It's official starting my own brewing business!

Great pictures! We need more :rockin:

Well I finished up the outside of the fan vent. I also filled all my vessels by filling one and pumping the fluid over to the next and back. So checked for leaks and tested my pumps at the same time. Had a couple leaks at a couple weldless bulkheads that I fixed. The pumps worked flawlessly even with the heads mounted horizontally. Primed perfectly and emptied the kegs right to the bottom.

Schmidling finally shipped out my grain mill and it should be here on 5/2. So this weekend I will get my electric grain mill all finished up (I will post lots of pics)

I am hoping to brew for the 1st time on this rig this coming weekend but depending on funds it may be the next.

On the fermenter front I stopped at a nearby maple syrup place since I notice they have a bunch of the white food grade 15 gallon containers I want to use for fermenters. I can find them online but shipping is a deal breaker I am hoping the syrup guy will either sell me some of his or has a local source he can fill me in on.

I also picked up another "project" I scored a killer deal on a used Snorkel wood fired hot tub ($200) I got this for the future campground. Being wood fired it can go anywhere (we are looking for solar options for powering the pump and jets) and there is an awesome spot on the edge of a cliff (ledge) with beautiful views that it will eventually end up at. It needs some TLC but the stove and the pump/filter alone are worth 4 times what I paid for everything and if the wood can't be saved (watertight) I can always get a liner for it. It was a 5 hr trip to get the thing and that was an adventure in itself

akthor said:

On the fermenter front I stopped at a nearby maple syrup place since I notice they have a bunch of the white food grade 15 gallon containers I want to use for fermenters. I can find them online but shipping is a deal breaker I am hoping the syrup guy will either sell me some of his or has a local source he can fill me in on.

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I've got a hunch that a beer-for-buckets swap would be a no-brainer if he's not biting on letting them go.

Shmidling Maltmill finally arrived today. The thing is a beast! Must weigh 25lbs! So this weekend I will be assembling my electric grain mill.

This is probably one of the best threads I have ever read.
I wish you huge success!

How much for the mill?

that's awesome. exactly what i want to do after i attend the UC Davis brewing program. Also cannabis is a great way to help your back without ingesting god knows what combination of elements in that form of a pill. keep it natural home boy..

For the barebones one you see shipped to me it was around $100. I gotta find some adapters for the bores on my pulleys, which are 1/2" and the maltmill shaft is 3/8" and the electric motor shaft is 1/4" or maybe 5/16" So I will just need to get those and install everything into the table we made. If all goes well I should have pics of the finished mill by Sun or Mon.

Vagenius said:

How much for the mill?

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You are not the first person to suggest this to me and we do have medical marijuana in Maine. So far after a year plus being on two pain meds and a muscle relaxer and an anti seizure med (works for nerve related backpain) The side effects I get are minimal. Less than what I had gobbling handfuls of Ibuprofren. I have lost 50+ lbs the last few months which has helped my back a lot too. (nothing like keeping busy on this stuff to keep you away from the fridge )

If it becomes an issue I will look into it but I am a non smoker (I have tried brownies and they do nothing for me) so for me I prefer the meds at this point.

beer420 said:

that's awesome. exactly what i want to do after i attend the UC Davis brewing program. Also cannabis is a great way to help your back without ingesting god knows what combination of elements in that form of a pill. keep it natural home boy..

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Just stumbled on this thread, and I love it!

Rooting for you.

Had me with the entrepreneurship, homebrew, bbq, and guns.

We vacation in Rockport, MA every summer (from Los Angeles). It's a hike to Bangor from there, but would love to come check it out.

Look forward to meeting you. And everyone else

Got my mill mostly put together. Just a tip if you plan on using a belt and pulleys to reduce the RPM's of the electric motor (my motor was 1725 RPMs or something like that, I needed to get it down around 300 RPM) the pulleys seemed to have 1/2" bores which was the lowest I could find. But my mills shaft was 3/8" and my motor shaft was 1/4". They sell bore adapters cheap online. I assumed this would be a commonly available item at the hardware or auto parts stores. Uhhh no. No one had them. So I had to buy some steel spacers and drill a hole in them for the lock nut. I made it work but it was an unbelievable PITA. The like $10 or less I would have paid had I ordered them online would have been well worth the saved aggrivation at even twice the cost.

Pics this weekend.

Got my mill completed this weekend. Also did some more cleaning an organizing.

Next up will be building the bathroom and laundry room walls. I am leaning towards using metal roofing to cover the walls. I think it will be easy to clean and be a cool industrial kind of look.

Also we are going to work out the details of building the walk in cooler and hopefully get it framed out.

akthor said:

Got my mill completed this weekend. Also did some more cleaning an organizing.

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Looks great, but I wouldn't consider it completed untill you put a guard around that belt!

Any updates from our hero

I'm really curious how well that grain mill hopper is going to work.

Have to subscribe, I'm currently in the very very begining phases like concept and r&d to open a meadery, maybe in the future i'll be able to trade ya a keg of braggot for a keg of beer

Subscribed. I grew up in southern Maine, but if I ever get up the coast more I would come check it out for sure! Did you divulge the actual location yet? I haven't had a chance to read every post yet as I'm at work.

I can't wait to seethe bathroom, and the walk in cooler, sounds awesome

southpaw all day everyday.

So did you brew on your new rig yet? Keep up the good work.

KitB said:

This is probably one of the best threads I have ever read.
I wish you huge success!

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Here is a link to another one you will love: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/nanobrewery-build-137400/

Hey guys sorry I used to do most of my posting from work but they installed some sort of Net Nanny and HBT is now a blocked domain for me at work

Been working a ton of overtime to replenish the coffers and I had to get ready for the yearly canoe trip for Memorial weekend.

It will be awhile till more actual construction happens ($$$) but I am going to be brewing on the rig this weekend for the first time so I will get some pics up of that.

Also having a huge bash/housewarming party for the 4th of July. It will be during the weekend before the 4th anyone interested in attending PM your email and I will be sure to add you to the email list for when I send out the invites and details. It's a fill my bar (my personal bar) party free food and beer and you bring me a bottle of liquor for the bar Be two days of fun, bon fires, shooting, people can camp out lots of room.

Been walking the property (50 acres) trying to visualize the layout of the campground. Happy to report I have a TON of blackberry bushes and Maple trees so down the road I will be sure to incorporate those ingredients into some recipes.

LiBrewshed said:

Any updates from our hero

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Found this thread while on a weekend getaway w/ the wife, from RI to Portsmouth NH...she was asking me what I want to do on our vacation--I finally told her my ideal vacation would be going away for the weekend to pour some blood, sweat, and tears into a project like this...... She doesn't get it.

Best of luck, from a distant fan.

Were doing an ATV trip with some friends up in bingham in October. I would love to stop up and grab a few growlers. I know you have lots to still do but when do u plan on opening the doors?

Dude! Rock on! You are living the dream!!! Opening a brewpub with a restaurant attached is my dream too, although there is probably at least 5 yrs before I could even begin to begin. Reading stories like this is truly inspiring. I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.

Basically since I am not borrowing money, money is the limiting factor right now. Still shooting for opening in the fall hopefully Sept.

akthor said:

Basically since I am not borrowing money, money is the limiting factor right now.

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You should sell stock/ownership, or at least try to fund raise, some how. Get people to buy into your dream, and then when it pays off buy them out.

That is how I would do it, but you are not me.

I have always liked the "plank owner" or brick model. Buy a ________ and write your name on it/decorate it however you want...then they become part of the design--sides of the bar, etc.

For buying a brick/plank, they become part of the history of your business but you dont owe them anything...

akthor said:

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.

Basically since I am not borrowing money, money is the limiting factor right now. Still shooting for opening in the fall hopefully Sept.

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Have you thought about trying kickstarter.com to raise money? There have been a few breweries/brewpubs that successfully raised money from it. Set realistic goals for what you need and give it a try.

Love reading this thread....

I have actually had a couple friends want to invest but I don't want to do it that way.

Money is the limiting factor but just in that I can't do things as fast as I want to.

In the end I know I will be better off not having to be beholden to anyone but my customers.

wfowlks said:

You should sell stock/ownership, or at least try to fund raise, some how. Get people to buy into your dream, and then when it pays off buy them out.

That is how I would do it, but you are not me.

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I actually really like this idea. I will have to think on it and see what I can come up with.

NewBrewB said:

I have always liked the "plank owner" or brick model. Buy a ________ and write your name on it/decorate it however you want...then they become part of the design--sides of the bar, etc.

For buying a brick/plank, they become part of the history of your business but you dont owe them anything...

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This is pretty cool I am going to check into this and maybe combine it with the plankowner idea.

Thanks a lot fellas!

davidr7283 said:

Have you thought about trying kickstarter.com to raise money? There have been a few breweries/brewpubs that successfully raised money from it. Set realistic goals for what you need and give it a try.

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Quick update:

Been working a ton of OT at work. Actually made a deal with my landlord for her to pay me to paint the exterior and trim out the windows and paint the trim. So not only will the building get improved I will get $500 to put towards the brewery. Which if the laws and regs check out will mean the materials for construction of the walls, bathroom, and walk in, to be built as planned will be purchased. (I have the flexibilty to move out and LIVE somewhere else if I can't have a residence attached to a brewpub, and just have this be the business location)

Painting the building dark brown and trim and doors will be forest green to match the roof.

This weeked the landlord is coming over to FINALLY clean out the remaining stuff stored here and so after this weekend I will have some better pics of the areas without all the crap cluttered in there. Which is good because I am having a bash for the 4th and I hope to make a deal with a friend who produces videos and web pages for businesses and I hope to get him to help me make a video to put on kickstarter.com

That's awesome!

This is awesome. I just spent the last serious amount of time catching up on this topic. Good Luck with this adventure!

Had another thought on the plank owner idea....might be cool to use barrel slats.

akthor said:

I have actually had a couple friends want to invest but I don't want to do it that way.

Money is the limiting factor but just in that I can't do things as fast as I want to.

In the end I know I will be better off not having to be beholden to anyone but my customers.

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I'm with you on that. Debt = slavery. Investors are bosses and I want to do what I want to do.

When I pull the trigger, I'll be doing everything I can to build it on my own.

Good luck, man! I wish you all the success you can handle, and then a little bit more to push you further.

davidr7283 said:

Have you thought about trying kickstarter.com to raise money? There have been a few breweries/brewpubs that successfully raised money from it. Set realistic goals for what you need and give it a try.

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Rogness did that to help build some momentum.

http://www.rognessbrewing.com/

Just a quick update: really not a lot happening right now I had a big party for the 4th (weekend before) had a bunch of friends who had not been to the property before check everything out listen to my ideas and give me their thoughts and opinions. Everyone was really stoked about the brewery and the campground we've actually had a couple who want a seasonal campsite when we open the campground.

I also met with a local entrepreneur, 4 yrs ago he took a huge risk opening a take out food stand type place right next to one that has been a keystone business in the area for like 50yrs. He was actually MY inspiration since he has proved that if you do it right people will come. He gave me a ton of great advice and gave me the contact he used at the Small Business Administration whom he worked with for about a year before he opened. So in the near future here I will be setting up a meeting with that guy and hopefully he can help me navigate thru the rules and regs minefield for the permits and licenses.

Kind of stuck in a heat wave right now so my next big project, painting the exterior of the building and trimming and painting the doors and windows is kind of on hold till it cools off.