It’s been a year and a half since Steve Young started a Kickstarter campaign to fund an idea he had for a tabletop draft beer dispenser, called SYNEK. The campaign went on to become the most successful St. Louis-based Kickstarter campaign ever, raising $648,535 from 2,191 backers.

What was Young’s reaction to having the most successful St. Louis Kickstarter? He had this to say in an interview with Ed Domain at Techli shortly after the launch:

“It really isn’t a competition; I am having a beer in 30 minutes with one of those other successful companies who helped us reach this point. I am just happy we beat the potato salad”

Tonight, that product touted in the Kickstarter project becomes an official reality with a product launch party in Soulard outside of 1860s Saloon.  Those in the area who pre-ordered a SYNEK will be able to pick theirs up, live entertainment will be provided by Miss Jubilee and those with tickets will enjoy unlimited beer pours from 14 different St. Louis-area craft breweries. The event runs from 5 pm – 9 pm and tickets for the SYNEK St. Louis Launch Party in Soulard are available for $15 plus fees.

Early last year, the SYNEK team put together a video touting its system and the access that it will give craft brewers to consumers.

 

The St. Louis event is the first stop in what the SYNEK team is calling The Great North American Expedition. The team chose around 30 of its biggest markets in the United States and Canada for tour stops. Overall, those stops will put them within an hours drive of 85% of those who pre-ordered systems, according to an update on their Kickstarter page.

What is the SYNEK? Think a Keurig for beer. Instead of inputting those little cups of coffee, you insert a pouch full of beer. The pouch isn’t your standard ziplock bag though, the SYNEK bags have three layers that work together to protect the beer. The system itself keeps the beer cool and the temperature can be fully adjusted by the user. A flow control tap and a refillable CO2 container work to give you the “perfect pour, every time“.

How do you get the beer in the pouch? Each pouch has a special connector that can be hooked up right to a tap of your favorite beer. The company touts the fact that any place that can fill a growler can fill one of their pouches. The company website also claims that owners of the SYNEK system will have access to 17,000+ brands from 1,200+breweries. Beer stored in the SYNEK pouches is said to stay fresh for more than 30 days after it’s poured from the original tap.

Here’s a video from Steve Young and SYNEK explaining the process.

 

Tickets for the St. Louis SYNEK Launch Party in Soulard tonight are $15 (plus fees). The event runs from 5 pm – 9 pm in front of 1860s Saloon. Aside from enjoying all-you-can-drink beer from 14 St. Louis breweries, attendees will also receive a commemorative cup, SYNEK swag and a “very bright wristband you can keep for a day”.

Brought to you by Mills Apartments.