It's official starting my own brewing business!

[mattd2]

Grrr having trouble posting photos.

I was going to say where are the pics, but then I read the last line and thought we'd have to wait till the weekend

 

[akthor]

It's only letting me do them one at a time.

 

[akthor]

The dirt

 

[akthor]

We are getting those propane tanks moved.

All 10 of our hop rhizomes sprouted and have a foot or more of vine going so they are ready to go.

 

[akthor]

Waddle, will go up as high as the posts same with the loam and mulch. We got a few more inches of loam then whatever is left in mulch to the top.

 

[akthor]

Better view

 

[buzzno]

The German Beer Garden sounds awesome! Keep the dream alive brother.

 

[honreth]

Fan-freaking-tastic. Best of Luck. Glad to see this work in progress is going on. Keep it up man.. might have to make my first official personal road trip into the Yankee states.. But don't tell my southern family I said that.

 

[ahaley]

The German Beer Garden sounds awesome! Keep the dream alive brother.

When I move I may have to try this!

 

[Blackmuse]

akthor - You have all the right ideas man! A German Beer Garden is a great idea: especially if people can sit and enjoy beer out there! Keep rocking this project man! Don't listen to nay-sayers as you are DOING what most of us DREAM about.

You're right, life happens. It's not like you quite your job to focus on this full-time. It is what it is and eventually it will all come to fruition as long as you keep the dream alive man.

I live in Southern Maine and will totally be up to see this once it is complete! I can totally support a local nano-brew!

 

[RoughandReadyRanch]

2 days of reading off and on and all I can say is "wow...." I have so many questions but I feel you would be insulted, defensive or just ignore them so I will save my breath. Good luck.

 

[user 103238]

Kind of a dick move, don't you think? If you want to ask questions and engage in dialogue with this particular thread, then do so. If you're just going to hop on the bandwagon and make trolling comments, you should kindly move on.

2 days of reading off and on and all I can say is "wow...." I have so many questions but I feel you would be insulted, defensive or just ignore them so I will save my breath. Good luck.

 

[alpha224]

Kind of a dick move, don't you think? If you want to ask questions and engage in dialogue with this particular thread, then do so. If you're just going to hop on the bandwagon and make trolling comments, you should kindly move on.

Agreed, if it is a legitimate question (like what varieties of hops he is growing) then why not ask? But I am curious which hops you planted, akthor. And where you can find the rhizomes to plant.

 

[ahaley]

Agreed, if it is a legitimate question (like what varieties of hops he is growing) then why not ask? But I am curious which hops you planted, akthor. And where you can find the rhizomes to plant.

Thats something im quite curious about is hops growing in texas where im moving... do hops like hot?

 

[two_one_seven]

Check the hops board. They grow hops in Texas....if I remember right there is even a Texas hop picture thread. In general no they don't like hot but there are some that tolerate better.

 

[barrooze]

Thats something im quite curious about is hops growing in texas where im moving... do hops like hot?

Texas is quite diverse in climates. Where in TX are you moving?

 

[Trillium]

Sweet I wish I could quit my day job and make beer full time.

 

[ahaley]

Texas is quite diverse in climates. Where in TX are you moving?

Somewhere near the fort bliss area. Im not sure where im "allowed" to live.

 

[rpcvsam]

Good luck!

 

[JSahrle]

Any update on your progress. Enjoying your story thus far. Look forward to more status updates.

 

[rexbanner]

This may come off as kind of mean, but since you made this thread I started and am now running a successful nano and I'm 25 years old. I did it through hard work, planning, and a willingness to actually learn how to start and operate a business. If you're actually still trying to do this, I suggest you listen to the advice myself and others posted.

To me, this thread represents the quintessential nanobrewer syndrome: focusing on the fun parts and avoiding the not-so-fun parts. You know what isn't fun? Getting shut down because you're not in the right zoning (happened to my friend). This is not how you start a business.

 

[MTOutlaw]

Good Luck!!! I envy you! get those pics up asap, and let us know what goes really easy and what doesnt along the process!

 

[ja09]

Wow, I've read this entire thread over the past couple days and it's very interesting! I love love love the concept and I'd really like to see it succeed. I'm also a little stubborn and do things my own way when it comes to my professional life & business; I've been self employed since I was 20 because I know in my heart I have good ideas and I can make things happen, which I do, and I have, quite successfully.

However, I have to agree with the so called "haters", that focusing on the fun parts and leaving regulation aside will be the downfall... but I'm starting to wonder whether the author truly wants to become commercial, or just scale up his hobby? Maybe it's just a stubborn way of building a kick-ass home brewery!

Please prove us all wrong. I will fly to Maine to check this place out!!! Good luck!

 

[akthor]

Weather has been a lot uncooperative with either it being super hot and muggy or downpouring but this is where we are at. The hops are my gf's baby and she has finished nursing school and started a new job so she has been lax with the weeding. We did go to my buddies in Vermont and he hooked us up and the owner of a slate roof quarry sold us a pallet of green colored slate for the beer garden really large pieces and 1" to 2" thick for $75. We could have had more for the same $ but what we brought back was all that the F150 pickup could carry (stuff is heavy). We still need to finish the waddle. Next is to use the gravel to level out the area between the house and the waddle and to make a base so we can put the slate down. Also found the lighting we want back there so gotta put that up. (Hops planted are fuggles, cascade, goldings, hallertau, and a 5th I can't remember???)

Walk in cooler wise I am being held up with trying to find a door. I want the door off an upright freezer. I hope to find one at a transfer station but honestly haven't had a chance to look for one. But the floor and ceiling are insulated and sheathed. Next will be building the wall the door and air conditioner mount in.

Also I'm sure the early pics show like what was 1/2 way built as a big closet in my brewing area. We tore that all down.

That's it for now.

 

[akthor]

1st pic is the ceiling of the cooler and the 2nd is the floor sorry forgot to rotate them.

 

[funnycreature]

This may come off as kind of mean, but since you made this thread I started and am now running a successful nano and I'm 25 years old. I did it through hard work, planning, and a willingness to actually learn how to start and operate a business. If you're actually still trying to do this, I suggest you listen to the advice myself and others posted.

To me, this thread represents the quintessential nanobrewer syndrome: focusing on the fun parts and avoiding the not-so-fun parts. You know what isn't fun? Getting shut down because you're not in the right zoning (happened to my friend). This is not how you start a business.

My wife saw your brewery when she went to Leesburg a few months back. She really liked it and told me we have to go there for a pint or two! Congratulations! (and sorry for the off-topic; I want everyone to succeed with their endeavors)

 

[akthor]

Just scored a glass door from an actual coke cooler at the local transfer station, perfect door for my walk in! Pics later when I get home.

 

[akthor]

Well was forced to buy a new car, kinda put a crimp on things moneywise but I didn't have a lot of choice. But we did finish insulating and sheathing the walk in and got the door and airconditioner openings done. Now I gotta rewire the AC and fugure out a way to mount the door and caulk inside and out and paint the exterior and figure which thing I want to do inside. Either the plastic sheathing or an insulating paint on stuff. Leaning towards the paint stuff.

We did finish the wattle and the hop bed. Hops are doing ok considering we got them in late. But we really didn't plan on much of a hop crop but look forward to harvesting rhizomes for next year. Next is to bring in the gravel to level out the ground so we can put in the slate patio.

Guess I can't post pics from this tablet will do when I get to the PC.

 

[akthor]

The AC is in backwards just to check fitment.

 

[ja09]

Nice garden! Loving the raised edge.