Brewing room ideas

[HB2112]

OK guys I'm building an elaborate mancave. It will have a nice size room 15x15 as a brewing and canning room. My wife hates me doing this stuff in "her" kitchen. What I have planned so far is a stove with oven and powerful exhaust fan, a temperature controlled fermentation chamber, a refrigerator, stainless steel counter tops, stainless deep sink, lots of outlets, nice sized pantry (storage cabinet), and plenty of shelves. Am I missing anything?

 

[Yooper]

What is your brewing set up going to be?

 

[Deadalus]

I suggest a double or triple sink with one or two drainboards. That's what I want for brewing and canning. If you are needing to wash veggies, you can soak in one sink. I would want to keep that sink fairly clean without soap residues and nasties. Also a commercial overhead sprayer.

Minimum 6" exhaust fan but I'd recommend an 8" duct.

High btus on the stove for canning. I sometimes use two canners at once but it presents a problem because the front two burners are the two biggest (electric stove). If I need to make a brine I then have to reach around the two water bath canners as I turn them on first to get the water hot. Now if you have like a 1/2+ acre size "garden" and really can a lot, they make some nice water trough style canners. They may be for outside over wood though. Definitely would need two burners.

I used to use the Brewsmith app on my phone on brew day a lot but lately I have been bringing my laptop down since I need to copy in my EZ Boil program. A swing out arm for either is something I would find useful as my garage is pretty full without much available counterspace.
You said mancave but didn't mention entertainment. Like a stripp couch, big screen tv, bar. Fancy brewroom is 100% cool too just need to be sure about the intial parameters.

 

[HB2112]

Yooper right now I'm still a newbie 5 gallon mini mash brewer. That will change once I have my own space. Deadalus I like the sink idea and the sprayer. I don't do a lot of canning a few cases of blackberry jelly, a case of pickles, and some tomatoes. And yes the exhaust fan and duct work will be big. The contractor recommended that. A bar, kegerator, couch, massage chair (one of the best things I've ever bought for myself), my office, and a pinball machine, preferably a Rush pinball machine. I was originally going to go with a foosball table, but can't play foosball by yourself. No TV but going to upgrade my audio equipment to possibly a Dolby Atmos setup. Here's a few pics and proof I've been doing a lot of the work.

 

[HB2112]

Oh a friend of mine mentioned doing a separate on demand water heater set to a high temp for mashing.

 

[MaxStout]

If you can, try to future-proof the electric. 120V outlets on 20A branch circuits, as many devices push the limits of a 15A circuit. Maybe a 240V 30A in case you ever go electric brewing.

Gas or electric for the range?

 

[SFC Rudy]

The question you need to answer is how are you going to brew? What are your plans when you “upgrade”? AIO? BIAB? 3 vessel? Other? Look to your future brewing plans and that will answer a lot of your questions now.

You can get a decent AIO with a steam slayer for the cost of a stove and air venting.

 

[HB2112]

If you can, try to future-proof the electric. 120V outlets on 20A branch circuits, as many devices push the limits of a 15A circuit. Maybe a 240V 30A in case you ever go electric brewing.

Gas or electric for the range?

Thanks Max no 15 amp only 20's I went with a 200 amp panel. Electric for the range. I like your thinking on the 240V 30A I've got plenty of room in the panel.

 

[HB2112]

The question you need to answer is how are you going to brew? What are your plans when you “upgrade”? AIO? BIAB? 3 vessel? Other? Look to your future brewing plans and that will answer a lot of your questions now.

You can get a decent AIO with a steam slayer for the cost of a stove and air venting.

Thanks I'll check it out

 

[Whisky River]

Floor Drain!!!!
Might not be feasible but if you’re early enough in the planning maybe you could work it in. It’s not the sexiest addition to a brew room but just about everyone who doesn’t have one wishes they did.

 

[sibelman]

I've found a 24x24 sink with drainboard and a pre-rinse with faucet like this one very helpful in my garage brewery. I got very good prices for these at a local cash-and-carry restaurant supply house. I did air venting with a DIY hood and Vortex fan, but today I might choose the steam slayer approach. A 30A 240VAC outlet will serve you well for electric brewing at the 5 to 10 gallon level. The stove is fine for canning, but I believe it will limit you to smaller batches when brewing.

 

[shoengine]

Are you connecting to sewer/septic?

 

[bike2brew]

Floor drain is what I am missing now

 

[sibelman]

My stoutpocalypse (broken glass carboy full of wort) years ago would've benefited from a floor drain. Except in such a bizarre situation, I don't find I miss it. But others are completely sold on the value of a floor drain, so...