It's official starting my own brewing business!

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I was actually looking at commercial properties trying to find one that I could sleep in the back room sorta deal to get started then the oppurtunity came up for this place and I have to admit I am pretty happy I don't have to give up my queen size bed and my 8' x 4' HD home theater and surround sound :p

SuperNintendoChalmers said:
This is fantastic. I might use it as an excuse to vacation in Maine this summer. I'd love to set up a small system and sell only on-site without the hassles of distributing - sounds idyllic. There's even a vacant little corner storefront two blocks from my house I've been eyeing as a future brewery. Still, I'm having enough trouble with my 5 gallon brews and don't see upgrading to 3bbl or whatever anytime soon. Maybe if I could get kal's electric setup going...
Click to expand...
 
Ok here are the pictures. The last tenant still has a lot of their crap there so excuse the clutter. I will be working the next few weekends painting the living areas and the kitchen cabinets. And moving all the crap left behind down into what will be the tap room in the future but for now will be the best place to get stuff out of the way. Only the washer dryer and the chest freezer (future keezer) are mine. Then I will be moving all my own crap in the last week of March.

Probably take me all of April to get unpacked and set up. All the while finishing up my brewing setup, and reconditioning all the kegs I bought.

Then the hard work begins. Construction wise my plans are to replace the laundry sink with a double sink and commercial pre-rinse sprayer 1st. Then work on the walk in cooler and the fermentation room. Next would moving the washer/dryer hookups and building a wall separating the laundry/utilty room from the brewing room. Then a drop ceiling and tiling the floor of the brewing room. There are many other small projects that will need to be done as well but those are the biggies.

So first pics are of the outside. You can see the covered area where the smoker will go. I also attached a pic of the smoker (it's at my other house right now). The stairs go up to the apt and there is a nice covered porch area. There is also a shot of down the driveway to give you an idea of how far away from the main road I am.

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Thinking of maybe screening off under the porch to make an outside screened in eating/drinking area. We do have blackflies and skeeters in Maine.

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You can also see the cement pad the sawmill used to occupy so I could build something there as well. And you can see the fire pit area. This place is near a quarry where there is lots of free cobble stones if you know the right people to ask (I do) so I plan on building a really nice firepit.
 
These are pics of the apt above the brewery/tap room that I plan on living in.

The large room will have my current bar and the freezer in one of the following pics will become a keezer under it. Allowing me to put my current fullsize kegerator (refidgerator) downstairs to serve as a lagering fridge til the walk in is built. I am also keeping my eyes out for a pool table.

The green room will be my HT room. The blue one is the bedroom and the other doorway is the bathroom. Painting all these rooms right and the kitchen cabinets. We moved the fridge and put the current island where the fridge was, moved some cabinets to put the fridge by the stove to make room for my bar.

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This is the downstairs where the brewery, taproom, walk in fridge and fermentation room will go.

1st one is what you see when you enter:

brew11.jpg
 
To the left of the entrance is where the current laundry sink and washer dryer hookups are. That big pipe is the main drain pipe so building a bathroom with a sink and a toilet for customers will be easy. So it will go bathroom, double sink and brew system along this wall.

brew1.jpg
 
To the right when you enter is a big closet coat hanging place then there is the room that will become the tap room.

The 2nd pic is the wall that on the other side of the walk in cooler will be so the taps will go here with a small corner bar. Seating and a few tv's on the walls are part of the plan.

The 3rd pic shows the entrance to the large walk in closet that is in this room. This is where I plan on building the fermentation room. The shelving will come out and go into the brewing room for storage needs. I will build racks so that I can put at least 6 15 gallon plastic conicals in there plus lots of room for buckets as well. The 4th pic is the wall of the closet that on the other side of will be the walk in cooler. Plan is to have some sort of vent system that would open and close during the warm months to keep the room at fermenting temps. A small heater hooked to a thermostat would keep temps in colder months. The 5th pic is the other end of the closet.

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Not a very good picture but this is the area inside the utility room where I plan on building the walk in cooler.

Excuse the bad pics I took all these quickly after 3 hrs of sleep. And again excuse the clutter. The folks that moved out only moved a short distance away so they were in no hurry to grab everything. Since she is now my landlord as well as a good friend I am not being too pushy about them getting everything out of there right away since I won't be able to start on the downstairs for a couple of months.

brew2.jpg
 
So this is zoned residential? You should look into what it is going to rezone it so that you can live upstairs and have a bar downstairs. You're going to be surprised how much pushback you get on some of this stuff.
 
Not in the town this is in. I'm on 35 acres the nearest house to me is a fair piece away.

If by residential you mean a house every 1/4 mile then yes it's residential. Lots of businesses in homes all around me though. There is an art gallery across the street, a heavy equipment repair shop/junk yard on the property next to this one and a construction company a couple places down. There has been many bar/restaurants as well out on rte one which is 1 mile from me.

This a super small town pretty much anything besides a porno shop or strip club that might increase traffic and revenue has their blessing. Getting the proper permits and licensing is the least of my worries. And this is not a Bar per se' I would be a small brewery but also as has been pointed out before there are lots of bars in building with apartments above them. Just a drive down thru downtown Bangor and you will see a bunch. The owners of a Chinese place in town that has a lounge in it also live in an apt above the restaurant. So I really don't believe there will be an issue with that. I have scimmed thru Maine's Liquor Laws and saw nothing to the contrary. As I pointed out earlier, see that white shed? Worse came to worse I could make that my living area if some law said I couldn't live above the brewery.
 
After seeing the pics, I'm even more thrilled. I feel like you've got awesome potential for what you're after, and if we ever travel up your way will definitely stop in! Kyle
 
What jd3 was referring to was the zoning laws. Not sure about where you live but in most areas properties are zoned for specific things. If its residential you are only allowed to have a house on the property, this is something you should should check into as it can be time consuming to get changed. Something else you should check into is a license to sell beer, here in Ohio there is only a certain number allowed per county. Not sure if you need one or not as each state is different. Not wanting to rain on your parade, as I am cheering for you to pull this off, I would love to do this myself.
 
Congrats to you, I hope you do well... I also don't want to rain on your parade, but I do think you need to take the time to complete a business plan, not to get financing, but to make you think about all the things you haven't thought of... zoning and licensing are two that come to mind... I also think that you are going to get burned out really quick if you try to do everything yourself...

Can't wait to follow your progress!
 
I know what zoning laws are. I also know for a fact I can get where I am at zoned for whatever I need to. Except things like porn shops, strip clubs, a dump things like that. I have talked to people, there are businesses all around me. The art gallery accross the street is excited about the fact there could be increased traffic and more exposure for his place. Maine is perhaps different than other states. Especially up above southern Maine. People havong businesses in what you may think of as residential areas on their properties or in their houses is very common. Garages, body shops, marine repair, kennels, galleries, antique shops, hair dressers are super common up here. I know for a fact that the Oak Pond Brewery down near Skowhegan is in a residential area with a house on the property. They have neighbors living within a hundred yards or less of their brewery building.

Plus I actually grew up in this town 25yrs ago. It's a bit surreal actually growing up I couldn't wait to get outta this town now 25 yrs later I am moving back.

I am renting. I know the landlord really well which is why I can modify the place so much and I can stay for as long as I want. She is excited by the business as well since she is a beer lover and a homebrewer as well.

This is the last time I will address zoning or licensing issues. I have an MBA. I have a business plan. In my former career I managed one business and started another from scratch with grants I had to apply for which entailed doing an actual real business plan that was used to secure the funding. It was a Cafe' so I have some knowledge of what is involved with laws and licensing.

I thought would be fun to post about what I was doing and to share the progress as I went along. Since I am doing it differently than the way most folks go about it. I thought people would want to know about it and maybe be inspired to do it themselves.

I didn't do it to have to come in here to continually defend myself and my decisions. I appriciate constructive feedback and people's opinions but please enough of "can you do that there?" Yes I can I wouldn't be here otherwise.
 
akthor said:
Not in the town this is in. I'm on 35 acres the nearest house to me is a fair piece away.

If by residential you mean a house every 1/4 mile then yes it's residential. Lots of businesses in homes all around me though. There is an art gallery across the street, a heavy equipment repair shop/junk yard on the property next to this one and a construction company a couple places down. There has been many bar/restaurants as well out on rte one which is 1 mile from me.

This a super small town pretty much anything besides a porno shop or strip club that might increase traffic and revenue has their blessing. Getting the proper permits and licensing is the least of my worries. And this is not a Bar per se' I would be a small brewery but also as has been pointed out before there are lots of bars in building with apartments above them. Just a drive down thru downtown Bangor and you will see a bunch. The owners of a Chinese place in town that has a lounge in it also live in an apt above the restaurant. So I really don't believe there will be an issue with that. I have scimmed thru Maine's Liquor Laws and saw nothing to the contrary. As I pointed out earlier, see that white shed? Worse came to worse I could make that my living area if some law said I couldn't live above the brewery.
Click to expand...

By residential I mean house and bar in same building. It is zoned residential now, I'm sure. It will need the same commercial zoning as any other bar. If you serve beer, you're a "bar".

I wouldn't just assume this is going to be easy. Licensing will take a lot more money and time than you've given credit. You need to hire a lawyer before you dump more money into the "brewery" part. It'll help you protect yourself later.
 
akthor said:
I know what zoning laws are. I also know for a fact I can get where I am at zoned for whatever I need to. Except things like porn shops, strip clubs, a dump things like that. I have talked to people, there are businesses all around me. The art gallery accross the street is excited about the fact there could be increased traffic and more exposure for his place. Maine is perhaps different than other states. Especially up above southern Maine. People havong businesses in what you may think of as residential areas on their properties or in their houses is very common. Garages, body shops, marine repair, kennels, galleries, antique shops, hair dressers are super common up here. I know for a fact that the Oak Pond Brewery down near Skowhegan is in a residential area with a house on the property. They have neighbors living within a hundred yards or less of their brewery building.

Plus I actually grew up in this town 25yrs ago. It's a bit surreal actually growing up I couldn't wait to get outta this town now 25 yrs later I am moving back.

I am renting. I know the landlord really well which is why I can modify the place so much and I can stay for as long as I want. She is excited by the business as well since she is a beer lover and a homebrewer as well.

This is the last time I will address zoning or licensing issues. I have an MBA. I have a business plan. In my former career I managed one business and started another from scratch with grants I had to apply for which entailed doing an actual real business plan that was used to secure the funding. It was a Cafe' so I have some knowledge of what is involved with laws and licensing.

I thought would be fun to post about what I was doing and to share the progress as I went along. Since I am doing it differently than the way most folks go about it. I thought people would want to know about it and maybe be inspired to do it themselves.

I didn't do it to have to come in here to continually defend myself and my decisions. I appriciate constructive feedback and people's opinions but please enough of "can you do that there?" Yes I can I wouldn't be here otherwise.
Click to expand...

I think our entire point is that we want to see you succeed. I've seen a lot of businesses fail because they thought they had it all covered.

HIre a lawyer and work out the logistics before you sink yourself.

The fines and penalties for doing it the wrong way will bankrupt you.

A cafe isn't a brewery.
 
Nice to be in good with the landlord. There generally a stipulation along the way that they have to agree to the brewery being there.

Since you have an in with the landlord maybe they could fund some of the remodeling supplies since it will only be helping their property value. That could save you a couple bucks to put toward something else.
 
wait, are you buying or renting? If you are renting YOU can't even legally rezone the building. The owner would have to do that.

This requires petitioning the township/county, submitting more info than you can imagine. We rezoned a residential lot for our warehouse and it was a nightmare. In a town of 2000 people.
 
I guess you haven't been reading the whole thread. The way I am doing this there is absolutely no way I can sink myself. I am renting, I am not taking out loans or investor money.

I have talked to a lawyer, other businesses. I will incorporate which in itself protects me from liability personally. I didn't just decide to do this I have been working on it for over a year.

jd3 said:
I think our entire point is that we want to see you succeed. I've seen a lot of businesses fail because they thought they had it all covered.

HIre a lawyer and work out the logistics before you sink yourself.

The fines and penalties for doing it the wrong way will bankrupt you.

A cafe isn't a brewery.
Click to expand...
 
akthor said:
I guess you haven't been reading the whole thread. The way I am doing this there is absolutely no way I can sink myself. I am renting, I am not taking out loans or investor money.

I have talked to a lawyer, other businesses. I will incorporate which in itself protects me from liability personally. I didn't just decide to do this I have been working on it for over a year.
Click to expand...

I've read top to bottom.

HOw you CAN sink yourself is that if you do it illegally YOU will be liable legally and financially. Incorporated or not.

You won't even be able to be incorporated(LLC, is what I assume you mean) if you can't submit that you are going to be legal....

I'm going to not waste anymore time here, as I know how these threads die out and it mysteriously ends because in reality, you have no comprehension of how hard starting a brewery is going to be.

It costs a lot of money and time to properly zone, license, and comply with state and federal laws to open a brewery. No one was attacking you, but your defensiveness gives some idea of how unprepared you actually are.

Good Luck.
 
Yes she is doing that such as buying paint for the exterior, interior. She will help fund a bathroom downstairs.


brewingmeister said:
Nice to be in good with the landlord. There generally a stipulation along the way that they have to agree to the brewery being there.

Since you have an in with the landlord maybe they could fund some of the remodeling supplies since it will only be helping their pvalue. That could save you a couple bucks to put toward something else.
Click to expand...
 
If legally she has to apply for the rezoning then she will.

Do you live in Maine? Do you live in the county, town, that I am in? The laws are different everywhere.

Seriously man enough, go crap in someone else's thread. I am sorry you are so bothered by my doing this but go troll somewhere else I am done explaining myself to you.


brewingmeister said:
Nice to be in good with the landlord. There generally a stipulation along the way that they have to agree to the brewery being there.

jd3 said:
I've read top to bottom.

HOw you CAN sink yourself is that if you do it illegally YOU will be liable legally and financially. Incorporated or not.

You won't even be able to be incorporated(LLC, is what I assume you mean) if you can't submit that you are going to be legal....

I'm going to not waste anymore time here, as I know how these threads die out and it mysteriously ends because in reality, you have no comprehension of how hard starting a brewery is going to be.

It costs a lot of money and time to properly zone, license, and comply with state and federal laws to open a brewery. No one was attacking you, but your defensiveness gives some idea of how unprepared you actually are.

Good Luck.
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Click to expand...
 
Best of luck to you akthor. I wish you best of luck and am now subscribed to this forum. Keep your head up and don't let the naysayers get you down. I can't wait to come visit sometime.
 
akthor said:
If legally she has to apply for the rezoning then she will.

Do you live in Maine? Do you live in the county, town, that I am in? The laws are different everywhere.

Seriously man enough, go crap in someone else's thread. I am sorry you are so bothered by my doing this but go troll somewhere else I am done explaining myself to you.
Click to expand...

everyone wants you to succeed. i mean how else will we get to try the beer and bbq :) good luck bro!!
 
akthor said:
If legally she has to apply for the rezoning then she will.

Do you live in Maine? Do you live in the county, town, that I am in? The laws are different everywhere.

Seriously man enough, go crap in someone else's thread. I am sorry you are so bothered by my doing this but go troll somewhere else I am done explaining myself to you.
Click to expand...

+1 dude goodluck with what ya do. F the haters.
Hoping to read great things in the coming seasons.
Inspiration to all other homebrewers looking to share what they love with others.
 
Just to put this to bed so that people can focus on the build which is where I am going to need help.

I am not a 21yr old kid. I am 43 I was a business manager for 20 yrs. I have started a business from the ground up before (not with my money tho) In my close circle of friends I have 2 cpas, a human resources director, a disaster preparedness director, an economic developer for a city, a marketing director for a city, 2 high school teachers, an elemntary school teacher, a pre-school teacher, 2 IT directors. These are my close friensds that I see and speak to (and drink beer with) all the time. 4 have MBA's, 2 own or and have owned small businesses of their own, 3 are landlords with multiple rentals, one is starting his own hot sauce business.

I have access not to just their knowledge and experience but the knowledge and experience of EVERYONE they know. Plus all their contacts with state and local government and their agencies. The points that have been brought up about zoning and legality have been brought up before. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't know for sure I could put this small brewpub/BBQ place here. It's also not why I started this thread.

It is not hubris when I say I can make it work legally.

Look at it this way:

No matter what you will see a brewing system and room built. A walk in cooler. A fermentation room, a tap room all being built. A grain mill, some sort of grain storage system. That was why I put this thread in DIY, not to have socio-economic discusions about what I can legally do and not do.
 
And if you were honestly trying help and were concerned for my welfare I do appreciate that but lets move on.

So I have 9 ball lock kegs I just got 15 pin lock ones amd when I get some more cash I will be going down to get 15 more. I have no experience with pin locks??? They all need to be cleaned and refurbished ( they belonged to Carrabasset Brewing which went under) So do they use the same parts, O-rings specifically as ball locks?
 
Where did you get the Carrabassett kegs and how much did you pay? I would like a few more kegs that do not cost an arm and leg.
 
So I'm curious why you're going with Corny's instead of 1/2 barrel sankeys? It just seems like a good bit more effort to me.

Regardless, best of luck man! You're living the dream! Just like everyone else, I hope to one day be able to do something similar.


**And to my knowledge, lids are interchangeable between pinlock and ball lock kegs. Same o-ring as well. Only difference is the air bleeder on the ball-lock lids.
 
I'm new to the forum and pretty new to this game, but I'm pretty excited to see how this turns out. I'm up in Maine around Bethel for a few weeks each year, I'd love to check your place out when everything is up and running.
 
PM I'm hoping to go back for another haul so I am not super anxious to reveal my source but PM me I don't mind helping out a fellow brewer as long as you keep ot secret and leave some for me ;) I paid $15 a piece for them.

sakeyfour said:
Where did you get the Carrabassett kegs and how much did you pay? I would like a few more kegs that do not cost an arm and leg.
Click to expand...
 
I will use a couple sankey's here and there for the more popular brews but the main reaspns are cost, sankeys are harder to get and more expensive.

The biggest reason though is my back, I have a bad one and moving 5 gallons around is a lot easier for me.

Durhamite said:
So I'm curious why you're going with Corny's instead of 1/2 barrel sankeys? It just seems like a good bit more effort to me.

Regardless, best of luck man! You're living the dream! Just like everyone else, I hope to one day be able to do something similar.


**And to my knowledge, lids are interchangeable between pinlock and ball lock kegs. Same o-ring as well. Only difference is the air bleeder on the ball-lock lids.
Click to expand...
 
RelentlessJ said:
Haters.

I LOVE THIS WHOLE THING IT IS EXACTLY HOW AMERICA SHOULD BE.

Too much scared of the boogy man not enough I'm gonna burn the house down.
Click to expand...

Not your house just house. You know...?
 
I'll be sure to visit you buddy, as soon as you reveal the location. I've been rambling through my mind on all ge possible locations with the hints you have supplied (busy road, residential area, mid-coast, art gallery across the street, construction company down the road, yadda yadda yadda). I have a guess as to where, but I'm probably wrong.
 
As someone who has spent a lot of time in Maine, good luck! The economy no doubt needs it! As someone who works with planning and zoning/code laws frequently it is unlikely zoning will be an issue. If you are within the city limits it is likely a form to fill out. If you are in the ETJ or further its a non issue.

For instance in my neighborhood we have houses next to businesses next to offices without any zoning whatsoever.

Good luck!
 
beninan said:
I'll be sure to visit you buddy, as soon as you reveal the location. I've been rambling through my mind on all ge possible locations with the hints you have supplied (busy road, residential area, mid-coast, art gallery across the street, construction company down the road, yadda yadda yadda). I have a guess as to where, but I'm probably wrong.
Click to expand...

he's def north of Freeport. he's got me stumped :)
 

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