Backyard Brew Shed / Bar

[duncan.brown]

the lines are pressurized to the same PSI. There should be no headspace or "air pockets" in the lines

Solubility of carbon dioxide is a function of temperature. If the the beer stays at the same pressure and temperature in the line, the carbon dioxide will not come out of solution. If the temperature rises, but the pressure stays constant the CO2 will come out of solution and you get a pour of foam until you purge the line with cool beer.

Looking at the OPs plans, he'll be fine as his kegs and draft lines are in a cool room. If he decides to put the taps on the bar, he'll need to run glycol-cooled lines from the cool room to the bar to keep the beer cool and carbonated.

 

[RufusBrewer]

How about this as a design process: Start with an ideal design or layout. Disregard any defined limitations of the size. Figure out what you want where. Then go through and start to reduce the room dimensions. Make compromises as required to accommodate the reductions. You will end up with the optimum design for the space available.

 

[Toxxyc]

Toxxyc, thanks for the drawings (what software makes that 3D render? very cool!). I like the way the half bath is laid out. I'll see if I can work with that sort of layout.

I discovered this site a while back when designing out garden flat for rental. It's free and works REALLY well: Home inspirations trends and decorating ideas | HomeByMe

 

[Steven Sinclair]

How about this as a design process: Start with an ideal design or layout. Disregard any defined limitations of the size. Figure out what you want where. Then go through and start to reduce the room dimensions. Make compromises as required to accommodate the reductions. You will end up with the optimum design for the space available.

Dang. Tried this exercise multiple times, but still can't get things to work. The three components that are hindering progress are...

7' x 2' Stainless steel table
4' x 2' Stainless steel 2 bin sink
5' x 5' Walk-in cooler

Can't change the sizes of the table or sink, but any smaller and the walk-in becomes basically unusable.

And, that doesn't even take into consideration the fermenters, glycol chiller, grain mill, grain storage containers, etc. Guess the only solution is to add another 2,000 square feet to my back yard. Anyone have a portable hole I can use?

 

[superiorsat]

There is never enough room for sure. Keep at it. Even if you have to mill elsewhere and lug the buckets to the back yard you would have had to lug unmilled grain back there anyway. I mill in my brew garage but the dust makes me wish I did it somewhere else.

 

[shoengine]

Where did you get the spike stencils?

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Where did you get the spike stencils?

Couldn't find any, so I made my own. Can't stand it when things don't look the way they're supposed to.

 

[Steven Sinclair]

There is never enough room for sure. Keep at it. Even if you have to mill elsewhere and lug the buckets to the back yard you would have had to lug unmilled grain back there anyway. I mill in my brew garage but the dust makes me wish I did it somewhere else.

Yeah, at this point I'm really struggling. I'm rapidly approaching the point in which the new shed will either be a production facility OR a pub shed. I'm going to work on it for another week or so, then the hard decision shall be made. Besides, I'm sure the wifey would love it more if it were ONLY a pub shed so she could invite people over to our bar. (lol)

 

[shoengine]

Couldn't find any, so I made my own. Can't stand it when things don't look the way they're supposed to.

Wow. Those look really good. Is it a single image or is it modular?

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Wow. Those look really good. Is it a single image or is it modular?

I drew each of the components (tri-clamps, housing, band, etc.), then grouped them together into one image. I really wish I could get around wasting so much time on that kind of stuff and embrace the "good enough" idealogy.

If you use Visio and want these, PM me your email and I'll send 'em your way.

 

[bkboiler]

Have you thought about putting a glycol chiller outdoors and skipping the cold room? I've seen pro breweries do it that way. Not sure if you already have your Conicals with jackets or coils...

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Have you thought about putting a glycol chiller outdoors and skipping the cold room? I've seen pro breweries do it that way. Not sure if you already have your Conicals with jackets or coils...

Yes, already have the Conicals with integrated heating/cooling systems...for use with existing IceMaster Max 4. However, I have thought about a separate walk-in, but simply don't have the room.

 

[tracer bullet]

I was thinking the taps, which agree should be on a wall of the walk-in, need to also be close to where people would sit and you'd serve the beer. However, if you do move that room and have to walk over to pour a beer, it's really not so bad. It's not a far walk... So if something else really beneficial opens up by moving the walk-in, maybe go for it if the exchange is worth it.

That said - I'm not sure what you'd put between the walk-in and bathroom if you were to move it. So maybe once again never mind.

 

[SCfb75]

What about the height of the walk-in? Is it tall enough for a shelf to put the kegs on top of each other? The move the door to the cooler where the taps are on your floor plan opening up the side wall of the walk-in for your brew table?

 

[Steven Sinclair]

What about the height of the walk-in? Is it tall enough for a shelf to put the kegs on top of each other?

The shed will have a monoslope roof. It will be 8' tall in the back and nearly 11' tall in the front, so plenty of height to stack kegs.

 

[Toxxyc]

Have you thought about buying a used shipping container and burying it below your shed? Use the downstairs "cellar" then for brewing and fermentation and stuff. Naturally cool, and out of light, and if not in use you just shut the door and serve upstairs.

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Have you thought about buying a used shipping container and burying it below your shed? Use the downstairs "cellar" then for brewing and fermentation and stuff. Naturally cool, and out of light, and if not in use you just shut the door and serve upstairs.

That would be absolutely awesome. Unfortunately, there is simply far too much rock to make that manageable.

 

[archi77]

What is it about the initial drawing you posted that you don't like, or doesn't work? In my day-life, I am an architect, and am willing to throw a few ideas your way (more mind-time than drawing-time, if you will...) but I'd have more questions in order to figure out the puzzle...

 

[Steven Sinclair]

What is it about the initial drawing you posted that you don't like, or doesn't work? In my day-life, I am an architect, and am willing to throw a few ideas your way (more mind-time than drawing-time, if you will...) but I'd have more questions in order to figure out the puzzle...

I guess it comes down to the feeling of having no other alternative than to "cram" all the equipment into what seems to be a ridiculously small space. Being limited to no larger than a specific size of structure also limits the layout. When it comes down to it, just being able to "fit" all the equipment into said space and still have it feel comfortable as opposed to having it feel like a storage unit. Hope that makes sense.

 

[shoengine]

Do you have space provisioned for storage of brewing equipment? I don't see that on the drawing.

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Do you have space provisioned for storage of brewing equipment? I don't see that on the drawing.

Just under the brew rig (7' x 2' table).

 

[shoengine]

Just under the brew rig (7' x 2' table).

Grain storage?

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Grain storage?

Quantity of 5, 60# stackable bins (pic attached)

 

[shoengine]

Quantity of 5, 60# stackable bins (pic attached)

Ahh, I love those bins. Where are they on the drawing?

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Ahh, I love those bins. Where are they on the drawing?

Didn't put them on there as they're only temporary until I can order an outdoor silo.

 

[shoengine]

An out-out building! I was just perusing the drawing and comparing it to what I have to find room for. I had to give up the idea of a walk in on mine, due to lack of space.

 

[rlprafa]

I won't pretend to know your brewing/space needs and budget, but this space looks ridiculously big in my opinion. All you need might be a little bit of reorganizing and reprioritizing.

Here are some things I would consider if this was my setup:

Brewhouse:
- Do you really need a cold liquor tank? Sounds like an overkill, but in case you do, consider one at a different height. Realistically this is something that would probably be an enclosed vessel that you barely touch.
- For the sink, any objections in having it in the other wall? like combining it with your brew table in an L shape? this would give more space for drying stuff. The other wall (the one you have the sink Today) could be used for some dry storage. Or maybe even U shaped, although that might be too much in terms of circulation space.

Walk-in:
- It does look too big for me. This is a place you are getting in and out in a short timespan. Not really somewhere you are spending too much time on. I'd consider taking one ft off from each plane. That might limit you in the future, though.
- Maybe moving the door to the wall close to the bar would be good. That might give you some space to put your fermenters closer to the brewing area.
- Adding casters in the fermenters as well as creating/buying some bases with wheels for the kegs to make sure you go easy on your back when moving stuff around might not be a bad idea.
- Put some shelves in there as well for hop/yeast and other things you need to keep cooled.


Bar area:
- If you move the walk-in door and move the fermenters, you can now remove that partial wall. That will give you a more open space a make it feel bigger.
- This is totally personal preference but I don’t like to feel like I am a server in a bar when I have people for a party. With that said, I’d probably try to make that a somewhat of an open space. There are a few options I can think of to solve that “problem”. L shaped sliding doors, tilt up/up garage door or even roll up doors.

I hope that helps. If not, it's equally ok. Just don't forget to update us in the process. It's gonna look amazing when it's finished, I am sure.

Cheers.

 

[Steven Sinclair]

...this space looks ridiculously big...

I've always found it interesting in how perspective plays a part in the multitude viewing the same thing. Right now, the rig is in the garage, occupying part of a single wall, and there's not enough room. As soon as I thought about the brew shed, I thought I wish I could build it to 16' x 24' so as to be both a brew shed and a really cool pub shed.

Do you really need a cold liquor tank?

So, as far as "NEED" goes, no. I don't need a CLT. And, along those lines, I also don't need a brew shed. However, I use the glycol chiller to chill the CLT water (via HERMS coil), then the CLT water to chill the BK (via CFC). This way there's no massive pull on the chiller trying to chill the BK directly.

Adding casters in the fermenters as well as creating/buying some bases with wheels for the kegs to make sure you go easy on your back when moving stuff around might not be a bad idea.

Yes, all my fermenters have casters and I have keg dollies for the kegs (as well as spacers to stack them).

Put some shelves in there as well for hop/yeast and other things you need to keep cooled.

Yes, I have a wire rack that will go in the walk-in, but forgot to put it on the drawing.

This is totally personal preference but I don’t like to feel like I am a server in a bar when I have people for a party.

I actually love being the "host with the most" and if that means I'm the bartender and/or the server and/or taking special orders for kegs of beer, and/or providing brewing lessons and/or whatever else might be needed, well, then to quote one of my favorite actors in one of my favorite movies, "I'm the Dude."

Just don't forget to update us in the process.

Yup. Once I start the build, I'll be documenting it all every step of the way.

Cheers, indeed!!!

 

[Phischy]

My walk-in is 8x6. Behind the taps I have industrial shelving for keg storage. I use a 40 gallon cube for cold water, that I pump through the wall to chill my conicals. For lagers, I simply roll them into the cold room, they're insulated with a heater and it works just fine. No need for an expensive chiller when you have a cold water source. I also have wood shelving for bottles. My walls are true 6" thick with spray in closed cell foam to get my R factor right. Remember that you need to insulate the floor, so you'll need a ramp to push things into the cold room. All my stuff is on casters or on a dolly.

Personally, I'd put the door next to your tap wall, and it needs to be a 36" door. Save the rest of your wall space for the shelving, and look at what shelving you can buy and build around that. By moving the door you give yourself another corner outside to install shelving.

3 basin sink is my MOST used piece of brewing equipment with SS shelving above it. I do not have drain boards due to lack of space, but I do wish I had at least one. If you can, plumb your drip tray into your plumbing and if possible, add a glass rinser. I was building into an existing garage so these weren't really options, but it'd be hella cool to have had and functional. You will need a counter top near the sink to store stuff/let it drain. Put it on wheels so everything can be moved about. Restaurant supply stores, or auction locations, you can pick up stainless hardware fairly cheap.

If you go the spray in insulation route, anywhere you plan to put holes through your walls, use rigid insulation. The spray in stuff does not handle tooling and it just crumbles, and to that end, if cutting through, do not use a spade bit, use a hole saw.

 

[Steven Sinclair]

Ok. Ran into a slight bump in the road. Anyone out there have experience in "battling" with their local municipalities as pertains to variances in building code?