THANK YOU

Hello Friends and Supporters,

Thank you so much for being part of our campaign over the last 30 days. While we did not hit our funding target (or come close), we were incredibly surprised by the social media interest in the project as well as the media coverage we received. Regardless of the funding goal, we consider this campaign to be a success.

Further, the coverage and exposure we received from doing this Indiegogo campaign resulted in a private investor stepping in to fund the production of the PortaKeg. This surprise development has further energized the PortaBeer team and assures us -- and our potential customers -- that we'll be able to launch the product in mid-November and have units in time to be placed under the tree this holiday season.

We would like to welcome you to stop by PortaBeer.com to sign up for our newsletter to be kept up to date on our progress, the PortaKeg pre-sale (at a discount!), tailgate product launch at the November 18th Steelers/Ravens game in Pittsburgh, and full retail sale. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for news, events, and progress reports.

Feel free to contact us anytime at 855.PortaBeer (767-8223) or any member of the team at [first name]@portabeer.com. We're always eager to hear your thoughts and willing to take your suggestions.

Thanks again and cheers,

Albert, Mark, Ray and Todd
The PortaBeer Team

Thank you for visiting our campaign. We've been fortunate to receive an amazing amount of support since we first conceived of the PortaKeg in 2009 and launched the successful beer accessories site, PortaBeer.com, in 2010. With your help, we're going to bring to you, simply, the best portable draft system on the market today.

- Albert, Todd, Mark, and Ray (not pictured)

The PortaKeg is a revolutionary, patent-pending way to enjoy cold draft-style beer anywhere. Made of a rugged and lightweight plastic, and powered by a paintball-sized carbon dioxide tank, the system can dispense a cold draft beer anywhere. With its sturdy 12” foam-filled all-terrain tires, and collapsible handle, the PortaKeg is easy to transport over pavement, gravel, or wherever your adventures take you. 

The PortaKeg is invaluable in non-traditional spaces as well.  For instance, PortaKeg makes selling or serving cold beverages easy and convenient in nearly every environment.

Art Gallery in Need of a PortaKeg

Golf Course Vendor in Need of a PortaKeg

Capable of holding a half- , quarter- (tall and short), or sixth-barrel of beer, the PortaKeg can keep your favorite brew cold for up to thirty-six hours in the hot summer sun with only one bag of ice. 

Fits nearly all keg sizes (including homebrew!)

Three years ago, Albert, Mark, and Todd went camping in northwestern Pennsylvania. They had planned ahead for all their food and drink needs, binging only the basics: a quarter keg of their favorite beer, six large bags of ice, two coolers, twenty yards of flexible tubing, a five pound carbon dioxide tank, tap handle, towels, a toolbox full of wrenches, nuts, bolts, screwdrivers, and seals. It was quickly obvious that this was overkill and there had to be a better way. 

Our sad, overly complicated set-up

Setting about to build a more compact and streamlined system, the guys sketched out the first drawings of the PortaKeg around a picnic table. With the assistance of mechanical engineer Ray Robbins, the team refined the design through several rounds of prototypes.

Several generations of prototypes

To fulfill the dream, the team built a company and a website, portabeer.com. The goal of the site was to sell the best products that would allow regular consumers to enjoy “Your Beer. Anywhere.” With the profits of the site going towards initial sourcing and development of the PortaKeg, the team was able to develop the internal regulator system. 

Internal System

After being selected as a finalist in a business plan competition at the University of Pittsburgh, where Todd and Albert were completing their MBAs, and also placing within other local business competitions the team developed relationships with brewers large and small, as well as beer retailers, distributors, and public event promoters, who helped to refine the design features, and provide valuable support.

Todd and Albert presenting at the University of Pittsburgh

Internal components have been rigorously tested to ensure consistent use, and ease of set-up and cleaning for any consumer.

Regulator and 20oz. CO2 Tank

We will begin rotational molding of the cooler component in September 2012. We hope to launch the first products during the fall of 2012, with sales to individual consumers on portabeer.com, and sales to beer wholesalers, beer distributors, and event coordinators launching through our sales force at the same time. 

• Height: 39"/Faucet Height 35"; Width 26"; Depth: 32"
• Rough weight with ice and a full keg will be about 205 lbs.
• Molded ridges firmly secure in any standard sized keg.
• 12” foam-filled all-terrain wheels
• Collapsible luggage handle
• Rotational molded plastic allows for corporate, school, or personal  branding
• Additional advertising space on the rear for display at beer tastings or sales events 

We have developed the entire supply chain for all PortaKeg components. While most parts are off-the-shelf, the cooler will be manufactured in Erie, PA. The coolers will be assembled and shipped from our home base in Pittsburgh.

• Dudepins.com invitations will be sent by September 15th, 2012.
• Rotational molding to being in Erie, PA in September 2012.
• Rewards distribution beginning the week of October 15, 2012 for all rewards except for PortaKeg units.
• PortaKeg Unit rewards distributed the week of November 15, 2012.
• PortaKeg LAUNCH PARTY TAILGATE for the November 18th game in Pittsburgh between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
• Retail sale of PortaKeg units begin the week of November 20th, 2012.

Maintaining a commitment we've made since launching PortaBeer.com, we will be donating 5% of funds from this campaign to Operation Once in a Lifetime. 

Operation Once in a Lifetime is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to make the dreams of U.S. soldiers come true. The dream of a soldier is to come home alive, unwounded, to train safe, to love his country, his unit and his family. However being a soldier is not easy; it is filled with hardship, not just physically or emotionally, but financially.

Check out their work at http://operationonceinalifetime.com.

Dudepins has generously allowed us to offer invititations to all backers of the the PortaKeg.

Dudepins is a social platform for individuals to share "male-oriented" content. Basically, Dudepins is a website to discover and share the coolest stuff for dudes. The guys at at dudepins don't discriminate between dudes, sirs, dukes, bros gentlemen and other men of honor. Dudepins is all about fast cars, tailored suits and scotches that are older than dirt. Check it out at http://dudepins.com