Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

I'd appreciate anyone's advice that has setup a dedicated indoor brewing space. I am sure I am forgetting some critical things. Pics are taken from both directions standing on the floor drain for reference. First few pics are before I started clean up.

I have a very odd shaped unfinished area in my basement. The garage is on the main/upper level, hope that doesn't confuse anyone. I have the green light to run 240V power down there and mark my territory with my hobby. This is a seriously low budget endeavor. As of now my goal between finding the deals I have found and friends helping me with the wiring I am hoping to have this ready to brew for around ~$600. That does not count all the equipment I already own, just what I am spending above and beyond that.

The items in red are still needed to be purchased or be picked up. Picked up the sink from Lowes and brew table from Lee this weekend. Starting the process of removing all the "junk" and bringing in some things slowly and putting them in place to get a feel for how tight this space will really be.

-Overhead HVAC trunk lines make that area storage only due to height restrictions. Narrow 1' deep shelves may be put in place there over time
-Vent will go out the side of the house where the sump pump discharges
-Main electric panel is in the garage, but somewhat easy to get 240V to the basement.
-Water line is PEX and right above my head, so that's not a difficult task
-Brew table from Lee has 75% of what I need as far as a control panel goes. I am upgrading the PID for the time being. I will be using my cooler MT, bottom drain keggle for my HLT/BK, one pump and a CFC chiller. May eventually have a dedicated 3 vessel setup and use the CFC as a HERMS, but that is a long ways down the road and more wiring. Baby steps I don't think I need anytime soon.

Weekend progress. Got the brew table and sink in place.


I am sitting in a chair here to get an idea for my vantage point. Not a lot of room for guests, 3 person max I assume, but that's fine with me.


Keezer moved to it's new home. It also received a 6 tap stainless drip tray over the weekend. 6th tap may end up nitro, who knows.

I see what looks like temporary lighting. Plans for permanent lighting fixture(s)? I went with 2 - 4' 4 bulb florescent fixtures. Nice to be able to see - !

Looking at some of your distances between stations (mill, sink, brew table, fermenting chamber), you might want to consider getting a dolly/wheeled cart of some sort to move stuff between points, rather than humping it manually.

Good luck!

I have found that these adjustable wire shelves are really handy for storing equipment. Also, you can remove the bottom shelf(s) and put it right over your keezer to reclaim that wasted space (measure first)

Looks like a cool space to me. Nice to have zones for brew area, fermentation, serving, cellar, mill. I will give it some more thought. Little things off hand. If you have room, some working counter space around your sink would be good. Even if only 2'x2' it is nice to have somewhere to put stuff around the sink. Even better if it can drain in to sink. Some shelves above it to hang stuff off to dry and little drying racks for beakers and such is a good idea. Curious about your 30 gallon RO water system. I would be interested in doing one of those in my brew room. If possible, I would swap the Keeezer with some of the shelving to get it closer to my doorway due to my frequent runs to the beer fridge. Overall, I think your lay out looks really solid. I found mine changed a little bit over the years as I brewed. Just small things like moving a shelf from one area to the next or adding a few hooks here and there. I figured out the details as I started brewing in the space. Then you can feel out where you really need stuff. My room is just one long space. The main area is the brew area, then you move towards fermentation in the center with barrels and the fermentation fridge. Down at the end is packaging with kegs, bottles and the other sink. You have a similar thing going on. You current plans look pretty solid.

tony b wrote:Looking at some of your distances between stations (mill, sink, brew table, fermenting chamber), you might want to consider getting a dolly/wheeled cart of some sort to move stuff between points, rather than humping it manually.

Good luck!

Or just start lifting weights so you can toss that stuff around like nothing on brew days.

andrewmaixner wrote:I have found that these adjustable wire shelves are really handy for storing equipment. Also, you can remove the bottom shelf(s) and put it right over your keezer to reclaim that wasted space (measure first)

Those are some handy shelves. Where is a good place to find those cheap?

Matt F wrote:

andrewmaixner wrote:I have found that these adjustable wire shelves are really handy for storing equipment. Also, you can remove the bottom shelf(s) and put it right over your keezer to reclaim that wasted space (measure first)
Those are some handy shelves. Where is a good place to find those cheap?

Watch for sales at menards, sams, target, amazon, etc. They are literally everywhere under different brand names. They also come in two different depths and widths and heights.
I prefer the black over the chrome. Also sometimes you can get wheels with them, but then you would absolutely need the bottom shelves at the bottom for structural integrity.

I got 3 sets of the largest ones - two side-by-side along a wall for misc storage, and one for over the keezer. Also a 2ft square one for in a corner.

Matt F wrote:Looks like a cool space to me. Nice to have zones for brew area, fermentation, serving, cellar, mill. I will give it some more thought. Little things off hand. If you have room, some working counter space around your sink would be good. Even if only 2'x2' it is nice to have somewhere to put stuff around the sink. Even better if it can drain in to sink. Some shelves above it to hang stuff off to dry and little drying racks for beakers and such is a good idea. Curious about your 30 gallon RO water system. I would be interested in doing one of those in my brew room. If possible, I would swap the Keeezer with some of the shelving to get it closer to my doorway due to my frequent runs to the beer fridge. Overall, I think your lay out looks really solid. I found mine changed a little bit over the years as I brewed. Just small things like moving a shelf from one area to the next or adding a few hooks here and there. I figured out the details as I started brewing in the space. Then you can feel out where you really need stuff. My room is just one long space. The main area is the brew area, then you move towards fermentation in the center with barrels and the fermentation fridge. Down at the end is packaging with kegs, bottles and the other sink. You have a similar thing going on. You current plans look pretty solid.

Good call Matt, Likely add this to my sink (unless i can find a better/cheaper option) http://www.amazon.com/Talisman-Designs- ... B005563B1O as well as some simple racks to let things dry.

RO setup I found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZuHZMLlpPc

Keezer is staying where it is. The pantry shelving is by the door out of consideration for the rest of the family. Plus having 2 teenagers, the farther out of sight the keezer is, the better

@ Andrew IKEA has those shelves cheaper than anywhere I have seen to date. As of now I have TONS of shelving and will address that as time goes on. This area also serves as a pantry, holiday decoration and other misc storage. I just want to concentrate on my 2 areas and keep them clutter free, then add shelves where I feel I need them as time goes on. The more shelves I have, the more clutter I become it seems.

@Tony, more lighting will happen at some point, but there is plenty down there as is IMO.

Aldi's will occasionally have those style shelves come through, and when they do, it's about as cheap as they get. Locally Sam's occasionally also has deals on them as well. But I concur they are one of the better shelves out there that you don't have to make yourself.

Looks like a fun project. More room and far more organized than the two spaces I'm setting up for brewing/serving..

Fred

You can do some little things to make your sink really versatile. Adding a dedicated bottle washer faucet is a nice mod. Here is a picture of a sink with some custom mods. Not mine but you get the picture.

Yeah my faucet is too short and will get a hose to make it a bit more useful until I shop around for one with a longer neck on it.

czubak wrote:Yeah my faucet is too short and will get a hose to make it a bit more useful until I shop around for one with a longer neck on it.

I know this is a budget project, but if you spring for a commercial style pull-down, you'll probably not regret it:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/regency ... FA12K.html

I second that. I don't have one but think it would be great. I bet you can find a cheap one if you shop around the onlines. I think Lee and Tony have are using that type of faucet.

Those are very heavy and would put a lot of stress on a plastic sink. Maybe someday, but not this build.