Manchester Union Brewery launch ‘Together we CAN’ crowdfunding campaign
NORTH WEST craft lager brewery, Manchester Union Brewery, has launched a Together We CAN crowdfunding campaign so it can kickstart its transition from keg to can.
After a successful first year of trade, supplying over 30 bars and restaurants around Manchester with kegs of its unique beer, the coronavirus pandemic put an end to the brewery’s existing trade overnight.
In the face of adversity we’re really excited to be starting this new chapter of our business
The craft lager business, which has been brewing its signature Manchester Union Lager at Manchester’s first and only dedicated craft lager brewery in Ardwick, hopes to raise £80,000 to be able to move business into commercial retail by June 2020.
Born from a love of lager, Manchester Union Brewery combines traditional central European lager-brewing techniques with a distinctly modern local twist and Lake District water to create its unique legacy beer. The result is a bold, silky mouth-feel with a hint of caramel sweetness that quickly develops into a refreshingly dry and bitter finish.
Launching its crowdfunding campaign Together We CAN, the brewery hopes to raise £40,000 in its first round to cover the cost of bulk orders for the necessary production materials to kickstart its new venture into commercial cans. The business then hopes to raise an additional £40,000 to purchase its own canning machine.
The brewery is offering a range of rewards to those who pledge money to its crowdfunder campaign, including the chance to receive a lifetime’s supply of lager. Supporters will also receive a lifetime 10% discount on its unique lager, alongside a range of additional benefits from free beer to ‘Thank You’ prints. Three people who pledge £3000 each, will be rewarded with a decade of lager – that’s one case of 24 cans of Manchester Union Lager delivered to their home every month for ten years which has a retail value of £5,400.
Lager for Life - one case of Manchester Union Lager delivered to your home every month for the rest of your life (limited to 30 years) will be offered to two people who pledge £7500. See below for more details.
Jamie Scahill, Director of Manchester Union Brewery, said: “Being able to offer a lifetime’s supply of lager in exchange for investment is an unorthodox way to raise funds, but the investment will allow us to move Manchester Union Lager into cans. Ramping up our retail sales while pubs and bars are shut is going to make a big difference.
“The effects of COVID-19 have had a huge impact on our startup business, forcing us to accelerate our plans to begin canning our lager in order to continue putting our unique Mancunian beer in the mouths of customers.
“It took just over three years to go from idea to brewing our first lager. We recently celebrated our first birthday and having reached full brewing capacity for the first time earlier this year, the UK lockdown announcement on 20th March unfortunately turned our world upside down, as it did so many other businesses.
“With all UK pubs and restaurants forced to shut we’ve been faced with a choice to either wait the lockdown out and hope the business survives, or take matters into our hands and fast-track our plans to can our lager.
“In the face of adversity we’re really excited to be starting this new chapter of our business. We are hugely grateful to all those who are able to contribute to our fundraising targets and help us continue to do what we love and get our unique taste of Manchester into the UK’s homes.”
To pledge support for Manchester Union Brewery’s Together We CAN campaign, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/togetherweCAN
Manchester Union Lager - Together we CAN - Rewards
£10
The beers are on you (thank you for your support)
- 250 available
£20
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
- 250 available
£45
One case (24 cans) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home
- unlimited availability
£55
One case (24 cans) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
- unlimited availability
£70
One case of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home (24 cans)
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- unlimited availability
£90
One case (24 cans) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home
2 tickets to a taproom party with free lager & food
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
- unlimited availability
£100
One case (24 cans) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home
2 tickets to a taproom party with free lager & food
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- unlimited availability
£130
3 cases (24 cans per case) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home (1 per month for 3 months)
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- unlimited availability
£160
Brewing experience with the Manchester Union head brewer. Includes tastings
One case (24 cans) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- 6 available
£250
6 cases (24 cans per case) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home (1 per month for 6 months)
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- unlimited availability
£350
Friday Office Beers - 50 litres of Manchester Union Lager served at your office on a Friday afternoon (one keg = 151 cans). You can add more kegs if you have a big office.
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
- 30 available
£500
12 cases (24 cans per case) of Manchester Union Lager cans from our first batch delivered to your home (1 per month for a year)
Invitation to the can launch party with free lager
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- unlimited availability
£2500
Private party at the taproom for you & 50 mates with free lager & food
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- 5 available
£3000 (worth £5,400)
A decade of lager - one case (24 cans per case) of Manchester Union Lager delivered to your home every month for 10 years
Invitation to the can launch party with free lager
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- 3 available
£5000
A Funkademia Party at your house with lager, DJs and food provided
Invitation to the can launch party with free lager
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
Manchester Union T-shirt
- 1 available
£7500 (worth over £16,000)
Lager for Life - one case of Manchester Union Lager delivered to your home every month for the rest of your life (limited to 30 years)
Manchester Union 'Lager For Life' T-shirt
Invitation to the can launch party with free lager
Limited edition personalised A3 'Thank you' print
Your place on the Manchester Union Lager taproom wall of the fame
- 2 available
To pledge support for Manchester Union Brewery’s Together We CAN campaign, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/togetherweCAN
