Two Fingers Brewing Co. was founded by seven friends who met whilst working at an advertising agency in London.[2]
In 2012, several of their colleagues were affected by prostate cancer. Soon after they learnt that prostate cancer kills roughly as many men as breast cancer does women,[3] however, awareness and funding for prostate cancer is significantly lower.[4][5]
Around this time, the company where they worked was moving to a new building with its own bar, so they came up with the idea to produce their own craft beer to sell within it and realised the opportunity to give back to the men that drank it by donating all profits to prostate cancer charities.[6]
In 2013, the brand was launched nationally. The founders built a supply chain of partners who agreed to work at, near or below cost in support of the cause, as well as forming an official partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.[2]
Two Fingers Brewing Co.'s first beer, Aurelio, went on sale to the public in January 2014. Notable retailers have included Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons, Jamie's Italian, and Club Gascon.[6]
Products
Two Fingers Brewing Co. currently sells one beer called Aurelio, but has stated ambitions to expand its range, giving each beer a man's name that describes the characteristics of the drink. Aurelio is a Latin man's name meaning "golden," because of that beer being a golden ale.[7]
Aurelio is a 4.8% alcohol by volumegolden ale, brewed with pale ale malt, crystal malt, goldings and admiral hops. Aurelio is brewed and bottled at cost for Two Fingers Brewing Co. by Hepworth & Co, the Sussex-based craft brewer.[2]
Design and branding
Two Fingers Brewing Co.’s logo features a hand pointing with two fingers, which is designed to represent an oath to better beer, in reference to the brand's commitment to great beer for a great cause, as well as a two-fingered salute to prostate cancer.[8] The hand points into a black hole, in an irreverent reference to the digital rectal examination for prostate cancer, although this is performed with one finger instead of two.[7]
Awards and honours
- Best Craft Beer Innovation, International Beer Awards, 2014[9]
- Contribution to the Community Award, Nectar Business Small Business Awards, 2014[11]
- Named one of the UK's 100 most resourceful, inspiring and disruptive small businesses in the Smarta 100 Awards, 2014[12]
- Winner of a Business in the Community arc contest to win a London Underground advertising poster campaign, with an audience reach of over 2 million people and over 19 million opportunities to see[13]
