We began this adventure late last summer, not really knowing what we were getting into. When we put our plans into motion, nobody was providing this sort of experience, and we were excited at the idea of taking our passion to the next level. We started out renting a 14 passenger limousine bus in an effort to feel out the market, and get our feet wet before jumping in head first with our own bus. This was perfect, we could provide safe transportation to a number of breweries, and patrons have the opportunity to sample more beer on board! Here we are, one year later, and we were poised to take things to the next level and put our own bus on the road. So we thought...
We were sold a bus that we believed needed minor tuning up and new tires. After many hours of hard work and the help of dedicated friends and family, the mechanic inspecting the bus delivered the bad news right when we thought it was road ready: The bus was a clunker and our budget wouldn't be enough to fix it
Turns out, the garage we bought it from was less than reputable, and although everyone that looked at it thought it would be good for a few years, our mechanic informed us that was simply not the case. While it did need new tires, it also needed just about everything else, and our budget to fix it was quickly blown apart, and we were left with a beautiful looking bus that needed twice our budget to get it on the road.
We did not see that coming, and it certainly hit us pretty hard, but we are too passionate about what we do to not press on. Instead of moping, we have moved on to Plan B: Find a new bus!
This is where you folks come in. We've found a great replacement bus already, one that has been checked out by a mechanic, but we need a little more money to finalize the prep work and put her on the road.
The Maine beer scene is a collaborative industry, and we are big fans of that approach. We are a small business that exists to promote other small businesses. We work closely with the many great breweries, wineries and distilleries. We offer snacks made by a local baker, paired with mustard made by a small Maine business. Our web site, logos and artwork are done by locals. Our merchandise was purchased from a Maine vendor. We believe in the spirit of community and collaboration, so in that spirit, we're reaching out to you to ask for help.
A couple of the great businesses we work with have generously supported this campaign. Rising Tide Brewing Company and Baxter Brewing have graciously offered private tours for your strong support. You see, by supporting this campaign, it will ultimately benefit the many vendors we work with, as well as the great patrons we have on our tours. Having our bus on the road will allow us to visit new places, offer new days and times, and ensure that Maine Beer Tours does everything it can to maintain that commitment to the local economy. Cheers!