History of ManCan and Regulator
over 8 years ago
– Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 07:52:17 PM
Thank you for all your support. Some of you know better than others, but KickStarter is not a retail store it is an avenue for entrepreneurs to find others who celebrate their core values and bring a new exciting product into existence. Those of you who are entrepreneurs know about the evolution of a product, and ours is continuing to evolve.
The ManCan started as a 64 oz. stainless steel mini keg. We offered a tap system with an OK chrome tap and a trigger based co2 regulator. It worked better than anything in the market but in our minds, it was good but not how we wanted to be represented in the marketplace. Our goal was to have a beautiful one gallon 304 stainless steel ManCan in every beer lover’s refrigerator because that was the way craft beer is intended to be enjoyed, fresh, carbonated and delicious. To do this we needed a better way to pressurize and serve the beer.
The trigger regulator was finicky and hard to control. Beer would flood out and foam was not an option it was the norm. To create the product we wanted, that you wanted, we needed a consistent easy to use regulator that would allow the beer drinker to get a perfect pour. We needed a real regulator. We searched for a regulator with a dial and found a few to try. The first one we received seemed to work great… for the first 3 Co2 cartridges. The second unit we received worked even better and lasted through much longer.
We thought we found our solution and launched our invention, the one gallon ManCan 128 on KickStarter hoping to find our tribe of unapologetic craft beer lovers who wanted clean, crisp, fresh draft of their favorite breweries in their home or to travel with them. You guys came out of the woodwork (or breweries and brewpubs). We found our people. You were so generous in your encouragement and the support of our combined cause of amazing beer.
After the campaign, we released 10 units to a few of our local area backers (numbers 1, 17, 55, 97, 101, 102, 333, 1003, 1200 & number 1233). The bottom line was, the regulator failed 60% of the time. It blew out, the dial would not regulate. It was 0 psi or maxed out over 60 psi. It was the most disappointing thing in the three-year history of the ManCan. Kevin said “we cannot subject our tribesmen to this” and I agreed. We chose excellent materials, 304 stainless steele, excellent welds, Perlick taps, we ran over this with a land cruiser all in the name of product testing and our unapologetic crusade to GREAT CRAFT BEER but could not find a preexisting regulator that would work with the ManCan at a price our tribe would support.
We realized our only option was to hire engineers to create a product that would consistently deliver great beer. We were asked to create a list of priorities and the number one was to serve beer form the ManCan without much effort. Make it easy. Our Jimmy Neutron like beer geeing (that was a pre-requisite) engineers created multiple prototypes, some better than others. The one we choose was the best of all, the “Perfect Pour” two-phase regulator.
Many of you may know this but there is a HUGE difference in regulators and there is a reason they cost anywhere from $30 to $300. Single phase tries to take Co2 from 600 psi to 6-9 psi. It is not easy to do. A two-phase regulator will lower the psi from 600 psi to 100psi and the second phase from 100 to 6-10 psi without any trouble. I now know, that one phase versus two phase was our problem. We were buying a single-phase regulator. The original regulator was all looks and no action. Was creating a two-phase regulator from scratch specifically for the ManCan 128 this expensive? YES!!!!! Engineers like to get paid! But, that is what you do when you are starting a company and your tribe wants to be a part of something great!!!! Not just good.
Other development, your Thank you T-shirts are being printed, the ManCans are being printed, we are utilizing a great group in CA to package some of the product because it allows us to support a great group of functionally autistic adults and give back to them. MoreBeer.com will be carrying our full line of products for additional units and parts. TRIBESMEN, Thank you for your feedback, your support and you willingness to create a movement.
We cannot wait for all of us to receive our ManCans. We want to see pictures of how and where you will enjoy the ManCan. Bottom line, Life is better in the Tribe. Thanks for bringing us in yours!
I will be in Denver for the GABF and we are throwing a bash at Declaration brewery in Denver. Can I buy you a beer????? Find directions to Declaration here. I’ll be the bald guy in a long sleeve ManCan shirt because we have not printed your t-shirts yet.
Life is better in the Tribe
Chris & Kevin
PS. If you would like to speak with someone about anything regarding ManCan, reach out to [email protected]. We are here for you!
