Health & Fitness
Sketchbook Brewing Company Raises $25K Through Crowd-funding as Evanston's First Nanobrewery
EVANSTON, IL (May 28, 2014) – Sketchbook Brewing Company successfully completed the second phase of its Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign on May 11, with 250 backers providing $25,210 of support to purchase two jacketed steel fermenters.
Just five days into the month-long campaign, the company’s initial $15,000 goal was met. Inspired by this flood of support, co-owners Shawn Decker and Cesar Marron appealed to their growing base of online supporters for $10K more – which they also received. The funds will be used to purchase a heat exchanger and cold-water tank which will help reduce fuel consumption and make the community-based craft brewery even greener.
Sketchbook joins a long line of other Chicago-based companies who have used Kickstarter to help finance their businesses. The wildly successful Kickstarter crowd-funding platform -- which has linked more than one billion backers with projects—has been used by other Chicago-based breweries including Pipeworks, Argyle, 18th Street and Begyle.
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“Kickstarter gave us an online voice—a way to connect with old and new friends—and we are so encouraged and moved by this show of support,” says co-owner Marron.
Another milestone was reached on May 27th when the Evanston City Council voted unanimously to grant Sketchbook its liquor license. Sketchbook will spend the summer fitting out their new space in central Evanston with a 7-barrel brew system, trying out new recipes on a pilot system, and planning the launch of their CSB (community supported brewery), a monthly beer club which will give local craft beer enthusiasts a chance to pre-order their monthly growler-fill.
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ABOUT SKETCHBOOK
Sketchbook Brewing Company is a Nanobrewery which will produce finely-crafted, small-batch beers for local consumption, with a focus on fine, ‘session’ beers low in alcohol and calories. Anticipated to open late summer of 2014, Sketchbook will be Evanston, Illinois’ first Community Sponsored Brewery and will offer tastings and fill growlers at a discount for walk-in or bike-in customers. Bringing beer directly to the people minimizes waste and reduces transportation needs and helps Sketchbook achieve two of its main objectives, community and sustainability. Sketchbook is located behind 825 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. For more information about what’s on tap for Sketchbook, visit on the web at www.sketchbookbrewing.com