Austin Beerworks Offers “Beer for Life” in Crowdfunding Deal
Looking to add a taproom and “the greatest beer playground this town has ever seen,” Austin Beerworks is raising money to help build a taproom on 64 acres of land that will include a disc golf course. By donating $1,000 to the project, supporters become “Lifers” and receive one free beer per day in a special 20-ounce mug. Why are they doing it? “Let’s just say buying 64 acres of land in Austin is not cheap,” the brewery says on a website devoted to the effort. “It’s expensive. Like, scary expensive. But this has been our dream all along: to be an independent craft brewery that brews world-class beer—forever. And owning the land upon which we brew that beer is critical. This investment is good for the long term but leaves us needing immediate help to get the new doors open and the taps flowing. And that’s when we saw the opportunity to get our super-supportive community involved.”
Might those 64 acres someday include a new production brewery? “That is the bright, shiny goal we have been working toward all these years—to build a world-class destination brewery. It’s just gonna take some time. Unless one of you wants to buy a $10,000,000 membership. That also comes with free snacks.”
Cellarmaker Takes Over The Rare Barrel
San Francisco brewery Cellarmaker announced that it is acquiring The Rare Barrel and taking over its facility in Berkeley. Cellarmaker’s founders say that they were unable to negotiate a reasonable lease with their landlord on Howard Street; meanwhile, The Rare Barrel founders say they had been exploring a sale over the past six months. “Like many others, the financial toll of the pandemic hit us hard, and we determined that the best way of preventing a closure would be to find a partner to take over The Rare Barrel,” they say in the announcement. Both breweries launched in 2013. Cellarmaker says it will continue to produce some beers under The Rare Barrel brand. “We’ve been on the hunt for a larger location to grow the brand for some time,” the Cellarmaker founders say in the announcement. “The TRB space in Berkeley is just what we need.” The brewery will maintain a presence in San Francisco at the Cellarmaker House of Pizza in Bernal Heights. Meanwhile, the brewery also expects to open a new location in Oakland in February 2023.