Another Basement Brewery Build - Sorin Brewing

[Metzen]

It's been almost 2 years since I put together my small footprint eBIAB setup for use in my city condo (see link below for build), but we've now had our second kid, bought a new house, and moved. After tackling life and a bunch of projects around the house, its time to get back into the groove.

EBIAB build thread - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/index.php?posts/8131780

The garden level unit in the new place is now my office/man cave and I've been given permission by the Mrs to eliminate the second laundry and turn it into the brewery.

I am keeping the eBIAB kit (enjoying it too much to go back to my 3 vessel) and organizing the brew space around it. I have several ideas for DIY projects so I felt it worth documenting them here.

- Relocating dryer vent
- DIY ventilation inspired by the Electric Brewery
- Butcher block counter and sink
- New control panel
- Brew day cart
- pulley mount in the condensate hood for bag/basket drainage

I started this week with the duct relocation and some aesthetic updates. More details to come on each project... I'll post as I find time.

In the meantime, please feel free to share thoughts or ask questions. I'm eager to get back into the swing.

M

 

[Metzen]

Teaser photos of the original laundry area, vent relocation, butcher block counter and sink, and fresh paint...

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Nice space!

 

[Metzen]

Brief update... I was able to get some more work in this weekend. The sink plumbing is complete and the duct vent hood with a Vortex 6in fan is constructed and installed. Things are coming together.

More details to come...

 

[6Tap]

Very nice work! [emoji482]

 

[bonecitybrewco]

Great idea to repurpose the old dryer vent. I am planning to do the same.

What did you use for your hood? I know one person on here used a planter box.

Also, where did you source the sink and bench?

Thanks!

 

[Metzen]

Great idea to repurpose the old dryer vent. I am planning to do the same.

What did you use for your hood? I know one person on here used a planter box.

Also, where did you source the sink and bench?

Thanks!

I used 16x8x48 inch rectangular duct purchased at my local Orange/Blue. I added end caps and sheared off the bottom to make the hood. Then cut a 6" hole in the end cap for the fan.

I mounted it with an outdoor lighting cable kit with wire and tension hooks.

The butcher block I got from my local Orange/Blue, cut the hole for the sink with a router and added 30" black iron legs purchased on Amazon.

The sink and faucet is the Kraus 33x22" all-in-one from Home Depot.

I'll try to pull links later.

Cheers
M

 

[Metzen]

Starting to get things organized... Also the pulley bracket is installed. Next up is to wire the fan controller, mount the tv/controller monitor, and build a mobile "brew day cart" that will be stored under the counter where the kegs are now.

 

[cctopcat]

Very nice! Looking forward to hearing about your maiden voyage.

 

[Metzen]

Very nice! Looking forward to hearing about your maiden voyage.

Thanks. As am I - we’re getting close now.

 

[j1laskey]

Simple and awesome. Looks great!

 

[matt_m]

That really gives me an idea. Menards sells a 24x24x36 HVAC Plenum for about $65. Trim that down in height and add a gutter made from plastic channel like this and its exactly what I've been considering in stainless for about 1/10th the price.

 

[mongoose33]

Love the sink. I'd rather have the sideboard on the left (I'm right-handed), but you don't see very many brewers designing a space that use a shallow bowl in the sink. Mine is similar, and after using both the deep-bowl sink (like a laundry tub) and a shallow one, no way I'd go back to a deep bowl sink. Nice setup!

I see with the kettle and hood why you did it that way.

 

[brewbama]

Awesome setup. Very clean.

One recommendation: a GFI ‘Shock Buster’ on that power strip plug.

 

[Metzen]

Love the sink. I'd rather have the sideboard on the left (I'm right-handed), but you don't see very many brewers designing a space that use a shallow bowl in the sink. Mine is similar, and after using both the deep-bowl sink (like a laundry tub) and a shallow one, no way I'd go back to a deep bowl sink. Nice setup!

I see with the kettle and hood why you did it that way.

I probably would have preferred the sideboard on the left but the location of the dryer vent forced the fan on that side and the hood on the other.

I thought about a deeper commercial sink but the lower depth means less bending over and lifting of equipment/pots up and down. The guiding principle in designing all of this is easy/low effort brew day. Plus the sink was relatively cheap.

 

[Metzen]

Awesome setup. Very clean.

One recommendation: a GFI ‘Shock Buster’ on that power strip plug.

Thanks. The wall outlet that the strip is plugged into is a GFCI outlet. Would the shock buster still add value or would it be redundant?

 

[schard84]

What are you using as your grain basket boom arm? (Is the the right term?) Did you build it from parts or is that an existing product?

 

[Metzen]

What are you using as your grain basket boom arm? (Is the the right term?) Did you build it from parts or is that an existing product?

It is a folding shelf bracket. I used the below. It seems to be sturdy enough but time will tell if it holds up.

YUMORE Folding Shelf Brackets 12", Max Load: 330lb Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Collapsible Shelf Bracket for Table Work Bench, Space Saving DIY Bracket, Pack of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3RBFXC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XOohDbNT4XD4J

 

[brewbama]

Thanks. The wall outlet that the strip is plugged into is a GFCI outlet. Would the shock buster still add value or would it be redundant?

No as long as it’s gfi and tests good you’re good to go.

 

[Metzen]

Disposal and exhaust fan controller are wired and storage cabinets are in place. Now we just have the 240V outlet (certified electrician to install), mounted monitor and controller left to finish the major components of the kit. Brew day is near.

M

 

[Metzen]

Few more updates over the last couple weeks...

I've always been mildly annoyed switching tubes around between my faucet, water filter, kettle, plate chiller and fermenter when wanting to run hot, cold, or filtered water. So I decided to add two more pull-out faucets with quick disconnects to my sink so I can source any type of water at any time throughout the brew day.

Regular sink faucet (general cleaning or hot water needs)

Filtered water faucet with custom pot filler attachment purchased from brewhardware.com - thanks @Bobby_M (brewing water)

Unfiltered cold water faucet tapped straight off the cold line (for plate chiller, steam condenser, etc)

Also mounted the TV to be used as a monitor for my RPi controller.

CIPing the unitank today after an idle year in prep for the first brew day...

 

[murphyslaw]

Love this.

I brew on a grainfather and this gives me some new ideas for renovating my brew space. I love how you made this with such a small footprint.

 

[BeerBaron1985]

Very Nice Work! I'm just starting to build my space! You are giving me some good ideas!

 

[Metzen]

Nothing like a blank canvas!

My philosophy on any home design/remodel job is to jot down all of my needs/wants in priority and try to knock them out in threes. Start with the 3 most important things and figure out how to best make them work together. Then move on to the next three given the space that is left. I find this tends to help me make decisions and get the space designed and done efficiently and quickly - otherwise I'd paralyze myself overthinking it. I think it really helped me on this job.

Very Nice Work! I'm just starting to build my space! You are giving me some good ideas!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Metzen did you put the Vortex fan over the sink due to knowing the Vortex will leak? If not, expect it to do so on brew day.

BTW, very nice and clean setup.

 

[Metzen]

Yes. I took out the middle screw in the bottom of the vortex to drain any condensation. The hole is directly over the sink so I dont have to run drain pipe/tube.

Metzen did you put the Vortex fan over the sink due to knowing the Vortex will leak? If not, expect it to do so on brew day.

BTW, very nice and clean setup.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Yes. I took out the middle screw in the bottom of the vortex to drain any condensation. The hole is directly over the sink so I dont have to run drain pipe/tube.

Sweet!

I didn't realize the fan leaks condensation. However, quickly discovered. Mitigated by using a new funnel attached to the hole I drilled at the bottom of the fan. Old hose, but never used for anything, is attached to the bottom of the funnel. Direct condensation water to the drain in the brewery floor. Problem solved.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Very nice and clean setup. What have you brewed?

 

[Blazinlow86]

Great setup. Cheers

 

[Metzen]

And the inaugural brew is on...

 

[Metzen]

Mash out...

 

[BeerBaron1985]

Where did you get your table? And how large?

 

[mongoose33]

I know from earlier in the thread you had the sink on the left due to plumbing issues, but this is a nearly perfect sink setup IMO. I'd have the sideboard on the left (I'm right-handed) and I'd probably have the kettle elsewhere, but this is the kind of sink arrangement that makes the most sense to me.

It has a sideboard for setting aside cleaned items, etc., for them to drain on a towel or drain board, and the sink is shallow which means no bending down. I have mine at 40" high and it's just about dead perfect.

 

[Metzen]

Where did you get your table? And how large?

Its 6ft x 2ft. I cut it from butcher block purchased at Lowes and treated with Howard butcher block oil and conditioner. I used black iron pipe for legs. The sink is a Kraus all-in-one commercial.

 

[BeerBaron1985]

Nice! The butcher block did you have to cut it down? I searched on the lowes app and they have a 6x4ft blocks, and it its like $269 plus tax usd!

 

[Bobby_M]

I think you may need some center legs. Not much wood left at the sink cut out

 

[matt_m]

Nice! The butcher block did you have to cut it down? I searched on the lowes app and they have a 6x4ft blocks, and it its like $269 plus tax usd!

That's not bad at all for solid wood.

Ikea has one model of solid wood top. I have four coming in Wednesday to become a bar top, a desk for my wife and probably enough cutoffs for something.

 

[mongoose33]

I think you may need some center legs. Not much wood left at the sink cut out

Yeah, it looks like it'll give way over time. Maybe a 2x6 header front and back would suffice if not legs.

 

[BeerBaron1985]

That's not bad at all for solid wood.

Ikea has one model of solid wood top. I have four coming in Wednesday to become a bar top, a desk for my wife and probably enough cutoffs for something.

Im sure! Guess im torn doing something like this with wood or spend the money on a 6ft stainless table, and a 36" with wheels.

 

[Metzen]

Yes I cut it down. I bought the 6x4 and used the other 6x2 for another bar counter a while back - so I had this 6x2 conveniently lying around.

Nice! The butcher block did you have to cut it down? I searched on the lowes app and they have a 6x4ft blocks, and it its like $269 plus tax usd!