1BBL Brewhouse build (garage conversion)

[fego]

In preparation of going part-time pro and getting Invicta Brewery off the ground, I am converting my garage to accommodate a 1 barrel brewery (roughly 210 litre brew length).

First off, the design...

I have a double garage which has already had part converted to a utility room. This has left one half and about one eighth to use for the brewery. I'm planning on using the eighth bit as the hot side and the other half as the cold/clean side. Here is a crude drawing of the plan...



First to clear the existing garage of all its detritus and start prepping the walls/floor...



and remove some shelving...





Then seal the brick work and floor with PVA glue to stop dust...



Then use the space to store the equipment that I drove 600 miles to collect...





Then to clear out the other part of the garage of its crap most of which was my existing brewing gear, fridge, cupboard and bottles. I didnt take a 'before' picture but this is it after I emptied it (the right hand side)...



This is what it made the left hand side look like...



Then to measure out a rough design to make sure the vessels will fit how I imagined them to...





Followed by the tedious task of sealing the walls and painting them...



Time to say goodbye to the old kit (cheers BeerEagle)...



and carry on sealing...



Then it's time to store the wood I ordered which will be used to create a false ceiling, fermenting cupboards and conditioning/storage room...



This was a nightmare game of jigsaw shuffle moving three things to get to one to then have to move another three things to get to another. I decided it was easier to paint the boards before they got put up on the ceiling joists but first had to paint the inside of the garage. I did the hot side first which took three coats of paint and two coats of PVA #wellboring



After three full days of painting, I finally got all of the walls and boards painted.



I had an electrician measure up for the sparks I need which I think is going to work out much more expensive than the plan predicted, something like £500-600 so I've asked a mate to have a look to see if he can do better.

The next job is to get the boards up on the ceiling and fit some lighting. This will probably take me the best part of a week and I predict some injuries.

[ArmChair]

I wish you all the best with your venture

1 very jealous brewer

[Goosey]

It's great to see a project like that in stages. Keep it up!

[WishboneBrewery]

Good going, hope it all works out

[leedsbrew]

Gonna be watching this thread fella! kudos for the jump to semi-pro! well done!

[grotzilla]

Excellent project, cant wait to see how you progress!

[Blackaddler]

Good luck with the build.

Are you in Kent or Cornwall?

[fego]

The brewhouse is being created in Kent where I live most of the time. I've got a house in Cornwall too where I'd prefer to open the brewery but circumstances dictate otherwise unfortunately...

[far9410]

I'll help by taking them bottles of ash beck water, the lawn weed n feed and those plastic kegs filled with whatever

[Belter]

Looks to be coming together nicely. Do you have any bottles I could try? Be interested to taste Kent's finest craft brewery. I think I've only ever tried Sheperd neame from kent I think so your claim is probably true so far

I'd happily buy a bottle if you have any to bring down in two weeks?

Cheers

Belter

[fego]

If I had any, you'd be very welcome to them but I haven't brewed (in Kent) for ages and have deliberately run out to focus on the build. I'll make sure I reserve a few for you when the time comes.

Better still, get yourself a crate with grolsch type (or just empty) bottles, bring them over to Charlestown the weekend after next and I'll bring them back full of Kent beer, hopefully in time for Christmas (depending how the build goes of course )

[Belter]

That's a really nice gesture of you mate. I'll get some bottles together

[46philh]

Did you have to get planning permission for this garage brewery ?

[fego]

As I don't intend to allow ze public in, probably not. But it's something i'll look into after I've got permission to brew from hmrc. I'm in no rush and plan to do a lot of RnD before selling the stuff. Need to get the kit up and running and all predictable first.

[Horatio]

Great project! Looks like it's going to be a good set up. When I spoke to planning about mine they were only concerned about a possible change from domestic residential to commercial premises. They said that it would only need to change if I started to get loads of vehicles turning up to collect or deliver or lots of people in and out etc. All the best and good luck with it all.