On a mission to bring Independence from boring beers to Indian beer drinkers and start a craft beer movement in India! Read more
On a mission to bring Independence from boring beers to Indian beer drinkers and start a craft beer movement in India!
About this project
"Shailly and Avanish your cause IS worthy. Set forth, make great beer and take India's craft brewing movement to the next level!" - Greg Koch (CEO & co-founder, Stone Brewing Co.)
Help us buy this beauty! An 8bbl steam fired brewhouse!
What is this ‘Independence from boring beers!’ all about?
Anyone that has had a generic Indian beer knows the plight of a billion Indian beer drinkers. There are a handful of fizzy yellow beers available in India and not a single craft beer in sight. Calling the industrialized beers of India ‘boring beers’ is being generously polite! Independence Brewing Company wants to introduce the art, passion, boldness, innovation and culture of American craft brewing to our friends in India.
Join us on our journey to bring Independence from boring beers in India!
Craft beer half way around the world! Why should I care?
For the same reasons you care about craft beer or any other artisanal product; A sense of passion, pride, and fighting the notion that beer is no more than fizzy yellow stuff. Your support will help us introduce world class craft brewing to India…and once even a fraction of a billion people start demanding better beer, the change will be dramatic and historic.
True, Our cool gifts don’t hurt either.
Do Indians even drink beer?
Yes! The fizzy yellow beer industry in India is worth $7 billion. Scorching sun and hot food…you need beer. Now imagine beers that rise to the level of the intensely wonderful flavors of Indian food, and we have the stuff of culinary glory.
What’s the plan?
We will be starting a brewpub in the city of Pune, a two hour drive east of Mumbai. Pune is an upcoming IT, Biotech, Manufacturing and Education hub. There are lots of students and professionals; the very people that are open to new ideas and will soon be demanding better beer. We will have at least six house brews on tap, with the addition of guest craft beers/special releases to keep things interesting. There will be some food served but our focus will be beer!
This will help us set up a base, get some cash flowing and begin to create a brand.
Our ultimate goal is to establish a production craft brewery to reach a much wider audience. Bringing Independence from boring beers! …one step at a time.
Do you guys know what you are doing?
Shailly has been home brewing for over 5 years, in California, and picked up awards on the way. He has also interned in brewpubs and brewed on professional equipment. His main job will be to brew awesome craft beer and keep the innovations flowing. Avanish is a business and finance guy and his main job will be to keep the business sound and healthy.
As Indians who have had their craft beer education in California, Shailly and Avanish became appalled at the industrialized beers being sold in India. Much as America has made a dramatic transition over the past three decades, growing from 42 breweries in the US, and flourishing to a robust 2,200+ today, the opportunity to change the landscape exists in India today. As Indians and rabid craft beer enthusiasts, we started carefully researching the craft brewing industry, developing our business plan and raising funds to get started. Along the way we managed to convince craft beer visionary Greg Koch (CEO, Stone Brewing Co.) to come on as 'Chief Adviser,' and we have raised some money from Angel investors.
At this point, we’ve spec’d out our brewing equipment, shortlisted locations in Pune and hired key team members there, so we’re well poised to get this project going!
Over the next 6-9 months, we will be working hard in Pune to get this thing off the ground. Sure, we will have our challenges, but then great beer is all worthy of great efforts and we’re up to the task!
However, our goal needs your further support to become a reality.
Where will the money be spent? What if you exceed the funding goal?
Most of the money will go into purchasing an 8 bbl (1 US bbl = 31 gallons) brewing system from North American suppliers. Some money will go towards purchasing malt, hops and yeast also from North American suppliers. If we exceed our funding we will have greater financial security till we break even. We would love to upgrade / upsize our equipment!
If we greatly exceed our funding goal (dreaming! dreaming! dreaming!) we might directly start a production brewery. Our goal will be to make you, as a craft beer enthusiast, proud of our efforts (and to supply a home base to your future travels in our great country)!
Are you sure you are raising enough?
Bootstrapping is not an option for us. Considering that all our equipment and most of our supplies will have to be imported from North America our setup costs are substantial, plus we need some cash to fund operations till we break even. We have raised key funding from Angel investors, and that covers most of our costs. But we need a little more to get going and ensure success! Our goal on Kickstarter is the minimum we need to close the gap in our funding. But hey, we really could use all the help we can get!
Be assured that bringing Independence from boring beers to a billion people is a great responsibility and we take it very seriously! We certainly won’t hit them all at once, or even a fraction of them, but we promise you one thing: We WILL be a success, and we WILL be an important part of the craft beer revolution in India!
How do I Pledge?
Simply select the reward on the right and follow the steps to complete the process. You will need an Amazon account to finalize the pledge, but an account is free and easy to set up. Just as an additional reminder, your card will not be charged unless our project is fully funded ($40,000) by the deadline.
Please share this with as many friends and family as you can. We truly appreciate your help and support!
धन्यवाद 'dhanyavad: thank you!'
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Rewards
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Pledge $10 or more
12 backers
A BIG THANKS! and an extra cool Independence Brewing Company (IBC) sticker mailed to you in an envelope. Stick it to your bumper, kegerator or whatever catches your fancy.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $30 or more
19 backers
$10 level rewards + a Hand forged cast iron bottle opener especially made for IBC by craftsmen in India. Where efficiency and style in bottle opening is required...look no further!
(Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $60 or more
3 backers
$30 level rewards + 2 hand carved sandalwood coasters with IBC logo. Hand made by wood craftsmen in India. Also, We will send you a link to download our custom art "Steps in Brewing" illustration poster. Print it, frame it and impress your friends with your brewing knowledge! (Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $60 or more
5 backers
*** $60 rewards now Bigger and Better ***
$30 level rewards + 2 hand carved sandalwood coasters with IBC logo (Hand made by wood craftsmen in India) + One 6oz sniffer glass with our logo laser etched on it + We will send you a link to download our custom art "Steps in Brewing" illustration poster. Print it, frame it and impress your friends with your brewing knowledge! (Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)
*** Choose either of the $60 level and you will still get the updated awards ***Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $100 or more
13 backers
$60 level rewards + A limited edition Independence Brewing Company logo t-shirt made for this Kickstarter campaign. Wear it with pride and declare your Independence from Boring Beers!. (Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $150 or more
6 backers
$100 level rewards + A custom art 11X17 "Cheers! To Independence from Boring Beers" poster printed on Indian silk. One-of-a-kind art work commissioned by Independence Brewing Company, personalized with your name and signed by our head brewer. Use it as a wall hanging or frame it up! (Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $210 or more
1 backer
$150 level rewards + Two limited edition (16oz) pint glasses made exclusively for this Kickstarter campaign. Independence Brewing Company logo is color imprinted and makes for a great addition to any bar! (Please add $10 to your contribution for shipment outside the US)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $500 or more
1 backer
Earn your celebrity with the craft beer drinkers in India! $210 rewards + Your name permanently displayed in our pub and website.We will send you a photo of our brew crew next to your name dedication! + An EXQUISITE BRONZE TAP HANDLE made by tribals from Bastar region in India using the ancient art of lost wax casting. One-of-a-kind ethnic art work commissioned by Independence Brewing Company.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $750 or more
2 backers Limited (4 left of 6)
You get to name one of our tanks! We will inscribe it in bold letters on the tank for the world to see. And every time you show up at our pub you get a free pint of whatever is in that tank, for ever. All $500 level rewards are yours as well. (Name should be acceptable to IBC management)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,250 or more
1 backer Limited (5 left of 6)
A special release beer named after you!!! In the first year of operation we will brew a special release beer and name it after you. A custom art poster of the beer label signed by our head brewer will be mailed to you. We will also send you the entire recipe along with tasting notes. All the $750 level rewards are yours as well.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
Your chance to go on a craft beer pilgrimage!!
You and a friend get a lunch date with craft beer evangelist Greg Koch (CEO and co-founder, Stone Brewing Co.) and Avanish Vellanki (co-founder of IBC) at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido, CA, on August 17th, 2012 (http://www.stoneworldbistro.com/ ) + VIP admission to Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival for EITHER the Friday Night Brewers Reception (Aug. 17th; 6 - 9PM) OR the All Access Pass and Rare Beer Section (Aug.18th; 11AM - 6PM) in San Marcos, CA (http://www.stonebrew.com/anniv/ ). Get Avanish's inside scoop of IBC's plans to bring Independence from Boring Beers to India!If this wasn't enough (!!) we will also throw in the $1250 level rewards! (NOTE: Travel and Accommodation NOT included)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
Exclusive VIP invitation, for two, to our launch party in Pune, India! We will host you and a friend for 3 nights at a boutique hotel in Pune, provide a chauffeur driven car and food and drinks on us for the entire stay. All the $1250 level goodies are your's as well. Your chance to visit 'Incredible India' ! (Airfare NOT included)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $10,000
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
First we will pamper you in Pune ($5000 level rewards) and then we will send you to Kerala for an awesome time on a houseboat for 3 nights. Relax in 'God's own country' in style on a houseboat http://www.keralatourism.org/ !Talk about an excuse to visit India! (Airfare NOT included)
Estimated delivery:
Funding period
- (60 days)
