YOU ARE INVITED TO THE ABC RESERVE SOCIETY
What is this?
The ABC Reserve Society is a concept that I have been developing. It is a way for lovers of a fine beer to benefit from a mutual relationship. I have been brewing for nearly 2 years. Since then I have brewed over 20 batches, upgraded my equipment, and after months of study and research, I have greatly developed my technique. I can brew a wide variety of beers from every styl. Also, my current setup, which includes a mill and mash tun, uses no artificial flavors, and ensures that the beer is as delicious as possible! My only prohibition is price.
With raw ingredients and utilities, brewing can be expensive. However, with the ABC Reserve Society, it doesn’t have to be. The ABC Reserve Society is simply a way for you to contribute to the costs of brewing, and receive handmade beer in return! This is NOT a way for me to make money. Profiting from alcohol without a license is ILLEGAL. This is just a way to spread out the costs of brewing, so that we all can benefit: I can do what I love to do – make good beers; you can do what you love to do – drink them! Think about it; an artisanal, unique beer that YOU helped make. All it takes is a little cooperation.
How will it work?
Brewing season starts in May. Every other week I will brew. One week before brewing, I will open the donations for the upcoming beer. If the beer intrigues you, a donation will guarantee you one or more bottles. Depending on the costs, there will be a limit on total donations. Once the limit is reached, no more bottles can be reserved. Donations can be made online,in-person, or through mail, however, donations must be RECEIVED before the limit is reached.
The full brewing process varies, but most beers will be ready within 6 weeks. When the beer is ready, I will notify you.
Queries:
Q: Is this some kind of scam?
A: Nope. This is completely legit.
Q: How does the donation process work?
A: The primary tool for money-collecting will be payitsquare.com . It is instant, simple and safe. You are, however, free to use other methods - just email me.
Q: Where does my money go?
A: Three places: ingredients, utilities, and equipment. Ingredients (malts, hops, yeast, etc.) are the most expensive cost. Utilities (water, propane, etc.) contribute a much smaller cost. Equipment includes purchasing and maintenance and other batch-to-batch stuff, like bottle caps. I will make NO profit. Brewing takes time and includes unglamorous tasks like scrubbing fermenters and cleaning bottles. I’m not charging you for my time because this is my hobby.
Q: How much will the beers cost?
A: It entirely depends on the beer. A simple, hoppy Pale Ale is will go for a buck or two a bottle. A bourbon-barrel chocolate Imperial Stout will be more expensive. However, it will also be tasty, complex, and stronger. Compared to commercial beers, these will usually be as cheap or cheaper.
Q: Do I have to donate to beers I don't want?
A: Absolutely not. This is why I setup the society the way I did. You only donate to the beers YOU want to try.
Q: What beers will you brew?
A: This is the exciting part about the ABC Reserve Society – YOU decide what beers we brew! Before season starts, we will build a brewing schedule. Any member can suggest beers and we will vote in our favorites. I will then build a calendar based on votes and brewery limitations.
Q: What happens if a beer sucks?
A: This can happen and its unavoidable. Sometimes beers go bad, get contaminated, or turn out wrong. I haven't had this problem yet (due to meticulous practices), but if it does, I will refund everybody and cover the cost myself.
Q: Will there be membership costs?
A: Yes and no. There will be a cost to join the Reserve Society which will be $19 or less. This will pay for the first batch of beer and initial equipment. After this, there is no required donation. The reserve society will start with only 25 -30 members, so don’t wait!
Q: Will there be any other ways to donate?
A: Yes. The biggest limitations are fermenter size and cooling equipment. With the current setup, Beers will be limited to 5-10 gallon batches (45-90 bottles). To make more would require extra fermenters and refrigerators for. If you have access to these or have some extra cash, let me know and we increase production size.
Q: Is this illegal?
A: No. State and Federal law prohibits selling beer without a license. I will not be selling beer. Here’s what is technically happening: We are all purchasing raw ingredients. Then you are giving me ingredients and I am giving you beer. See how it works? There is no sale of alcohol, no contract and no legal angle at all.
Q: Are there any requirements for membership?
A: Only one: You must be 21 or older. If you’re almost 21 and want me to hold bottles for you, let me know. If you are well under 21 and want to help out in other ways, let me know.
There are more benefits to the ABC Reserve Society!
All members are free to visit on brew day and get a crash brewing course. I will also give more extensive lessons if you so wish. If you decide to start brewing yourself, I can give you advice and help you buy/make your equipment, and give you any extra stuff I may have.
I will update this blog for the Reserve Society. This will include my beer recipes and food pairings, updates on current beers, and general homebrewing and craft brewing news.
As members, we could do other cool stuff, like parties and trips to brewpubs and beer festivals. Also, I’ll always have a beer for a member that needs one. The whole point of this is to have fun, to make and try great beers, and to increase our knowledge of beer and brewing.
If this is something that you would be interested in, post your interest in the comments. I’m not going to start this up unless people express interest. If there is a response, I will be posting an update for memberships as soon as possible.
