Ale Syndicate Takes To IndieGoGo To Raise Money For New Fermenters

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Nov 14, 2013 11:10PM

Samuel Evans and Jesse Edwin Evans, co-founders of Ale Syndicate Brewers

Chicago is in the midst of a five to six year run where the range of beer options has grown beyond the expectations of even the most optimistic drinkers. Chicago doesn’t need more beer yet here we are, like urchins in a London orphanage demanding more gruel, wanting even more choices fighting for our consumer dollar.

Take the case of Ale Syndicate. Owners Samuel and Jesse Edwin Evans have moved from The Plant in Back of the Yards to the Green Exchange in Logan Square and have been dealing with the particular obstacles of running a brewery in Chicago. That includes capital, which they’re now trying to raise more of via an IndieGoGo campaign, for more fermenters.

The Evans brothers are contract brewing at partner breweries including Galena Brewing Company in Galena, 5 Rabbit in Bedford Park, Excel Bottling in Breese and Big Chicago Brewing Company in Zion while building out their brew house, where they hope to include three 20 BBL fermenters. A single 20 BBL fermenter with freight costs around $15,000 and the brothers estimate they would need $10,000 more to afford a second fermenter. So the funding goal is $15,000 with a stretch goal of $25,000. Anything over that will go into laying the groundwork for Ale Syndicate’s barrel-aging program.

With 24 days to go, Ale Syndicate has raised $3,200 toward their goal. Check out their campaign and the rewards at various pledge levels here.