Sounds too good to be true but that is just one scenario if you become an investor in Smokehouse Brewpub. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jamie Robinson and Amy Johnson, two of the three owner/manager team of what they are hoping to become a successful restaurant/brewpub in the Standish neighborhood of south Minneapolis.

The Brewmaster and his Beer
Jamie started homebrewing in 2001, developing a quick passion for the art of brewing. During this past year he has been brewing at Town Hall Brewery. Jamie’s brewing philosophy is to use the characteristics of people’s “favorite beers” and then apply them to new styles. He wants to use the classic hops Centennial, Cascade, and Columbus in his brewing, loving the herbal quality these hops bring to beer.

Community-Supported Pub
While putting together a business plan the group decided to try an unconventional approach for financing a portion of the costs associated with opening a restaurant/brewpub. While the majority of their financing is coming from a combination of loans, their own personal investments, and support from the building owner, the partners have a desire for a “community-supported pub”. Think CSA but for beer instead of produce. There are multiple levels of support, starting with free beer for life with a $1000.00 investment, that can fit many small investors and community members. The partners plan on completing the community support portion of this project by the end of September. If you are interested in supporting a local brewpub act quickly as this opportunity will not be available for long.