Let’s say that you’re a homebrewer and you make a beer that is unique and wonderful. All of your friends love it. “You should sell this retail!” they say. How does one go from being a home kitchen genius to becoming the next Karbach Brewing?
It’s not easy. Equipment for larger-scale beer production is expensive. Finding both a legitimate production area and funding is challenging. That’s where Kitchen Incorporated’s co-founder Lucrece Borrego wants to help. She wants to create The Brewery Incubator.
Much like The Kitchen Incubator helped small, Houston-based bakers and candymakers get off the ground, The Brewery Incubator would do the same for homebrewers. They are seeking funding to buy equipment to set up a commercial brewing system and a tap room. Brewers would be able to sell their beer in the tap room, which would let them cultivate fans of their concoctions before officially launching.
Borrego also seeks to teach the brewers the finer points of being a good business owner and expects to have business workshops, provide marketing advice, teach people how to make pitches to potential investors and host networking events.
The Brewery Incubator also wants to provide services for Houston’s beer-loving community, such as classes, community brew days, homebrew competitions and general craft beer education.
They are running out of time to get funded, though. As of today, they’ve raised $20,920 of the $25,000 they need to get their initial equipment. The fundraising is being done through Kickstarter, and it’s a “use it or lose it” scenario. If they don’t raise the entire amount by this Friday, January 25, they lose all of the pledges made through Kickstarter.
They’re doing one last fundraising push before the due date and are hosting “Race to the Finish,” an “epic” bottle share party, on Thursday, January 24. The party starts at 6 pm. Food, including pizza and ice cream, will be available in exchange for Kickstarter donations. You can RSVP and get more details on their Facebook page.
Houston is ripe for innovative food and beverage concepts. Borrego’s timing, assuming that they make up that last bit of needed initial funding, may be just right.
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