We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 17, 2012.

May 13th Update of Progress and Events

Update #3 · May 13, 2012 · comment

Kickstarter Campaign at 61% and New Rewards Added

I've been totally overwhelmed by the generosity of all of you who have contributed to the Brenner Brewing Kickstarter campaign. There are obviously a lot of people excited about building an art-centered, community-focused brewery in Milwaukee. As of sending out this newsletter, I'm at $6,197. That's 661% of my goal in just 3 weeks! We are certainly getting there, but if we don't hit $10K by June 17th, Brenner Brewing, gets nothing. So... tell your friends!

I've added a couple new, bigger rewards that include coming to the brewery and helping brew a batch of beer and then being able to customize "your" barrel of beer as it oak ages. I'll even sell your beer in the taproom, and you get to keep the big oak barrel and use it to collect rainwater or whatever.

You can take a look by clicking HERE. No matter how small or large your donation, it's important that investors see community involvement in this project. I REALLY appreciate your support in helping me make my dream of opening a community-centered, art-focused brewery in my hometown come true! Thank You!

Join us to help the Urban Ecology Center do spring planting on May 19th and get Free Beer

I've scheduled my first Milwaukee volunteer opportunity of the season on the Cheers to Volunteers website. On May 19th we'll be headed to the Urban Ecology Center to help their land stewards do spring planting. After volunteering we'll meet for a few beers and debrief at a local tavern (TBD). The first two Brenner Brewing beers are on me!

Volunteer and be a part of establishing an arboretum in Milwaukee! The Urban Ecology Center is in the midst of a 3-year project in partnership with the Rotary Club to plant thousands of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants along the Milwaukee River. Saturday, May 19th from 9 am to noon our land stewards will be hosting a planting day. Come dressed for the weather wearing sturdy shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. We also recommend that you bring a water bottle. Bring your own work gloves if you prefer, otherwise work gloves and all other necessary tools will be provided. Click HERE to see the event on Facebook.

Chicago Beer Tasting • Western Exhibitions for Hermann/Parot Opening • MAY25, 5-8PM

Join Brenner Brewing for a tasting of our beers at the opening reception for Portland, ME artist Adriane Hemran, who actually got her MFA in Printmaking from the University of Wisconsin in 1997, and LA artist John Parot who received his MFA from MICA in '98 and appeared on the first season of Bravo TV's Work of Art. Western Exhibitions is located at 119 N Peoria St, Suite 2A Chicago, IL 60607. More event information is available on their website HERE.


What's an Art-Centered Brewery?

As most of you know, I was one of the co-founders and the longtime Executive Director of the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN). I also owned and ranHotcakes Gallery for almost five years. Even before that though, in the early 90's, I made my "living" playing over 200 shows a year in a Milwaukee-based cover band, John the Conqueroo. Obviously, supporting local artists and musicians has always been at the heart of everything I've done, and I don't want the brewery to be any different.

If you click on the image to the right, you can see a very small part of my plan to integrate music and art into what the brewery is. I not only want to show the world that Milwaukee still does make the best beer on earth, but also has an incredible community of hard working artists and musicians that deserve international attention. As each of Brenner Brewing's "12oz Ambassadors" gets into the hands of someone outside Milwaukee and eventually outside of Wisconsin, we'll show the rest of the world what we're up to here... Amazing Beer, Amazing Art, Amazing Music, Amazing People.

614
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$25,987
pledged of $10,000 goal
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Funding period
Apr 18, 2012 - Jun 17, 2012

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  • Pledge $1 or more

    49 backers

    VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET! Donating even $1 tells investors Milwaukee is ready for another Brewery. Vote YES now! I'll put your name on the plaque in the brewery, so you can show your friends you helped start Brenner Brewing before anybody even knew it existed!

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $5 or more

    63 backers

    For contributing $5 toward helping Milwaukee regain it's title as Beer Capital of the World, you will receive two different Brenner Brewing Company stickers mailed to any US address. Your name will also appear on a commemorative plaque hung in the brewery so you can show all your friends what a thoughtful person you are.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $15 or more

    89 backers

    Aww... You DO like me! Your reward for kicking in $15 is a beautiful 7" metal bottle opener adorned with the Brenner Brewing logo and the two stickers mailed anywhere in the US. Your name will also appear on the Plaque of Destiny.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $20 or more

    106 backers

    LOCALS ONLY PINT PACK. Your name will be on the Plaque of Extraordinary Gentlemen (& Women), but you have to pick up your two stickers, bottle opener, and one of our gorgeous Brenner Brewing Company pint glasses at a local tasting event.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $35 or more

    140 backers

    MERCH PACK! Receive a Brenner Brewing Company T-Shirt (in any size you want), the bottle opener, a couple stickers mailed to you anywhere in the US, your name on the plaque, and a pint glass when you come to a tasting event or visit the brewery.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $55 or more

    46 backers

    HAPPY COUPLE. Two stickers, one bottle opener, and two t-shirts mailed to the same address anywhere in the US. You also get two pint glasses at a local tasting event or when you visit the brewery to show off your name on the plaque to all your friends.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $70 or more

    6 backers

    ONE FOR YOU ONE FOR ME. I'll mail you and a friend each two stickers, a bottle opener, and a t-shirt anywhere in the US. Both your names will appear on the plaque. You can pick up two pint glasses at a tasting event or at the brewery. A great gift for you and a beer geek friend.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    50 backers

    I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU PACKAGE. This package puts you on a special VIP mailing list so you'll be able to buy all special release Brenner Brewing Co. beers directly from the brewery before they go on sale to the general public. You'll also get the two stickers, the bottle opener, a t-shirt, a pint glass (at a tasting event), and your name on the plaque. As a special bonus, I would also be willing to sing my incredible karaoke version of "I Will Always Love You" at your wedding, but you have to pay all my travel expenses, feed me, and get me drunk.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $120 or more

    2 backers All gone!

    ASSISTANT BREWER FOR A DAY. Here's a last minute, late night deal to get this campaign to $20K. You'll get to come to the Brenner Brewing Company and help brew a batch of beer. I'll treat you like a VIP. I'll even buy you lunch. You also get all the privileges and rewards in the $20 Package. **Please note that Brenner Brewing won't be opening for at LEAST six months... maybe a year.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $175 or more

    7 backers

    GET STARTED HOMEBREWING RIGHT PACKAGE. You get a diplomaed Master Brewer as your personal homebrewing instructor. You tell me what kind of beer you want to homebrew and I'll come up with a recipe for you. Then I'll meet you at the homebrew supply store and help you figure out what equipment and supplies you should buy to get started with your exciting new hobby. The following week, I'll come to your house and brew with you. I'll bring you a couple stickers, a bottle opener, a t-shirt, and a pint glass. Your name will appear on the plaque. You must live within 40 minutes drive of Milwaukee. Please keep in mind that you'll have to spend between $100-$200 on equipment & supplies. **(You can bring up to two friends, but please add $30/person if they also want all the merch. Thanks!)

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $225 or more

    3 backers

    ASSISTANT BREWER FOR A DAY. You'll get to come to the Brenner Brewing Company and help brew a batch of beer. I'll treat you like a VIP. I'll even buy you lunch. You also get all the privileges and rewards in the $100 Package. **Please note that Brenner Brewing won't be opening for at LEAST six months... maybe a year.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $350 or more

    3 backers

    HOMEBREWER PARTY PACKAGE. Great idea for a bachelor or birthday party. I'll come to your house and help you and all your friends brew. You'll be dazzled by my brewing knowledge, stories of my police altercations in Germany, and a slideshow featuring photos of every schnitzel I ever ate while in brewing school. I'm also willing to drink all your homebrew, and give you feedback and tips about how to change your brewing process to improve your beers. I'll bring two stickers, a bottle opener, and a pint glass for you and up to 10 of your friends. The guest of honor also gets a t-shirt and their name on the plaque. You must live within a two hour drive of Milwaukee. (That's just $32 each for a private homebrewing class with a diplomaed Master Brewer!)

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $600 or more

    0 backers Limited (8 of 8 left)

    MAKE YOUR OWN SOUR. The 8 lucky people who bid on this package, will get to come to the brewery and help brew a sour beer. We'll start will an Oud Bruin base, and after fermentation you'll get to come back and add whatever you like to the barrel that it's aged in. You want to dump in Door County cherries... Peaches... an Old Shoe... it's your call. After it's oak aged, we'll name it after you and sell it in our tasting room. You'll also get to take the empty barrel home to turn into a coffee table or whatever. You also get everything in the $35 Merch Pack.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $700 or more

    0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)

    BREW A 13% IMPERIAL STOUT. The 4 lucky people who bid on this package, will get to come to the brewery and help brew our 13% ABV beer that's made with locally roasted coffee, local buckwheat honey, and molasses. After fermentation you'll get to come back and add whatever you like to the barrel that it's aged in. You want to dump in Vanilla Beans... Cocoa Nibs... fresh Raspberries... the Tears from a Lost Kitten... it's your call. After it's oak aged, we'll name it after you and sell it in our tasting room. You'll also get to take the empty barrel home to turn into a garden planter or whatever. You also get everything in the $35 Merch Pack.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    1 backer All gone!

    BREW LIKE A BREWMASTER PACKAGE. One person will get to Buy My All-Grain Brewing System & Brew at My Brewery with All Their Friends. I have an amazing 10 Gallon "Tippy Dump" Brew Sculpture from MoreBeer.com stocked with a bunch of custom upgrades. You seriously can't find an all-grain brewing system that is more efficient and easier to use than this one. It would cost $4K to buy it new and have it delivered to your door, and the company has a four month waiting list to get it. I'll sandblast and repaint the frame for you so it's as good as new, deliver it to your house, and brew a batch with you and your friends so you know just how to use it. I'll bring two stickers, a bottle opener, and a pint glass for you and ten of your friends. AND I'll also let you and ten of your friends help me brew a batch of beer at the brewery when I get it up and running. This package is only available for people within 3 hours drive of Milwaukee.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012