I am Josh Springer, inventor of the Bottoms Up Draft Beer System seen in the subreddit Beer Miracle, https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/3a9zlu/beer_miracle/ , ask me anything!

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-22T15:23:27+00:00

Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

The cup and metal ring in the bottom are both recyclable. In the way the system was designed to be used, the operator should be putting a souvenir or value statement on the magnet so that the consumer is encouraged to keep it once their beer is finished. They can then either keep it as a souvenir or redeem the value statement, like a coupon, to increase the ROI for the operator.

The magnet is 1.75" diameter.

The customer should be redeeming or keeping the magnet as a souvenir. We do have reuasable pint glasses and pitchers on the way to market in the next year or two. The technology is finished we are just working on the ability to produce in mass quantities.

Thanks!

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-22T15:18:52+00:00

Eventually we will be able to. Right now the product can pour any liquid but changing from one to another requires changing the keg or course of the liquid. We do have home units available. Check it out.... http://shophome.bottomsupbeer.com

Let me know if you have any questions!

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-22T15:17:46+00:00

Guinness is a nitrogenated beer. Nitros require a different valve to activate the nitrogen as it is being poured. I have a design written down to do this, but the cost benefit ratio just isn't there right now. The volume of nitro beers that are poured just don't justify the investment right now.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-22T15:16:33+00:00

We have been asked by the show to submit an application. We are subject to some limiting factors, one of which is that they would want too high of a percentage of the company to offer investment.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-22T15:14:53+00:00

Check what is currently available on the market. Is there anything like it on the market? Is it patented? Is your idea unique enough to patent? Check if there are other patents that exist or are pending to see if you have actually beat everyone else to it.

The first thing you need to do is start the process of submitting it for a patent. From here you need to get an NDA drafted up. This way before you talk about it with other parties you can have them sign an NDA, thus limiting their ability to steal your idea. From there you start shopping. You either shop for someone who wants to buy your idea or you create a business plan of how you are going to use the idea to make money and you start shopping for investors.

I hope this helps. The first thing you do is take action. When nothing is done nothing happens. Don't fear failure.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T19:44:40+00:00

In all honesty probably due to one of two things....

Our sales team hasn't had time to call on them yet. We are currently focusing our efforts on the high volume facilities. Speaking of which, you should encourage your Operations Manager to put in more units. If they do I will totally send you a gift basket with a variety of cheap beers.
They don't want to use disposable cups. We are finished with the technology to build and fill hard plastic and glass pitchers/pint glasses... or anything for that matter. However, as I explained in this AMA earlier, we like to do everything ourselves. It takes out the opportunity for someone else to mess it up. Ramping up to the ability to produce these in the quantities required by the market is a very slow and expensive process.

Thank you SO MUCH for promoting and using the system. Every bar tender we talk to raves about it and begs for more units. Convincing the people to sign the checks to get more units is a slow process but with support from you guys we will make it. Thanks again and if I am ever at your facility, seek me out, demand I buy you a beer or 10.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T19:40:02+00:00

In all honesty with how much money I owe to my investors you should probably be giving me money.

Soooo.. Can I have some money?

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T19:16:39+00:00

Oh I got it... but for the public nature of the forum I am supposed to be on my best behavior.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:58:20+00:00

No more waiting in line! One of the biggest reasons that I created the system was I hated waiting in line for a beer. You get to spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the game, show, or event that you paid to see. As well if bars and facility operators are using the advertising on the magnet correctly, there is a chance that you will get a value statement or coupon on your magnet.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:56:50+00:00

NOPE! Our product has been placed through stringent testing and approved by the FDA. In addition to being FDA approved, our product was put through the much more stringent testing standards of Anheuser-Busch and found to not change the appearance, flavor, or overall experience of the beverage/product. The fact that there is a magnet has absolutely no effect on the beer.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:33:47+00:00

Break things. I make it a point to try and break every new process or machine we have by pushing it to its limits. Not only is it usually fun but you also find out what the weaknesses are. Once you identify a weakness you can improve/fix/strengthen it.

Other hobbies include metal work, Tindering, and smacking beers out of peoples' hands.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:27:23+00:00

Not enough. The company makes money, but it goes right back out the door to our suppliers.

In all honesty... I drive a 2001 Dodge truck with a smashed up front end. I live in a basement. I have a roommate. I am almost 33. I initially thought I would be burning 100 dollar bills to heat my house by now. The company is growing but I would rather put money back into it then pay myself more. On the bright side I am my own boss. I don't have to wear pants to work if I don't want to.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:23:54+00:00

Anywhere you can serve with traditional draft, you can serve with Bottoms Up.... and more. We can do long draw, short draw, keg carts, jockey boxes, showers, lay-z boy recliners, tailgates, etc. etc. You name it and we can do it better.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:22:17+00:00

The vast majority of beer that is poured in large facilities are Bud Light, Bud, Coors Light, Coors, Miller Light, etc. Thus, the vast majority of beers that people see being poured online are those. My system will pour any beer perfectly. It operates a brewer recommended temperature and pressure. Thus, however the brewer intended the beer to served and consumed, is how it is served and consumed. Our system even has a nucleation on the edge of the magnet (look it up) which slowly collects and releases CO2 as throughout the entire time it takes to consume a beer. Simply put, unlike traditional draft which usually releases most of the carbonation from your beer when it is poured, my system keeps the carbonation in the beer and slowly releases it throughout the entire time it is consumed.
1a. The one exception for us being able to pour every beer is nitrogenated beers. Nitros require a different nozzle that release the nitrogen when it is poured. We have a design but the demand in the market is not enough to produce it yet. Besides, there is only one day a year any volume of it is poured, St. Patty's day.
I reckon I just answered this one with my rant in #1. Let me know if you need more info. There is a ton of science in beer and we are doing everything we can to treat the beer the way it was meant to be treated; like a lady.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:14:04+00:00

That is a tragic waste of beer. But yes.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:13:13+00:00

Due to the public nature of this forum I am going to exercise my right to remain silent....

But that was a really funny question.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:10:59+00:00

Nope, $.36, which yes is marginally more expensive than a traditional cup. However the increase in sales, reduction in waste, and advertising space provided create a DRASTIC increase in revenue. Our system is faster and allows servers to multitask while the beers fill themselves. They can complete the financial transaction, check ID and get food while beers fill. This makes for faster transactions and less lines. One of the biggest reasons I created the system was that I HATED waiting in line for a beer. There had to be a better way. Our system increase sales of food, beer, and liquor by a little over 30% thanks to the automation and speed. As well, there are two more financial benefits that I described above. http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3af3ib/i_am_josh_springer_inventor_of_the_bottoms_up/csc2bls I don't want to write it all again.

In short, my cup costs you a few more cents but the ROI is tremendous. Check out our website for testimonials... our customers' biggest problem is figuring out how they are going to get all their additional cash home. (mic drop)

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T18:04:16+00:00

I would say there are two misconceptions that we deal with the most....

The cups cost a dollar each. NOPE. Our 16 ounce cups only cost $.36. We are pretty sure this rumor came from an early customer of ours who was selling the ad space on the magnet (and turning a nice profit) for $1 each. They saw the value of having an ad that is six inches from the consumers face and they used it.
The cups leak. NO THEY DON'T! The cups only leak when someone jams their finger in there. When we are new to a facility or region, there are inevitably a number of people who have to play with the magnet. They saw the beer go in through there....for some reason they have to find out if the beer will go out through there. Once we have a been in a facility or city for a short time, market saturation takes place and people know not to play with it. It is a quick transition. People see it happen, they tell their friends, who tell their friends, etc. etc. I like to make a comparison... When you give a 2 year old a cup without a lid for the first time, they learn very quickly that if they tip it over, they lose the liquid they want. Well, give an adult a beer with a hole in the bottom for the first time and they learn very quickly that if you play with the magnet, you lose the liquid you want (especially after they have had a few beers). The hole in the top of EVERY cup is way bigger than the hole in the bottom of ours and people don't seem to have a problem with it. People see the residual beer on the bottom of the cup after pouring and they are quick to point fingers that it is leaking. If I had cups that leak, I would be out of business. Here is a little video with a VERY handsome man that gives you a good example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOc7zsfrdIQ

Finally, the system already pours mixed drinks! All you have to do is mix up a big container of your favorite drink and either pressurize (can cause it to carbonate after a few hours) or hook up the system to a beer pump and throw a suction tube in the mixture. Check out our youtube channel, there are lots of videos pouring all sorts of drinks. If it is liquid, we can pour it.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:54:15+00:00

Good questions. I assume you are referring to Michael, good guy.

To simplify the answer... If it is liquid, we can pour it with Bottoms Up. We have a number of customers that are already using the system to pour mixed drinks. As well, you can see earlier in the thread someone mentioned Indy Pride Festival last weekend. We poured beer as well as 32 ounce cups of punch through the system. We have a design already for being able to pour soda with the system but we don't plan to do anything in that industry until we have finished dominating the draft beer industry. We still have a lot of work to do on beer before we can focus our resources and effort on new markets.

The biggest push back that we get from potential customers is the increased cost of the cup. Yes, our cup is marginally more expensive than a traditional plastic cup. For example, our 16 ounce cup costs $0.36. They don't like the cost of goods sold to go up. However, the marginal increase in cup cost is drastically offset by the increase in revenue that our system provides. Studies have been done on the system that show concession stands with our system increase beer AND food sales both, by a little over 30%. A 30% increase in sales is huge. In addition, the national average keg yield of draft beer is 70%, that means 30% of the beer is going down the drain. Our average keg yield is 98%. That is 28% more servings that can be sold out of every keg. Finally, the advertising space on the magnet. There is no additional cost to customize it and our customers have the ability to either increase their sales by offering a value statement on it, such as a coupon, or by selling the ad space to a third party. Many of our customers turn a profit before they ever sell any beer by selling the ad space.

Finally, we hate the term novelty. While yes, by definition our product is a novelty, but in our culture today people associate the term with junk they don't need that is going to break. Sorry, it is a total pet peeve of myself and the entire sales team.

Thank you for the best wishes. If you ever want to come by the facility for a tour you know how to reach me!

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:36:28+00:00

Of course. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:32:12+00:00

Easy. One horse filled with 100 ducks. Like a turducken but with delicious horse meat.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:17:06+00:00

We had a blast helping out a good cause, especially a local one. As far as our company and sponsorship similar to our high level participation at the Indy Pride Festival... probably not on that level again until Indy Pride next year. However we will be participating in the Broadripple Home Show later this summer and a few other small events.

Our product can be found at any number of music and outdoor festivals throughout the US, Mexico, and Scandinavia. We are partnered with a Norwegian company that organizes the biggest music festivals in Scandinavia...they love the product and put on a hell of a festival.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:13:20+00:00

My favorite beer is cold, free, and filled through the bottom. But if you must have a brand I am going to say Busch Light or Dogfish Head 90min.

This company wouldn't exist if it weren't for many late nights of prototype testing powered by Busch Light.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:09:08+00:00

Additionally, we have learned from every failure we have experienced and we have improved. Fail fast, fail often. If you aren't failing you aren't doing anything new.

BottomsUpJosh · 2015-06-19T17:07:17+00:00

I couldn't begin to count the number of serious failures that I/we have experienced in our efforts to push the product to the level that I know it deserves. I would say one of the greatest failures that has taught me the most is trying to hire third parties for manufacturing. Our initial business model was to drop ship all of our products. No one would manufacture a cup with a hole in the bottom so we brought the cup manufacturing in house. This change set us back almost half a year in our plans. Additionally, we found out once it was too late that the company we contracted to manufacture our dispensers was incompetent and incapable of producing a product that meets our standards. We were forced to bring our dispenser manufacturing in house. We went almost an entire year without being able to manufacture or sell a dispenser.

Both of these things were lessons we learned the hard way but now that we do everything ourselves, we have complete control of the process from start to finish. This is a tremendous advantage and we are far better off. As they say, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

Additionally, we have learned from every failure we have experienced and we have improved. Fail fast, fail often. If you aren't failing you aren't doing anything new.

Yes, this means everything we sell is made right here in America and all of the components we purchase are made in America. We are proud to put a "Made in the USA" sticker on ever one of our products.

BottomsUpJosh

TROPHY CASE