[11/8 Update: Still working toward building a new website… I should have learned long ago from brewers that I cover that it is not always wise to estimate dates for things! Especially new barrel-aged beers and new websites! Rest assured, the calendar will be restored soon enough and a new site should be ready early next year at the latest (maybe sooner but doubtful). When that time comes, I will be randomly picking people off of the newsletter list to test things out so if you’re looking for a reason to sign up for the newsletter, please go do it now!]

My first post came back on February 29, 2008. Since then, I’ve published over 1,200 posts, mostly about new beers coming out.  This past month, I published 112 posts, obliterating my old record.  The blog really started as a hobby though it’s grown a lot over time and I am really thankful to have so many people care about the effort I put forth here.

Until now, I’ve never felt there was a compelling reason for me to put a donation link up. Sure, I’ve made $0 doing this for almost two years. Yet, there are other beer bloggers out there who can say the same and some (or many) have been blogging for longer.

So why ask for money now? Because I’m “fundraising” for the re-launch of Beernews.org this spring.

New site will include:

1) Complete re-design (will still keep one page similar to the old look for those who don’t like change)

2) Daily beer news updates as you’ve grown accustomed to…

3) Up-to-date beer calendar (it took several days to update the way I did it before but it should be updated with each post automatically in the future)

4) Leveraging social media incl. Twitter and Facebook (the Twitter list on the right hasn’t been updated in a while for the same reasons but will be up-to-date/automatic on the new site)

5) The Buy Beer Page will be up-to-date on at least a weekly basis if not daily basis. The format will be slightly different than before but similar.

6) Some breweries will have their own page here with more than just links to BN.org articles. Not all 1,500 U.S. craft breweries but the ones you see featured here are a lot. Sorting out the details . . .

7) “Other stuff” that I’m keeping under wraps for now, even from friends and family!

8- There will be beer (& non-beer) ads which should theoretically make it so that I can actually devote myself to this full-time and make a modest living doing it. News updates will stay free for sure and if I am successful with advertising, which I hope to be (but not 100% guaranteed), the other stuff will not become subscription-based.

What does the money go toward?

I’m hiring a developer full-time to help me tackle things for a little while. I can do some of the technical things on my own but some of these things are advanced enough where I need someone dedicated to help out. A developer won’t be cheap but he/she will certainly be worth it.

Every dollar donated is going back into the site!

In case a reader might ask, “How much should I donate?” . . .

Beer Advocate charges $29.99 for one year of their mag. A RateBeer premium membership costs $13/yr. A single issue of the New Brewer costs $15. What would you pay for one month of BN? Now consider that I have been doing this for two years.

I’m not asking for anyone to hand over their paycheck here. Even a $5 donation is very helpful. Just think about the enjoyment you got out of your last couple of 6-pack purchases and the enjoyment that you’ve got out of this site for however long you have been reading it. And now think of it after getting a much-needed upgrade.

At that point, a number might pop up into your head. And if it doesn’t, then hell, grab a beer and keep enjoying the site.

How does one donate?

I will be keeping the Donation link up on the right until the “next edition” is ready . . . or you can click the button above. Making a donation through Paypal will NOT cost you an extra penny in fees or anything like that. You can click that link and donate with a credit card even if you don’t have a Paypal account. After successfully donating or canceling, I believe you will be redirected to the home page here.

If you prefer to donate by check or other means, you can send me a note through email and I will forward you my address. (I move a lot so it is important to email me even if you think you have it!). And while I don’t expect this to happen . . . donations, especially generous ones, while very appreciated will not lead to adding your link to my site or other benefits.

Comments are closed on this post so if you have questions, please send me an email or ask on Twitter or ask on Facebook.

Lastly, please share this with folks you know that visit this site from time to time. Thanks!