33 pages...i want an award (or another beer) for reading that across the past 47 minutes (yeah thats right, I timed it...)
First off, I wish you GREAT luck in what you are doing. I've be a part of two small business ventures (neither were beer related) that couldn't have been more fun, or a better learning experience. Also what you are doing is something I would love to do one day, just not in this lovely state of Massachusetts!
The one thing I will say, is simply take ALL of the advice and keep it in mind. One of two things will happen with what people say. 1- It will be correct, and you will think more about something you were going to do, and possibly save yourself time and/or money...or 2- it will be wrong, you may twice think a decision, and either confirm what you were going to do in the first place, or find an even BETTER way of doing it!
We're actually heading up to Acadia in 3 weeks to do a bunch of mountain biking. We'll be at a certain Oktoberfest up there on Saturday the 6th. Might stop at your place and trade some brews with you if you're around!
Cheers
Jordan
I just read the whole thread and good luck. But I would have to agree with the "haters" that have replied, not to shoot you down, just to agree with them that it seems like there are a lot of issues with federal, state and local requirements you haven't researched yet. Not trying to be negative.
I think you should really get your all grain system perfected. If you did your first run on your setup with actual grain and not a test run with only water, makes me concerned- not for you but the grain..........
I've been in the restaurant business for over 20 years and brewing that long as well and If you make and sell food, and maybe beer, you might need a food safety certification. Even farmers need this certification just to sell eggs or an employee would need it working there. Not every one just one person in house when operational.
And everything in you brewery must meet with board of health and NSF codes. Lighting, walk-in, shelving and shelving height and distance from the wall have requirements, even the paddle you use for your mash must be NSF. The scale, all containers, everything! And those pickle buckets won't fly, they are use once then toss, you cannot reuse them, that is a federal code, and don't store anything in them, the vinegar is totally impregnated in the plastic. we just did a total renovation of the kitchen and walk-ins in my restaurant and the red tape between the fire code, board of health and zoning was ridiculous. Your 2 tub sink for example will not work, you need a three tub. One for scrubbing, rinse and for sanitizing. And all the testing equipment for it. Even a clock so you can time how long the item is in the sanitizer. Home brew stuff won't work by the way. Here in s.e. pa the board of health is tough but maybe in Maine it is easier?
I want to brew only for direct sale or distribution but it is too much b.s. with creating a legal business. I actually have on my property a slaughter house which i use for brewing with 2 walk- in coolers and one freezer. I have floor drains in every room, which makes this a great brewery! It has been re-zoned residential and the township will never allow it to be returned to commercial. Even if I produce for distribution only and have no customers driving to my door. And a employee at the lhbs near me started a nano brewery that distributes to 25 places and I asked what was involved and he shook his head and said don't bother, here in s.e. pa it took him 2 years with federal state and local to have everything in compliance.
Again, I'm really not trying to sound negative, or trying to imply you have no clue. I'm just throwing out some other points that others might oversee as well.
Good luck and I hope your zoning, codes and another red tape won't stop you from meeting your goal.
I see what you did there. :cheers:hopsalot said:Hop to it
akthor said:I am not going to repeat everything I have already said. Haters are gonna hate. This has all already been beaten like a dead horse. I'm doing it end of story. If I fail at worst I end up with a cool beer club but at least I won't have borrowed all sorts of money and be up to my eyeballs in debt. If I make it happen a bunch of people eat crow which somehow makes it sweeter
I know all the things you talk about will be a huge undertaking. Not quite as bad as how you had it since I know my towns and probably state regs aren't as bad as MA.
Honestly I have chosen to address those things after I have built a majority of things I need done. Doing this basically alone with my own money as I go (trust me I don't make a whole lot of money either thats why this will take a while) its really the only way I can move forward and not feel overwhelmed. Trying to look up laws and codes is frustrating they don't make it easy for people that's for sure.
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