Brew Room Suggestions

SarahShevy · 10-02-2011, 02:49 PM

My husband recently began brewing. He's still learning, but he's extremely interested in pursuing it as a career. I think he'd be great at it, and I want to help him get this new career off the ground. For christmas I would like to transform our unused garage into a brew room for him. What kind of suggestions do you have, what can't you live without in your brew room?

**makomachine** · 10-02-2011, 03:33 PM

First things first - you are awesome!

I'm in the midst of planning something similar myself as I'm currently 'all over the house'. Does your husband brew all grain? Is he using gas or electric? Does he keg or bottle? Some basics on his inventory will help in getting you some suggestions. Planning for adequate storage is a key.

phidelt1499 · 10-02-2011, 03:37 PM

Depending on his setup (gas/electric, pumps/gravity fed/ etc...), a nicely laid out brew stand/table would be point 1 for me. Well organized storage would also be good.

Depending on the climate where you live, a temp-controlled fermentation chamber would be almost necessary if he is planning to ferment in the garage.

**IrregularPulse** · 10-02-2011, 03:39 PM

I would suggest he brew a year or two to really figure out what he wants. Then let him design it himself. There are so many options with brewing, every brewer will want somerhing different.

Some general basics though would be hot and colder water access, a natural gas line or a 240v 50A outlet depending on heat source and at least a small temp controlled area for fermenting.

warex · 10-02-2011, 03:40 PM

A commercial brew master makes 30 to 40K a year average. Do you want to live on that?

**Bensiff** · 10-02-2011, 03:49 PM

That is some good wifin on your part, my hats off to you.

If he is serious about becoming a pro-brewer my suggestion would be to take all that money you were thinking about converting the garage and invest it in formal education that will have a good chance of leading directly into a job. There are many reasons I say this, the largest is the amount of knowledge. When you first start brewing, you get a kit and make a beer that turns out alright and you get excited at how easy it was and think you could make a living at it. However, reality is that brewing is a ton of hard work and brewing at commercial levels requires knowing a ton of information because you can't afford to have a bad batch. I've been homebrewing for almost 10 years, have read countless books, read tons of science journals and still I would want to go to a brewing school before going pro. Another route if you can afford the low income is for him to go work at a brewery kegging beer or scrubbing floors with the understanding that he gets taught how to brew along the way.

A final thought is that, if the industry numbers I have seen are accurate, brewers do not make that much money, something like 40k on average.

Brewing is an easy bug to catch, easy to dream of making a living at it, but its a long road with lots of sacrifice if you make it a career. I hope it all works out and again, good on you for supporting your husband, but make sure to take a long hard look at its realities and then decide if its something to jump into for a career or just a great hobby.

**Airborneguy** · 10-02-2011, 03:50 PM

I agree with IrregularPulse. Brew areas are very personal in that each person likes to do things a certain way. He'll work out his system as he goes along.

There are some basic components that everyone will want/need though which he will likely configure in his own style as he goes along:

1. Some way to elevate pots/water/etc.

2. Access to water

3. A cleaning station

4. Easy disposal of waste product/water

5. Storage

I see these as key components of a good brewing area. For example, I clean everything in a stand-up shower that we never use. With a hand-held shower head, it became the perfect cleaning spot with a lot of room for big buckets, pots and kegs that a even a slop sink couldn't provide. Some people have the room to put a commercial sink though, so they might go that route. It's all dependent on personal preference.

LTownLiquorPig · 10-02-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warex

A commercial brew master makes 30 to 40K a year average. Do you want to live on that?

I'm raising a family, own a home and paying back the last of my student debt on less. Welcome to the real world.

warex · 10-03-2011, 12:20 PM

You live in an economically depressed area. But that is besides the point. What I was trying to say is that brewmaster are not payed the best salaries. Go to the pro forums are read the facts. If it is your passion and you want to make a living doing it then god bless. Just realize that your family could live at a lower standard income because of your choice.

bmbigda · 10-03-2011, 12:35 PM

i think your intentions are awesome and i hope you guys make it big brewing. but like others said, he need to just brew for a while to figure out what he needs and what he can live without. as time progresses and he gets better, he'll start upgrading his equipment.

if my (she'll be my wife is 5 days) posted on this forum asking this, i'd hope she got steered in the same direction.

if you really want to do something for him, put a utility sink in the room. that would be useful to ANY type of brewer, and if god forbid he got sick of it, you can still clean paintbrushes!