad, but I think using that term as a marketing tool for your start up brewery is a fad. I don't think that gives off a very good vibe to the educated beer consumer. Most of them know that the Northeast style wasn't intended to be milkshaky. I don't like that word. Was it meant to be hop saturated, low in bitterness and 'soft?' Sure. The haze was simply a byproduct of the brewing process. The new breweries that have the obvious intention of producing the haziest and most milkshaky IPA possible, just to be doing it because everyone else is, doesn't look very genuine. To me, that's simply another marketing gimmick. Let me go back and clear something up. I don't think the consistency of the 'Northeast IPA' style is a fad. Perhaps the marketing impact of the name is, but I love a hoppy beer that is juicy in tropical fruit with a fuller and softer mouthfeel alongside a more estery yeast character. The Northeast IPA is a sharp contrast to the West Coast IPA, and that, to me, is the beautiful aspect of beer styles. With all of that said, I wish these guys very well. If they produce high-quality beer, whether it be hoppy, juicy goodness or not, they should do great, especially in a market like Dallas. Good luck getting the brewery off the ground, Turning Point. Cheers!
The "all or nothing" part is just how kickstarter works. I don't think they're necessarily saying that they are deciding whether or not to open the brewery based on whether or not they can raise $30,000 via crowdfunding. At least I hope not. $30,000 doesn't go very far when opening a brewery. They'll likely need to spend more than that just on kegs...
Their beers are good so I'm hoping they succeed. They are going to be doing sours also so just not IPA's. DFW is missing a good brewery that produces solid IPA's worth searching for. They are also trying to open the brewery a few minutes from my house so thats an added bonus. Disagree that the NE IPA is a fad and I agree that if you are doing a kickstarter, the investor needs to get something more than stickers or hats. The $750 option for an allotment of beer is a little excessive.
Wish I had made one of their tastings to get a feel for how much potential they have. I do agree that the DFW area could use better IPA's. But Kickstarter is sure not the way I would invest in a business. And as mentioned, the $30k goal is a bit baffling.
I had their beers at LUCK a few weeks back. Extra Pulp was a good representation of the NEIPA style. The others didn't do it for me. I do think they have a lot of promise, just not with regards to funding. There's not much value at all for anyone contributing to the Kickstarter. If they had an option for a couple hundred dollars that guaranteed an allocation for each release, I'd seriously consider it. But I'm not dropping $250 for swag.
I do agree with the sentiment about the kickstarter however I think it was cool that they went and did tastings all over town to promote it. If I had made it to one I would have likely thrown in a few bucks, but no more than 20-30. I think asking people to donate 100s or 1000s of dollars is pretty outlandish. With that being said, I wonder what their plan is if the kickstarter falls through. Are they going to give up or seek funding from outside investors or what?
Speaking of gofundmes/indiegogos...I see two more posted them today. New Main (DFW) for $40k Flying Man (Austin) for $25k Both are to help "finish out the taprooms/beer garden" ones. Both have locations already I see these as publicity with the hope of getting money more than the needing for the money.
Hey, everybody! Josh from Turning Point here. Yeah, I definitely see where y'all are coming from regarding the kickstarter. We tried our best to think of good prizes, but it was honestly very difficult since we'll be so small and won't have a tap room initially. We're all new to Kickstarter, so there was definitely a learning curve, but I think the days of Kickstarting breweries are almost over if not over now. And y'all are correct in that it was primarily a marketing piece to center our beer giveaways around. We met a ton of potential investors through the events, so the benefit was there even though it was ultimately a failed attempt. We'll be signing on our chosen location in Bedford this or next week, so there should be lots of updates coming in the near future regarding that, investors, hop contracts, licensing, equipment, build-out and all that. Also, I think the NEIPA craze is here to stay. The excessive hype might die off before long, but it's just such an approachable style for people that can't take the bitterness of standard or west coast hops. It's also fresh to our Texas market, so the average consumer has no clue what the style is about. Once they get a taste, I'm sure tons more breweries will attempt the style in order to satisfy the new demand/cash in.
Happy to hear you guys will be opening up in the near future. Can't wait to buy my first pint and my first can.
Thanks so much! We're incredibly excited ourselves. And I can assure y'all, we'll be rotating through new beers and experimenting constantly. The northeast stuff is awesome, and that's our primary focus, but we've got way more to offer than just that. Can't wait to share with you guys.
Hey, Josh. Thanks for the response. Firstly, good for you, man, for pursuing your dream of opening a brewery and being on the fringe of actually bringing that dream to reality. As we have all heard, opening a brewery is incredibly difficult. You have gained my admiration for even getting this far. Secondly, focusing on hop saturated and approachable pale ales is a great idea. If done right, the style is beautiful and immensely drinkable. If the beer is of high-quality, and if you emphasize freshness, people will follow in droves. Hopefully no one here is dissuading you from your vision. Keep doing what you are doing. Good luck, dude! Cheers.
