Basement Bar and Brewery

[cyberbackpacker]

The electrician thinks we might need to run a new circuit, but the panel is nearby so its not a big deal. Anyway, we will be putting in a 240v, 30A circuit just to keep my future options open!

My $0.02-- if you are going to have to pay to have a circuit wired in anyway, and since you say the panel is nearby too, I would highly suggest putting in a 50a 240v circuit.

The labor will be the same, and the materials cost won't be much in the long run.

Having more power available is always good-- no one ever says, "man, I wish I didn't have so much power".

Seriously, that truly makes things more future proof. Adding another vessel, running keg cleaning at the same time, etc. etc.

 

[murphyslaw]

My $0.02-- if you are going to have to pay to have a circuit wired in anyway, and since you say the panel is nearby too, I would highly suggest putting in a 50a 240v circuit.

The labor will be the same, and the materials cost won't be much in the long run.

Having more power available is always good-- no one ever says, "man, I wish I didn't have so much power".

Seriously, that truly makes things more future proof. Adding another vessel, running keg cleaning at the same time, etc. etc.

Thanks. I'll ask him about that.

What would that get me compared to a 30A circuit in terms of brewing? Its extremely rare that I brew 10g--I've probably done it 2 or 3 times in 15 years. I thought 30A would be appropriate for a 10g system. But I get that if the cost is neglible, why not

 

[cyberbackpacker]

What would that get me compared to a 30A circuit in terms of brewing? Its extremely rare that I brew 10g--I've probably done it 2 or 3 times in 15 years. I thought 30A would be appropriate for a 10g system. But I get that if the cost is neglible, why not

Big benefit is faster ramp times, regardless of batch size.

One other big benefit is if you go to multiple vessels, you can heat them concurrently. Or if you build a heated keg washer you and want to wash kegs while your waiting for your mash and/or your boil, while your brew vessel(s) are also being heated.

Or... that's the thing. You can max out a 30a circuit pretty quickly actually. 50a is more of a growth proof circuit size (although I hazard to guess there are many here, myself included, where having multiple 240v circuits is appropriate because 50a isn't even enough).

 

[Erik the Anglophile]

Looks nice, I am myself in the process of tearing out our "new"(120 yr old) house basement's laundry room that had a shower corner, and a drying room/sauna that was clad in Wood paneling. Will then move on to the pellet boiler room to prepare it for a ground heat unit to be installed coming summer, and to double as a brew room. Bye bye stove top brewdays.
A word of caution though, make sure you have proper drainage and take care to know what sort of soil the foundation is built on, wood on cement can become a really sad affair if moisture creeps up.
T. Construction carpenter/woodworker.

 

[murphyslaw]

Motorized my grain mill today. Bought the Malt Muncher Motor to go with my Cereal Killer mill. Had a cabinet left over from a kitchen remodeling and finally put it to good use.

Unfortunately I threw out all my grain when I demo'd the kitchen so I can't test it yet.

 

[murphyslaw]

Picked up a couple of Danby mini fridges on CL/FB. Slightly different models, but they're both freezerless and I shouldn't have to do more than cutting the shelves off the doors to get 2 kegs in each. These will be my fermentation chambers.

I currently have 8 refrigerators in my house. My wife thinks that's too many.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Picked up a couple of Danby mini fridges on CL/FB. Slightly different models, but they're both freezerless and I shouldn't have to do more than cutting the shelves off the doors to get 2 kegs in each. These will be my fermentation chambers.

I currently have 8 refrigerators in my house. My wife thinks that's too many.

No, not at all. 8 is not too many!
We have a total of 13. Kegerators, plus chest freezers for fermenting and aging, etc.
Plus the standard household kitchen fridge!

 

[murphyslaw]

No, not at all. 8 is not too many!
We have a total of 13. Kegerators, plus chest freezers for fermenting and aging, etc.
Plus the standard household kitchen fridge!

Thank you. I will tell my wife it could be worse!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

No, not at all. 8 is not too many!
We have a total of 13. Kegerators, plus chest freezers for fermenting and aging, etc.
Plus the standard household kitchen fridge!

13 and 8, really? I felt bad firing up a second besides the kitchen fridge. Good for you guys!

 

[Spartan1979]

We have 8 also, although one isn't plugged in right now.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

OK, I need to ask; why some many kegerators/fridges in each of your home breweries?

Fermentation, cold storage, supplies, serving - seems like a lot of brewing and drinking going on out there.

 

[matt_m]

I thought, why so many? But...

1 4 tap keezer
1 4 tap/3 keg off the shelf kegerator (can use all 4 if using 2 stacked smaller torpedo kegs)
1 under-bar fridge for cans/bottles
1 chest freezer with an Inkbird for a yeast/can/bottle/full keg storage which is also used for main house fridge overflow at the holidays

Plus a chest freezer that's half+ hops/half food and the home fridge.

Plus a chiller.

Plus a mini-split for heating/cooling the basement brewery/bar/lounge in addition to the normal house HVAC system.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

2 kegerators in the upstairs bar.
1 kegerator at the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the kitchen.
2 built in wine centers / beverage centers in the kitchen.
1 fridge in the pantry.
1 fridge in the brewery.
4 freezers in the brewery.

I think that's it.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

2 kegerators in the upstairs bar.
1 kegerator at the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the kitchen.
2 built in wine centers / beverage centers in the kitchen.
1 fridge in the pantry.
1 fridge in the brewery.
4 freezers in the brewery.

I think that's it.

Wow, impressive! Your electrical bill must be impressive too. Thanks for the run down.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Wow, impressive! Your electrical bill must be impressive too. Thanks for the run down.

It is hard to tell on the electric bill, as we are also running two swimming pool pumps 8 hours each day. Even with 13 fridges / freezers, I do not think the compressors pull that much current. Nothing like our air conditioning units.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

It is hard to tell on the electric bill, as we are also running two swimming pool pumps 8 hours each day. Even with 13 fridges / freezers, I do not think the compressors pull that much current. Nothing like our air conditioning units.

Still very impressive and I am jealous to be honest. I need more cold storage and a better serving system. I have one fridge now that serves both purposes, but I will be building a kegerator for serving only.

 

[staffordj]

2 kegerators in the upstairs bar.
1 kegerator at the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the outdoor kitchen.
1 built in fridge in the kitchen.
2 built in wine centers / beverage centers in the kitchen.
1 fridge in the pantry.
1 fridge in the brewery.
4 freezers in the brewery.

I think that's it.

At some point it seems like a walk in cooler would be more space and energy efficient. I thought 3 fridges and a chest freezer was overkill. Oh, wait, there is a wine fridge too. And a glycol chiller. Never mind.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

At some point it seems like a walk in cooler would be more space and energy efficient. I thought 3 fridges and a chest freezer was overkill. Oh, wait, there is a wine fridge too. And a glycol chiller. Never mind.

A walk-in cooler would definitely be a great option if space permitted, even with a wine fridge and glycol system. I just brew beer and I try to keep that simple even though it has expanded the last few years. My brewery and serving bar are both in the basement. I've got room in the garage to expand to and that might happen so a walk-in cooler would be a better option there. So many ideas . . . .

 

[murphyslaw]

Mine are:
Kegerator
Wine Fridge
Beer Fridge
2x fermentation chambers
kitchen
secondary family fridge

The 8th was one that came with the house but I'm getting rid of it.

 

[JAReeves]

Dang, and I thought I was going overboard with: 1 3-tap keezer, 1 mini-fridge fermentation chamber (3 kegs), and a DIY A/C Glycol Chiller (3 fermenters). Plus one regular fridge and a pantry fridge.

 

[murphyslaw]

Finally some progress

 

[murphyslaw]

Electrician finished the wiring last week and I spent a very frustrating weekend completing the plumbing. 12 trips to Home Depot later and it’s now fully operational.

 

[murphyslaw]

Split the water supply to a hose bib splitter that feeds a @Buckeye_Hydro RO system my CFC.