Brewgooder beer has raised over £50,000 and Sir Tom Hunter is backing it to be a success
A charity beer is to become a reality after a crowdfunding campaign reached its target more than a week ahead of schedule.
Social entrepreneurs Alan Mahon and Josh Littlejohn have raised over £50,000 to put the first batch of Brewgooder beer into production.
The craft beer, which is being brewed by beer masters Brewdog, will donate 100% of its profits to the newly established Brewgooder Foundation, which will help fund clean water projects around the world.
Mahon and Littlejohn, the men behind enterprise cafe Social Bite, hit their target after over 700 people backed them on Indiegogo, and they were given an undisclosed five figure donation from the Hunter Foundation.
We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve had since announcing the project
Mahon said: “We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve had since announcing the project from our partners at BrewDog, who not only make it affordable for us to manufacture but have elevated our brand immediately by stocking it among their own range, to the generosity of Sir Tom Hunter, who has provided valuable counsel on setting up Brewgooder and believing in the business from the start and now has given us a real financial leg-up.
“The crowd fund exercise has enabled us to engage directly with the craft beer drinking public, who have supported us with investments from £5 to £300. and as a result we’re now ready to push the button on the production of the first 200,000 cans.”
As well as the donations Brewgooder has also benefited from a host of pre-orders from independent bars and restaurants.
The Brewgooder Foundation plans to deliver its first project in Malawi with the installation of solar powered water pumps at the Nora Docherty School in a remote village in Dedza, where the brand’s powerful crowd funding film was shot earlier this year.
The project will improve water access for a community of 2,000 people and help improve the quality of education provided at the school which also benefits from the Mary’s Meals school feeding programme.
Littlejohn and Mahon are both trustees of the foundation, along with BrewDog founders James Watt and Martin Dickie. The Hunter Foundation has signed up as a philanthropic partner.
Sir Tom Hunter said: "Social entrepreneurs are day-by-day changing how business works and frequently outperforming conventional business.
“However the trick is to have a brilliant idea and convert it with the drive and determination of any for-profit entity.
“Alan and Josh not only have a great idea here, they have that drive and determination and I hope, glass by glass and keg by keg they build a great social enterprise."
