A Herne Hill brewery run by a husband and wife team are launching a crowdfunding campaign to build their business as hopportunity knocks, writes Callum Burroughs…
Bullfinch Brewery was started in 2013 by former sound engineer Ryan Mclean, 39. Ryan operates a brewery and tap room under the railway arches on Rosendale Road with his wife, Carly and dog, Dexter.
Now they are looking to raise £8000 through crowdfunder.co.uk after demand for their beer became too high. Investors who put in larger sums will have the opportunity to design a beer with their name put on the label of the custom bottle.
The money raised will go towards new double fermenters and a Lindr, a portable dispensing system, to enable the business to travel to more festivals and pop up events.
Ryan said: “Demand has grown exponentially and our equipment can’t actually handle it.
“It’s [the crowd funding] more about having an involvement in the brewery which is good marketing and increases interest.”
Investors will be rewarded for their generosity with beer and merchandise, while other incentives include a day brewing with the team.
Ryan has praised the burgeoning community of brewers living in south-east London and hopes the added investment will see his company’s stock rise further still.
Bullfinch was formed after Ryan decided his former life on the road with pop bands was too demanding.
So far the results have been promising, with Rate Beer’s Best New London Brewer award coming in 2014.
Ryan has seen the widespread popularity that craft breweries have had in the US and New Zealand from his work on the road and hopes to replicate their impact in London.
He said: “It’s a nice little community, a nice little family.
“In south-east London there’s a few breweries popping up. It’s quite close knit.”
The site goes live on May 25 with more information about the launch available on Twitter @Bullfinch_Ale.