Frequently Asked Questions

Co-ops operate under the principles supported by the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA). These principles include the following:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Members' Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community

More information about the principles of co-ops can be found at the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International.

Lifetime membership in our co-op is $150. The $150 membership can be for an individual or for a couple. If you are a couple and live together (at the same home address), you can both join together for the single fee.

Each membership includes all the benefits of membership, but the membership has only 1 vote (regardless of the number of individuals included in the membership).

As a member-owner, you will have a voice in selecting the benefits of membership. Here are a few benefits that other co-op brewpubs have offered and that we are considering:

• Wholesale pricing on our beer
• Special events, including keg-tappings and barbecues
• Discounts on merchandise (T-shirts, pint glasses, keychains, etc.)
• A whole bunch of stuff we haven't even thought of yet
• And perhaps most importantly, bragging rights about owning a brewery

Currently, our co-op organizes or sponsors various events and get-togethers in the bay area (including keg-tappings, cider-tastings, pub crawls, etc.), and our members frequently receive free or discounted admission or purchases.

Members will be eligible for distribution of "patronage refunds" (when profits are earned).

Each member receives one equal vote in determining the course and future of this endeavor. Further, all members have the opportunity to express their opinions at the monthly board meetings and/or at any of the committee meetings.

Each member has the opportunity to run for a seat on the board of directors or participate in a committee.

For more information about member benefits and participation, visit the Membership page.

This is a question that depends on many variables, the first of which is reaching a critical mass of members. The Business & Finance Committee is evaluating different business plans (to determine the viability of the different options and the capital and number of members needed for each option).

Once we select a location, finalize a business plan, and reach the critical mass of members, we will get started on opening the doors.

Join today to bring us one member closer to that starting date!

This is one of the key goals that we are working toward as you read this. We have a few places in mind and have been talking to the owners. If you join today, one of the perks of membership is helping us select our location.

Every day we get closer to signing a lease and opening the doors. Get involved today and help us decide where.

As of February 2021, we have over 650 members. Some of these memberships are couples. Some are individual memberships. We’re growing all the time, so this number will change frequently.

Add yourself to our ranks — and encourage a friend to join as well. We’d love to have you be part of our community.

While we encourage everyone to be as involved as they possibly can, your responsibility depends solely on you. You can be as active or inactive as you want to be.

One of the core principles of a co-op is voluntary membership. This means in part that you choose how involved you want to be. If you’d like to join a committee, we’d love to have you. If you’d like to run for the board, get in there and do it. If you’d like to just buy your membership and wait for the doors to open so you can enjoy some outstanding food a drink, be our guest for that as well.

It’s totally up to you how involved you want to be, but why not get involved today?

In fact, it has! Black Star Co-op Brewpub in Austin, Texas, was the first to make this happen. After a few years and some hard work, they have opened their second location and are working with local distributors to have their beers sold in stores and restaurants.

Fifth Street Brewpub in Dayton, Ohio, and Flying Bike in Seattle, Washington, are also up and running, and a few others across the country are in the works.

We’ll be the first in California, joining an excellent group of other co-op brewpubs across the country.

There are three ways that profits can be allocated:

1. Pay off debts
2. Reinvest in the business (buying new equipment, remodeling, etc.)
3. Distribute "patronage refunds" to member-owners

If any portion of profits is redistributed to member-owners as patronage refunds, these funds will be disbursed proportionally based on each membership's patronage of the brewpub. This means that the more you spend at the brew pub, the larger the share of the profits that you'll get back from the distribution!

In a co-op, membership liability is limited to the amount of your membership. What this means is that the most you can lose is the money you paid for your membership share ($150). Much like shareholders in a corporation, our members are insulated from any liabilities that the co-op may incur.

No. One of the basic tenets of a co-op is that no one person owns more shares or has more votes than any other member-owner. Because of the democratic process of the co-op, each member-owner is limited to one membership, with one share and one vote.

While you can buy only one membership for yourself, you are welcome to buy additional memberships as gifts for friends and family.

A membership in our co-op makes an awesome gifts! Where else can you give someone ownership of a brewery?

Simply fill out the recipient’s information in the Membership Application form and submit. And let your friends know that their memberships have been purchased, so they won't be surprised when they receive their email confirmation.

No, you do not! The brewpub will be open to the public, and anyone will be welcome. Part of the success of this business venture will be patronage from the general public, in addition to patronage from our members, their friends, and families.

No. Every membership is a lifetime membership that will never expire.

Today, the Brewing Committee refines our recipes and works with contract brewers to bring them to life. Meanwhile, the Business & Finance Committee is examining various scenarios. We have several options: opening our doors selling beer from other breweries, selling our own beer, or waiting until we have enough capital to invest in our own brewing equipment.

In short, there are many avenues to success. Here is a rough outline of the general approach that we have been pursuing:

1. Today: sell our beer to local businesses (by brewing our recipes at a contract brewer)
2. Acquire enough capital to open a tap room
3. Continue to grow capital and open a full brewpub, with brewing and food service capabilities

This is something that we are still working out, and if you become a member now you can help us decide and act.

Our ultimate goal is to brew our own beers in-house, regardless of how we start. Once we are brewing our own beers, we will select a master brewer and staff to handle the brewing process. Members will have input into what types of beers we want to brew and what types of food we want to offer.

We have already started. By working with local contract breweries, we released our very first beer in the summer of 2015: Hismen Sii Pale Ale. Since then, we have released several new beers, which have been very well received by our members and by the general public. You can view our current line-up on our Beer page.

We are also very happy that our beers are available at a growing number of local establishments. Check out this list of our current customers to find a location near you.

The Brewing Committee is looking at plans to increase our production and add new recipes to our product line.

It's as easy as showing up to one of our many meetings or events! Check our events calendar to find out which committees are meeting and when. Our monthly board meetings are open to all members and to the public, and they're generally held on the fourth Saturday of every month.

If meetings aren't your thing, we also have a number of fun-filled activities in which you can participate, including keg-tappings, pub crawls, and tasting events. There is also a semi-official trivia team, made up of members and non-members, which competes every Monday night in downtown San Jose. It's a great opportunity to meet other members.

Of course, perhaps the best way to get involved is to become a member, so go ahead and join today. (You know you want to.)