Dapson hoping for a drop of money magic

Tony Dapson is launching a unique beer recipe globally through crowd-sourcing site Indiegogo.

Brewer Tony Dapson has launched pre-sales of his patented beer that uses manuka instead of hops, on crowd-sourcing website Indiegogo.

Manuka Magic Ale is unmistakably beer but has a different aftertaste than bitter hops. It follows Captain Cook's 18th century recipe, brewed in New Zealand to ward off scurvy.

"Perks" for contributions vary, with US$10,000 the price for a national brewing licence.

He hopes to make a "big splash" in New Zealand and beyond for Ale Future's voucher orders.

"This will hopefully allow us to go past the campaign target of US$11,000 and then we are on the market. What comes after is a bonus, and determines the future," he said.

"This is not a fundraising campaign, nor is it an equity sale in a business - it's an exclusive pre-sales event.

"It's a crowd source campaign to raise exclusive orders as Ale Futures vouchers, redeemable at the end of this campaign for ale, with other perks for our audience to bring this ale and others into commercial production.

"There is a Indemand feature on the campaign page which allows future orders when the campaign finishes, so in effect it becomes an online brewery shop."

He said hops were threatened by climate change while manuka was not.

"Production of Manuka Ale could be insurance against the gradual loss of beer production."

The campaign runs for 60 days from Tuesday, with beer deliveries due at the end of June.

Mr Dapson said he was inspired by the success of California's Stone Brewing on Indiegogo, which raised US$2.5 million ($3.45 million) from 13,979 backers to brew its beer in Germany.

"We have to get interest in Manuka Magic outside of Hawke's Bay - the numbers aren't here."