Earthen Ales is a beer experience that goes beyond the pint, where every beer tells a story of places we have been, where we are today (Northern Michigan), or where we are going in the future. We understand that brewing innovative, high quality beer is not enough, and that we must provide an excellent customer experience to our patrons: to find them the right beer for their palate and serve it to them in a comfortable, inviting environment.
Why Earthen Ales?
Consumers are increasingly looking for innovative products made from fresh, local ingredients. This is particularly true in the beer market, where smaller, local and regional craft brewers continue to grow, and take market share from the large international breweries. Traverse City is growing as a Midwest destination for craft brewing. However, Michigan and the Traverse City region are not yet saturated with breweries. For instance, as of June 2015, Oregon has 7.4 breweries per 100,000 adults, while Michigan has only 2.2. And despite the fact that beer outsells wine on both volume and sales, there are over 8,300 wineries nationally and only 3,400 breweries (as of June 2015).
The Grand Traverse Bay area is already well-established as a destination for wine drinkers, and is well on its way to achieving the same status among beer drinkers. To the extent that the region continues to attract artisanal producers of all kinds (wine, beer, spirits, cheese, etc.), it can be expected to grow as a center for food tourism. In this way, the rising tide can lift all boats.
The Beer
Earthen Ales' beer is innovative and balanced. The beers are inspired by quality ingredients, flavors from the food world, and classic beer styles. With over 130 batches brewed together to date, our recipes have been vetted through competition and sharing with fellow brewers, both amateur and professional. We anticipate the following lineup of beers:
Year-Round Beers
• Juniper Rye (7.0% abv): A balanced IPA that uses juniper to accent the piney character of Simcoe hops (Runner-Up, 2012 Grizzly Peak Homebrew Competition; 3rd Place Spice/Herb/Vegetable Category, 2012 Brews Crews Homebrew Competition)
• A2 IPA (7.5%): A more assertive IPA featuring a blend of American and European hops
• Ale of the Earth (4.0%): An eminently drinkable English-style brown ale
• Sweetbrier Wheat (5.8%): An American Wheat ale reminiscent of picking blackberries on a summer afternoon
Seasonal Beers
• Lime Wit (5.0%, summer): Belgian-style wheat beer punched through with lime (Winner, 2013 Grizzly Peak Homebrew Competition)
• What Gose 'Round (4.4%, summer): Lightly tart, full-bodied, and refreshing German-style ale
• Dos Serranos (7%, fall): IPA with roasted serrano chiles (Category Winner and 4th Best of Show, 2013 Brew Crews Homebrew Competition, out of 332 entries; Honorable Mention, 2012 World Expo of Beer Homebrew Competition)
• Texas Brown Ale (5.6%, fall): A more full-bodied brown ale, balanced by locally-grown Cascade hops
• Darkbrier Wheat (5.8%, winter): The Sweetbrier's dark, mysterious cousin
• Scotch Habanero (6.4%, winter): A big, malty Scottish-style ale brewed with habanero chiles for a warming winter treat (Honorable Mention, 2012 Brews Crews Homebrew Competition)
• Black IPA (6.8%, spring): A light chocolatey roastiness is balanced by resin and citrus flavors and a lingering bitterness
• Saison du Nord (6.5%, spring): Crisp, sparkling Belgian-style ale with a light fruitiness and spicy clove notes
• Other seasonal beers may include a rotating line-up of lagers (Munich-style Helles, Vienna-style lager, Bohemian Pilsner, and an "India Pale Lager") or smoked beers
The Future
If opportunities to expand arise, Earthen Ales will deepen its roots locally rather than simply increasing production volumes. This may include deeper connections to Grand Traverse and Leelanau County and the budding hop and malt industries in the region. Expansion options will emphasize producing new beers, developing ingredients, such as specialty malts, and connecting customers to the brewing process beyond the pint. One such possibility is an inn located in an agrarian setting that connects customers with local beer ingredients and brews experimental beers on-site. Additional opportunities may include co-location with a local maltster and/or hop grower in the region to integrate multiple levels of the beer-making process on the same site.

Financial Summary
Previous Fundraise Summary
Security Type | Revenue Share | |
---|---|---|
Investor Eligibility | All Investors | |
Minimum Investment | $500 | |
Payback Multiple | 1.5x | |
Payment Frequency | Monthly | |
Disbursement Late Fees | 5.00% | |
Loan Collateral | Unsecured | |
Seniority | Junior | |
Equivalent Interest Rate (/yr) | 20.28% | |
Maturity | November 30, 2022 |
Offering Materials
Investment Perks
Private event and special beer batch
Along with everything else, we'll brew a special batch of beer for a private event at the taproom for you (and your friends)
Founding Member Recognition
You'll receive 'Founding Member' recognition in the brewery, along with a second Mug Club membership and 2 extra tickets to the soft opening.
Earthen Ales Swag
You'll receive an Earthen Ales t-shirt, hat and pint glass. ((+ the mug club membership and soft opening tickets)
Private opening event
Two tickets to an Earthen Ales soft opening (+ the mug club membership)
Mug Club Membership
Lifetime mug club membership (i.e. beer discounts forever)
Financials
Financial projections are subject to certain risks of the business and may not be achieved. Projections only contemplate projected cash flows, are unaudited and may not be formulated in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Consult the investment materials for more information on business specific risks and a discussion of the key risks that may impede the achievement of the revenue forecasts presented. There is no guarantee that an investment may achieve any level of return. Review our Risks of Investing before making an investment decision.
Q&A
Team

Jamie and Andrew Kidwell-Brix
Jamie and Andrew Kidwell-Brix are accomplished project and program managers with experience managing energy and sustainability projects with budgets in excess of $2 million. Andrew's experiences as the City of Ann Arbor's Energy Programs Manager, combined with recent work at Bare Knuckle Farm (Northport, MI) and brewing for Witch's Hat Brewing Co. (South Lyon, MI), provide him with the skills and tools necessary to run a successful craft brewery from top to bottom. Similarly, Jamie's work as the City of Ann Arbor's Sustainability Associate, combined with the experience of growing up in her family's retail business and eight-plus years of home brewing, provide her with the skills and tools necessary to run a successful craft brewery from top to bottom. Andrew and Jamie will share management, production, and serving tasks until the workload justifies additional staff.
Key Skills:
• Brewing: have brewed on and developed award-winning recipes for home and commercial systems, ranging in size from one gallon to 465 gallons (15 barrels)
• Beer Server: TIPS certified and recognized by the Cicerone Program as Certified Beer Servers
• Management and Accounting: managed state and federal grants, including Ann Arbor's $1.2 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, in addition to facilities projects and community outreach programs
• Brand Identity Creation: managed effort to create a2energy brand, Ann Arbor Sustainability Forums, and Ann Arbor Climate Partnership
• State Regulatory Affairs: led coalition that successfully lobbied for Michigan legislation to enable Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for energy improvements

Jason Bing, RA, LEED AP
Jason is currently the Healthy Buildings Director at Ecology Center in Ann Arbor and is advising Earthen Ales on building/site selection and build out.
Jason is a licensed architect, experienced in performing, coordinating and administering healthy, high performance residential and commercial building services. Bing has conducted or supervised energy assessments on over five million square feet of commercial, institutional and multifamily residential buildings over the last five years. Bing has conducted tours, consultations and on/off-site presentations to broad audiences on topics ranging from ecological footprint and resource conservation to building science and healthy structures.
Built work includes Water Street Tavern in Kent, OH, a project that included a majority of reclaimed, repurposed and/or refurbished materials and emphasized low carbon footprint/adaptive reuse. This historic downtown building was previously home to a retail sports store. http://www.waterstreettavern.com/
Bing is a former member of the Ann Arbor Energy Commission (2005-10), a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, and has previously maintained status as a Home Energy Rater (HERs), certified by RESnet, from 2005-09. He received a certificate from the Climate Reality Leadership Corps in 2013 and currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Affordable Multi-Family Energy Efficiency (AMFEE) network.

Revision Legal
Revision produced our Website and Crowdfunding Terms and Conditions, as well our website's Privacy Policy. They have also advised us on trademark considerations regarding our name and beer brands.

Adcock & Nemeskal Accounting
Handling our bookkeeping, tax preparation, chart of accounts setup, and eventually payroll services.

Jason Bing, RA, LEED AP
Jason is currently the Healthy Buildings Director at Ecology Center in Ann Arbor and is advising Earthen Ales on building/site selection and build out.
Jason is a licensed architect, experienced in performing, coordinating and administering healthy, high performance residential and commercial building services. Bing has conducted or supervised energy assessments on over five million square feet of commercial, institutional and multifamily residential buildings over the last five years. Bing has conducted tours, consultations and on/off-site presentations to broad audiences on topics ranging from ecological footprint and resource conservation to building science and healthy structures.
Built work includes Water Street Tavern in Kent, OH, a project that included a majority of reclaimed, repurposed and/or refurbished materials and emphasized low carbon footprint/adaptive reuse. This historic downtown building was previously home to a retail sports store. http://www.waterstreettavern.com/
Bing is a former member of the Ann Arbor Energy Commission (2005-10), a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, and has previously maintained status as a Home Energy Rater (HERs), certified by RESnet, from 2005-09. He received a certificate from the Climate Reality Leadership Corps in 2013 and currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Affordable Multi-Family Energy Efficiency (AMFEE) network.
About Earthen Ales
Company Updates
Counting Down...Five Days Left!
December 26, 2015
Happy holidays from Earthen Ales! In between cleaning up the wrapping paper and eating leftover roast beast, we're writing to remind you that our offering on Localstake closes at midnight on New Year's Eve. That means you have five more days to complete your investment in Earthen Ales.
The sooner you're able to complete your investment the better. If you can steal away from the festivities for a few minutes today, what better way to spend it than making your investment in Earthen Ales?
As always, we're available to answer questions!
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
Last Chance - Investment Closing 12/31
December 21, 2015
It’s the homestretch for Earthen Ales, and your last chance to invest! Our Localstake offering closes on December 31st, and every investment gets us closer and closer to opening our doors and serving you beers!
Tis the season for brewery planning – we’re reviewing a draft lease, piloting new batches of beer, and working towards a summer 2016 opening. Join us in the Earthen Ales journey by completing your Localstake investment today!
Thanks for helping make our holiday (and yours!) a happy holiday! We’re happy and available to answer any questions via Localstake.
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
Last Call for Perks! Today!
November 30, 2015
Well, here we are in your inbox, nestled amongst a barrage of Cyber Monday emails. And maybe that's appropriate, because today is your last chance to earn perks for committing to invest in Earthen Ales on Localstake! What does that mean exactly? That means that everyone who has made a commitment to invest by the end of the day today gets a free lifetime mug club membership.
If you commit $1,000 or more, you'll also receive two tickets to an Earthen Ales soft opening event. Committing $2,500 or more? We'll throw in an Earthen Ales t-shirt, hat, and pint glass. At $5,000 you'll get special "Founding Member" recognition in the brewery along with a second mug club membership and two more soft opening tickets. And for $10,000 or more, we'll also brew a special batch of beer for a private event for you and your friends.
So if you've been putting off clicking that "Commit to Invest" button, today's the day!
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
p.s. To those of you that have already committed to investing and signed documents: thanks again!
p.p.s. Because we heard a couple of questions about this, if you've signed your investment documents and elected to pay by check, we will send you more information once everyone else has signed.
Thank You! (And a Last Call for Perks.)
November 25, 2015
As we reflect on what we are thankful for this week—our friends and family, each other, our budding baby brewery—we find ourselves especially thankful to you. Yes, you, reading this message right now. Whether you're a friend, family, or someone that found us on Localstake, your interest in seeing Earthen Ales succeed helps keep us going. And your faith in Earthen Ales motivates us to do the very best that we possibly can, not just so that you will earn a good return on your investment, but also that you will be proud to be an investor in Earthen Ales. We want you to feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you think about Earthen Ales and know that you're a part of something great!
And so, while we spend our holiday weekend evaluating draft lease terms, we hope that you can take your next step in investing in Earthen Ales. Already committed? Now's the time to sign documents and make it official. If you've expressed interest in investing, now's the time to commit to a dollar amount. Have a question you've been putting off asking? Now's the time!
Why now? Because one of the ways that we can show you how appreciative and how thankful we are is through the investment perks that we're offering here on Localstake. But those expire at the end of November, so now's the time!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Jamie and Andrew
We've Got a Live One Here
November 3, 2015
A big thank you to every one of you for your help in getting us to where we are today: our investment offering is now officially live! It's what we've been working toward the last few months. You can now go into Localstake, sign revenue share agreements and transfer funds. This is the real deal!
And it's really important. Our bank loan is contingent on the $100,000 we are raising via Localstake, so this is so much more than your individual investments: this allows us to leverage the rest of the startup capital we need. It's the linchpin, the keystone, the...well, you get the idea. Your investment here puts everything into motion for us.
As always, if you have any questions about the Localstake investment process or other aspects of Earthen Ales, please let us know. If not, now is the time to finalize your investment and make Earthen Ales a reality!
And don't forget that all Localstake investors qualify for investment perks. Once you've finalized your investment, we'll follow up with you to fulfill your perks.
Finally, we can't thank you all enough and can't wait to start pouring beers for you in 2016!
Discussion
Company Updates
Counting Down...Five Days Left!
December 26, 2015
Happy holidays from Earthen Ales! In between cleaning up the wrapping paper and eating leftover roast beast, we're writing to remind you that our offering on Localstake closes at midnight on New Year's Eve. That means you have five more days to complete your investment in Earthen Ales.
The sooner you're able to complete your investment the better. If you can steal away from the festivities for a few minutes today, what better way to spend it than making your investment in Earthen Ales?
As always, we're available to answer questions!
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
Last Chance - Investment Closing 12/31
December 21, 2015
It’s the homestretch for Earthen Ales, and your last chance to invest! Our Localstake offering closes on December 31st, and every investment gets us closer and closer to opening our doors and serving you beers!
Tis the season for brewery planning – we’re reviewing a draft lease, piloting new batches of beer, and working towards a summer 2016 opening. Join us in the Earthen Ales journey by completing your Localstake investment today!
Thanks for helping make our holiday (and yours!) a happy holiday! We’re happy and available to answer any questions via Localstake.
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
Last Call for Perks! Today!
November 30, 2015
Well, here we are in your inbox, nestled amongst a barrage of Cyber Monday emails. And maybe that's appropriate, because today is your last chance to earn perks for committing to invest in Earthen Ales on Localstake! What does that mean exactly? That means that everyone who has made a commitment to invest by the end of the day today gets a free lifetime mug club membership.
If you commit $1,000 or more, you'll also receive two tickets to an Earthen Ales soft opening event. Committing $2,500 or more? We'll throw in an Earthen Ales t-shirt, hat, and pint glass. At $5,000 you'll get special "Founding Member" recognition in the brewery along with a second mug club membership and two more soft opening tickets. And for $10,000 or more, we'll also brew a special batch of beer for a private event for you and your friends.
So if you've been putting off clicking that "Commit to Invest" button, today's the day!
Cheers,
Jamie and Andrew
p.s. To those of you that have already committed to investing and signed documents: thanks again!
p.p.s. Because we heard a couple of questions about this, if you've signed your investment documents and elected to pay by check, we will send you more information once everyone else has signed.
Thank You! (And a Last Call for Perks.)
November 25, 2015
As we reflect on what we are thankful for this week—our friends and family, each other, our budding baby brewery—we find ourselves especially thankful to you. Yes, you, reading this message right now. Whether you're a friend, family, or someone that found us on Localstake, your interest in seeing Earthen Ales succeed helps keep us going. And your faith in Earthen Ales motivates us to do the very best that we possibly can, not just so that you will earn a good return on your investment, but also that you will be proud to be an investor in Earthen Ales. We want you to feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you think about Earthen Ales and know that you're a part of something great!
And so, while we spend our holiday weekend evaluating draft lease terms, we hope that you can take your next step in investing in Earthen Ales. Already committed? Now's the time to sign documents and make it official. If you've expressed interest in investing, now's the time to commit to a dollar amount. Have a question you've been putting off asking? Now's the time!
Why now? Because one of the ways that we can show you how appreciative and how thankful we are is through the investment perks that we're offering here on Localstake. But those expire at the end of November, so now's the time!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Jamie and Andrew
We've Got a Live One Here
November 3, 2015
A big thank you to every one of you for your help in getting us to where we are today: our investment offering is now officially live! It's what we've been working toward the last few months. You can now go into Localstake, sign revenue share agreements and transfer funds. This is the real deal!
And it's really important. Our bank loan is contingent on the $100,000 we are raising via Localstake, so this is so much more than your individual investments: this allows us to leverage the rest of the startup capital we need. It's the linchpin, the keystone, the...well, you get the idea. Your investment here puts everything into motion for us.
As always, if you have any questions about the Localstake investment process or other aspects of Earthen Ales, please let us know. If not, now is the time to finalize your investment and make Earthen Ales a reality!
And don't forget that all Localstake investors qualify for investment perks. Once you've finalized your investment, we'll follow up with you to fulfill your perks.
Finally, we can't thank you all enough and can't wait to start pouring beers for you in 2016!
Discussion
Hi. Wondering if any of the funding is going to be used for a liquor license. Thanks! -Tracy
Hi. Wondering if any of the funding is going to be used for a liquor license. Thanks! -Tracy
Good question. We will apply for a "Micro Brewer" license from the MLCC. This allows us to sell beer that we produce to consumers for both on-premise and off-premise (take-away) consumption with no additional license. You can read more about how we will be licensed under the 'Industry' tab on our profile.