OTTAWA, ON & MANITOULIN ISLAND, ON – Starting up a new craft brewery can be a costly endeavour, even with personal savings and help from friends and family. In order to help offset their costs, the owners of two planned breweries in Ontario have turned to the most popular fundraising method around today and have set up campaigns on the recently launched Kickstarter Canada.
In Ottawa, Josh McJannett, Alex Monk and Andrew Kent are hoping to raise $15,000 to fund a tasting bar and bottle shop at Dominion City Brewing, a currently under construction brewery that is aiming to open in mid-2014.
Launched yesterday, the campaign has already raised over $4,000 from more than 60 backers, who will receive pledge incentives including branded glassware, clothing and coasters. Everyone who donates $5 or more will also have their name listed in an ad that will run in Herd Magazine, and which will be blown up and posted in the shop once it opens.
Across the province on Manitoulin Island, Andrea Smith and Eleanor Charlton are trying to drum up a more ambitious $55,000 to fund Split Rail Brewing, a long time dream project for the pair which will be the region’s first brewery should it be successful.
With just under two weeks left in the campaign, Split Rail has raised more than $15,0000 from over 100 backers, but they have a long way to go to reach their goal. Even if they don’t, Smith and Charlton still intend to open a brewery, but on a longer timeline.