Building a Brew Room

[czubak]

It'll be a while. I need to plan it all out and put it in the budget. Gives me time to mess with various layouts and then shop for deals on cabinets and a sink


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[brianhall1024]

My wife hates our limestone basement. She calls it a dungeon. She already told me i could convert to anything i wanted. I might have to use some inheritance money for a brew room.

[czubak]

My usable brew area is only a shade over 6' wide by 19' long. Only problem I see with that is brewing with friends it could get tight from a social aspect.


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[brianhall1024]

Quit yer whinin'

[tony b]

My usable brew area is only a shade over 6' wide by 19' long. Only problem I see with that is brewing with friends it could get tight from a social aspect.
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I see long, skinny tables and cabinets!

If you've got the patience to troll ebay and craig's list waiting for a good deal on used stuff, great, but if not, I highly recommend Webstaurant Store online. Best prices around on sinks, faucets, tables, shelves, etc.

[czubak]

I've drawn a rough layout of my basement and some tables/sinks off Wedstaurant for ideas on what might fit where. The keezer is such a space hog? But I'd love for it to be there instead of the garage.


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[Matt F]

Don't forget regular countertop and big plastic sinks. The big plastic laundry tubs are great and less than $30. You drop glass carboys in there with no fear. Laminate countertop is cheap and they sell scrap pieces at menards cheap in various sizes. Don't forget the Habitat for Humanity Restore too. My stuff was all from a kitchen remodel of stuff that was headed to the dump.

[czubak]

I'm with ya Matt. Hoping I can find someone putting in new cabinets at some point and make it fit. I'm in no rush, just slowing mapping things out and may run gas and water sometime soon just in case I find a deal on the big stuff.


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[czubak]

Reading more on venting and I'm concerned I won't be able to vent enough air. I don't have any windows to replenish air that's been vented.

For now my plan is to move my keezer, kegs, carboys to the basement and use it as my fermenting/serving area. It will free up garage space and maybe over time I can look farther into brewing down there. Electric isn't really in the realm of reality either. Not just for cost, I'm just not sure that's what I really want.


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[Matt F]

That was my main concern when I moved down to the basement. I use to brew in the garage. I had a hose that ran from the kettle, through a hole in the wall down to a counterflow chiller in my brew room and then in to the carboy on the floor. Worked great and all gravity, so no pump needed. When I moved inside I was worried about ventilation. I know a normal stove top hood did not do the trick for me. I used a fan from a dead furnace which moves plenty of air, probably about 1,600 cfm, along with my made from ductwork 2' x 4' hood. The issue then was make up air. I have a fan in the can rated at 500 cfm that brings in air from outside directly to the brew room. The key for mine is I also have a ton of air in the large rec room next to the brew room for additional make up air. I crack a window in there so I don't build up pressure and the door to the brew room is left open. Has been working for me for a long time. Always keep the natural gas CO2 detector on too. Never have had a reading with current setup. Make up air directly or from elsewhere in the house is very important if you plan to use fire.

[tony b]

Thanks for the reminder, Matt. I need to get a CO monitor for the new brew room, even though I don't have a ventilation problem (big open room, with an open door to upstairs and I have 2 windows that can be opened too, if needed. (My basement is a walkout.)

Still putzing trying to get everything organized, but if folks want to drop by and check out the new room, feel free. Just give me a shout: in this tread, PM, or give me a call (319-551-8312) to make sure I'm home, if you want to drop by.

[Matt F]

Make sure you get a Natural Gas and CO2 meter. Think mine was $50 bucks or so. I too have a walkout basement which is a huge plus. If you have a leak somewhere though it is nice to know. Especially if you inbibe while brewing like I do on occasion.

[czubak]

No walkout for me and no windows in the unfinished area. Closest window is on the other side of the wall, 20' away.

Moving my fermenting, bottling and serving equipment to the basement for the time being.


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[daryl]

Reading more on venting and I'm concerned I won't be able to vent enough air. I don't have any windows to replenish air that's been vented.

For now my plan is to move my keezer, kegs, carboys to the basement and use it as my fermenting/serving area. It will free up garage space and maybe over time I can look farther into brewing down there. Electric isn't really in the realm of reality either. Not just for cost, I'm just not sure that's what I really want.


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If you have a forced air vent in your brew area, and that vents directly to the outside, and if your basement has a window that you can crack open, and if you keep the door open to the rest of the basement (and any other doors between your brew area and that window); you should be fine.

Your basement area might get a bit more chilly when you brew, but you should have enough flow to adequately vent the carbon monoxide.

Back that up with a good detector and you should be good to go.

[Matt F]

I second what Daryl said. Should be fine.