Yet another group of hombrewers trying to go pro

[justinm]

Upon entering into the last year of law school, my friends and I became certain that we would much rather brew beer than work anywhere in the legal profession. We had been joking about the prospect for many years and we continued to homebrew more than study. After talking with a bunch of people who have done it and making a business plan, we decided to give it a go. Black Acre Brewing Co. was created.

After seeing start-ups such as the black star coop we thought a community run brewery would be a very neat thing. However, we were not sure that Indianapolis could support such an endeavor. So we are trying crowdfunding (or Beerlanthropy as we call it) for the first phase of the business, which includes purchasing a 1 barrel test system, finding a suitable location, and clearing all the necessary permits. We are very appreciative to startups such as Mystery Brewing in North Carolina for showing that this style of funding is possible. If it is successful, we will look into starting it as a co-op. Otherwise, we will stick with traditional debt financing.

We are still in the preliminary phases, but thought we would start a thread documenting our successes and failures so others in our position may be able to get something out of this. And of course, advice from others is always appreciated.

Website: http://www.blackacrebrewing.com
Beerlanthropy: http://inv.st/B1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indianapolis-IN/Black-Acre-Brewing-Co/136629459701247
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/blackacrebrewer

 

[DustinHickey]

The names cool

 

[Sigafoos]

Wow, awesome! I'll definitely be stalking your progress, as another '1bbl brewer with eyes on Black Star's business plan.'

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

Just a little FYI, but Mystery Brewing is in NC, not NY.
Otherwise I love it. After seeing Mystery I had a thought of doing a Kickstarter, InvestedIn type deal myself. Just not ready.

 

[JadeMonkeyStang]

Very cool project, best of luck! I'll definitely be following your progress here.

 

[Hophazard]

Black Acre! Awesome! Totally reminded me of Property when I was a 1L!

 

[mojotele]

Very cool! I'm anxious to follow your progress as well purely to satisfy my intellectual curiosity. I'm particularly interested to see if being trained in law helps you get through all the state/federal bureaucratic nonsense easier than most.

 

[BrownBomber]

A friend of mine was the Brewmaster at the local Ruby River here in Ogden Ut. He opened a place in Evanston, Wyoming called Suds Brothers Brewery he is doing a very good business. http://sudsbrothersbrewery.com/

 

[shanecb]

Good luck! I'll be following closely.

 

[DarkNoonBrewer]

Awesome work folks! I look forward to visiting and tasting your product! LaFayette could always use another great supply of micro brew!

 

[onemanlan]

As some one who is hoping to take this plunge one day I eagerly will follow your start up. Please tell us of your trials and tribulations of starting a small business. I wish you all the success you can handle and then some!

 

[a10t2]

Can I do a guest beer when you go pro?

Terrill

 

[justinm]

If we actually make it, you can guest brew all you want sir.

 

[Dunerunner]

Great Name!! Good Plan!! Bring lots of Money, and I wish you the best of luck!!

 

[SkyHighBrew88]

What part of Indianapolis? I'm from Greenfield! Best friend and I are airline pilots with the same thought process...we don't and just can't see ourselves doing what we're doing for the next 40 years.

I'll be keeping my eye out for your brewery! Good luck!

Matt

 

[Daparish]

Good for you sir. As someone who has been out of law school for two years now, I can tell you that the legal profession is slowly sucking the soul out of me. If not for these damn student loans, I'd have my own brewery plans churning away by now.

Black Acre is a very clever name for your brewery too.

 

[justinm]

What part of Indianapolis? I'm from Greenfield! Best friend and I are airline pilots with the same thought process...we don't and just can't see ourselves doing what we're doing for the next 40 years.

I'll be keeping my eye out for your brewery! Good luck!

Matt

We haven't nailed the location down yet, but right now are focusing on either the Fountain Square area or the Near Eastside due to lower real estate costs and some grants that are currently available.

 

[Grasslands]

Good for you guys. I just recently finished my graduate degree at Florida State and I'm slowly walking down that line towards a brewpub. I'll be checking in on your progress as well. Best of luck!

 

[Montanaandy]

Justin - as an attorney (24 years) if I had to do it all over again and had the opportunity you have I would go for it. The legal profession is in disarray these days as I am certain you are well aware so there is not as much risk in going in another direction.

I too am actually looking at transitioning out and going in another direction. A brewpub or microbrewery is a distinct possibility in that I have friends with experience in the restaurant/bar industry that are willing to lend a hand in getting me headed in the right direction and there are also plenty of individuals who are interested in owning a piece of the action. Good luck on your venture. Montanaandy

 

[justinm]

Man, vinter's must have a much better lobby at the statehouse than brewers in Indiana. Wineries only have to put up a $1,000 surety bond while it is $10,000 for breweries. Oh well.

IC 7.1-3-1-7
Surety bonds; amounts
Sec. 7. (a) An applicant for a brewer's permit, a distiller's permit, or a liquor wholesaler's permit shall file with the commission a surety bond in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(b) An applicant for a rectifier's permit shall file with the commission a surety bond in the penal sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
(c) An applicant for a vintner's permit shall file with the commission a surety bond in the penal sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(Formerly: Acts 1973, P.L.55, SEC.1.) As amended by P.L.58-1984, SEC.1; P.L.205-1999, SEC.9.

 

[humann_brewing]

very cool, best of luck to you!

 

[chask31]

As a fellow lawyer/brewer who is no longer practicing (the law that is), I wish you luck and success! Brewing has been my dream and it I hope to go pro someday too. I love the name. If I ever make it to Indianapolis I will come find you.

 

[TuefelHund]

Awesome - please keep us posted as to your progress. A friend of mine approached me with a similar idea - but we are definite nubes - so we will watch and learn.

 

[I_B_Mongo]

Good luck to you! Hope to hear lots of details as to how it all goes. Subscribed!

 

[heywolfie1015]

Love the name. If you ever make a barleywine, you should call it Assumption of Risk.

Best of luck.

 

[justinm]

Assumption of Risk is an awesome name idea for a high alcohol beer. We were trying to think of a few legal phrases we could throw into the beer names without making them inaccessible to non-legal drinkers.

 

[a10t2]

I would strongly recommend not serving your beer to non-legal drinkers.

 

[justinm]

I would strongly recommend not serving your beer to non-legal drinkers.

Touché Sir.

 

[heywolfie1015]

There's always Attractive Nuisance. And the Saucy Intruder. (Man, this is taking me back to 1L.)

 

[remilard]

Man, vinter's must have a much better lobby at the statehouse than brewers in Indiana. Wineries only have to put up a $1,000 surety bond while it is $10,000 for breweries. Oh well.

Actually this is because the brewers have a better lobby, just not the kind of brewer you are.