Today is the first in a new semi-regular feature called “Kicking the Kickstarter” and features prospective new brewery brand Aletruism Brewing a non-profit from the folks behind The Oregon Public House. Kicking the Kickstarter is a feature where we profile a new beer related project that is hoping to raise public funding on the Kickstarter website, we will analyze the offerings and offer our opinions on the worthiness of the cause.
Aletruism Brewing makes a great kickoff because it’s an interesting local cause that wants to open debt-free so that all profits made on beer sales can go directly to charity. This is the same idea behind the creators of Aletruism’s The Oregon Public House in NE Portland. The idea behind Aletruism Brewing is to allow OPH to make even more money for charities by brewing their own beer and being able to sell more of it at both the OPH and outside accounts. Ryan Saari and his founding crew at The Oregon Public House have already been successful and last April of 2015 made a step towards brewing their own when homebrewer friend Dean Ivester began crafting his homebrew recipes into beers for OPH that were contract brewed and scaled up at downtown Portland’s Pints Brewing.
Oregon Public House launched their Aletruism Brewing kickstarter last Friday with a sharp logo (but perhaps overly similar to Brooklyn Brewery’s), nice video and well put together funding page. Still, I had a few burning unanswered questions like:
How can the Oregon Public House be the “nation’s first non-profit brew pub” as advertised when they do not have their own brewery and in Portland alone we already have not-for-profit Ex Novo Brewing?
I reached out to chief spokesperson and one of the founders of the Oregon Public House and Aletruism Brewing — Ryan Saari who said “ I don’t believe there are an registered nonprofit Brewpubs at this time. Some may be not for profit, but are still structured as a Corporation with an “owner”. We have no owner.” However from my knowledge of inner workings Portland’s own Ex Novo Brewing is also a non-profit and according to their President Joel Gregory they are also a state recognized non-profit but not federally recognized, the same exact registration as Oregon Public House and what Aletrusim would be. Ex Novo also opened last year with their own brewery from day one, making Aletruism/OPH not the first non-profit brewpub.
Part two of my first question on how OPH/Aletruism could be called a “brewpub” at all at this point. Ryan Saari explains, the OPH originally applied for their Oregon Liquor Control License under a Brewery or Brewpub license, even though they were not brewing beer of their own. OK but this may still be an example of a liberal or misleading use of the phrase brewpub which refers to a pub/restaurant with it’s on in-house brewery which OPH has not and will likely never have. This also ties into being the first non-profit brewpub because according to OPH/Aletruism treasurer Stephen Green, “When we registered with the state of Oregon as a “Domestic Nonprofit” in 2010 there were no nonprofit brewpubs functioning in the nation that we could find after doing a good amount of research. There was/is however a non profit brewery “Finnegan’s””. To my mind OPH is still not a brewpub no matter what they filed under because they don’t have a brewery. There are many bars that contract their own in-house branded beers but they don’t get to call themselves brewpubs.
Why does the Kickstarter only raise funds for a 20bbl fermenter and 25 kegs when they are also going to need a mash tun, hot liquor tank and much, much, much more equipment?
Because Aletruism Brewing will be partners contract brewing with Zoiglhaus Brewery, a new project being built in the Lents neighborhood by the owners of Pints Brewing. Previously referred to as “Z-haus Brewery” their infrastructure is based on a shared brewery concept where Aletruism Brewing can be brewed on the Z-Haus brewhouse but fermented in Aletruism fermenters placed in the new brewery. I still think they will need many more than 25 kegs if they plan to distribute their beers.
Is the line of beers by Dean Ivester and Pints Brewing dead, or taking on a new form?
Dean Ivester may or may not still be involved as Ryan Saari explains “We remain committed to Dean, he has a day job and a family so we are taking it one step at a time. The ball is really in his court when it comes to being our brewer long term for Aletruism Brewing, in the short term we are lucky to have the partnership with Pints as we move forward.”
Kickstarter Rewards:
So in Aletruism Brewing we have learned both the differences in non and not for profits as well as about a relatively mysterious other new brewery project. But the final question is, are the funding benefits worth it?
The first question I have about any Kickstarter is why I should give my money to this project. Often it’s a for profit business idea and to me it’s a hard sell for me to fund someone elses business which I will make nothing on. That question is rendered relatively moot with Aletruism Brewing as they arent for profit and will only be doing good things with their funds. Why not fund them if you have the money?
As usual the kickstarter benefits for Aletruism start off with the obligatory and unnecessary $1 level for a shout-out on social media before graduating into throwaway schwag like coasters for $25. Though they are laser engraved coasters so that might mean they are pretty nice ones but no more info is given. From there we get up to pint glasses, scout notebooks, and engraved plaques with each level adding a new item in addition to the schwag gifts from the lower levels.
Usually with these Kickstarters the best value is with the highest investment but I think the Aletruism Brewing kickstarter falls a little short at the upper levels. The 2nd highest level is $1,500 for a private party with 9 friends at the brewery with food and the brewer as well as pints and stickers. Unless there is an open bar tab thats a bit sketchy. The very top is $2,500 investment for the same party but you also get your name on a beer. I feel I could probably get my name on a beer by doing something much more foolish than helping fund a good cause like this one though. Surprised there was no offer of free growler fills for a lifetime or brewing your own beer, but if your looking for a good cause and your a beer lover you could do a lot worse than Aletruism Brewing.
The post Kicking the Kickstarter: Aletruism Brewing non-profit appeared first on New School Beer.