Somerset’s Epic Beers has launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand its business, offering a range of rewards.
Epic’s multi-beer box. Photographs: Epic Beers
Epic Beers became one of the first breweries in the country to offer nationwide delivery of fresh beer direct to customers’ doors during the pandemic, with the launch of its Beer Drive-Thru service.
It is now asking customers and like-minded beer lovers to support a crowdfunding appeal with a mission to raise at least £100,000, to launch the UK’s first nationwide fresh ‘cask beer at home’ subscription service.
The brewery will deliver the service using a unique multi-beer box it has developed with its packaging partner, Smurfit Kappa Barnstaple, during the pandemic.
The brewery — which produces its popular beers from its base in Weston-super-Mare — hopes the
investment will enable it to become the country’s biggest direct retailer of truly fresh beer, and
challenge multi-national companies churning out mass-produced bottles and cans of beer.
To thank customers for their support, a range of rewards have been lined up, including discounts at the Fork ’n’ Ale taproom, merchandise, tickets to Epic’s flagship beer and music festival, private parties, an exclusive 20th anniversary edition of a champion bottled beer of Britain, and a variety of fresh beers delivered to one’s door every month.
Pitchfork Ales’ brewery, Weston-super-Mare
Epic director, Dave Turner, said: “Covid hit us — and other breweries — hard, but by focusing on what we could do, rather than lament what we couldn’t, we’ve found ourselves at the beginning of a new, particularly awesome and exciting mission.
“During the covid pandemic we had to adapt the way we work, and with the launch of Beer Drive-Thru we are now shipping our exceptional, cask-conditioned beers across the country, week after week.”
Epic, which produces beers from two distinct ranges — Pitchfork and 3D Beers — has reinvested in the business, despite the difficulties of the pandemic, launching a new website, adopting a carefully defined digital marketing strategy, and investing in branding.
Money raised from the crowdfunding appeal will:
- Increase fermenting capacity three times for smaller batches, to give customers more variety
- Purchase a dedicated delivery van to service the first expansion in the local area
- Accelerate digital marketing to kick off the first stage of a three-year masterplan
- Upgrade storage and packaging facilities
- Produce innovative ‘multi-beer bag-in-box’ packaging
- Invest in website functionality
- Invest in initial canned stock of specialist bottled beers, the brewery’s second biggest seller
- Invest in a cloud-based sales order processing system
Dave added: “Despite the difficulties the pandemic brought, we turned the problem into an amazing opportunity and then a new mission! Now, combining our passion for producing awesome beers, discerning beer lovers’ desire for a proper pint, and the right technology to deliver all of this, what was initially created for us to survive means we can truly thrive.
“We think, and operate differently to other small breweries, and we’re passionate about even more people experiencing our flavoursome beers. This campaign means we’ll become the ‘go to’ place for truly fresh beer, delivered to your door in perfect condition and tasting amazing, no matter where you are in the country… Your support will make a big difference to a small brewery with a huge ambition.”
• To support the crowdfunding campaign, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/beerdrivethru
