Floors are done!
I like weeks like this. I finished up the floors…finally. I gave them a simple, inexpensive acrylic-polyurethane clear coat with a 1/4″ nap roller. This took two coats and I used about a gallon and a half.


Walk-in cooler
Now that the floors are done (for the fermentors coming in soon), I need to start building the walk-in cooler. This involves a lot of math so I right-size it the first time and don’t run out of room. Essentially I have to figure out the maximum throughput I will have with three 3.5 bbl fermentors given my current brew cycles and my best guess at lager/ale percentages. I do have room for another 1-2 fermentors so I have to keep that in mind.
I want to have the option to stack three high and this will also be where I dispense too. With a 8′ x 15′ cooler, I will have the room for about 70 kegs max, well within my maximum monthly capacity.
The build
I found some online plans from a similar build using a ‘cool-bot’ so that I don’t need any expensive, large HVAC unit – just a regular window air-conditioning unit since the cooler is not that big.
Spec’ing out the parts list I need:
- 6 – 2×8’s
- ~55 2×4’s
- 36 pieces of 4×8 2″ thick foam insulation board
- 15 rolls of 2×4 rolled insulation
- 15 sheets of 4×8 wash-down acrylic paneling
- 4 sheets of 5/8″ 4×8 wood subfloor
Retail value of this is about $2200 at Lowe’s. This is still far cheaper than buying a used one but I need to get this cheaper. The 36 sheets of 2″ foam insulation board is about 60% of the cooler expenses. I found via Craigslist Akron’s ‘Insulation King’. He had the foam I needed – used and for 40% of retail – that’s a lot of savings! Since I have been recycling nearly everything (drywall screws and 2×4 nails included) I want this brewery to be green…at least as green as a brewery can be so recycled foam board was perfect.
The 4×8 sheets of acrylic paneling that will line the inside is something I want to get cheaper too or find another alternative.



Wall paneling
Lastly I started work on seeing if I can restain and varnish’ the current ‘red-stained’ wood paneling – something more brown. The testing is still a work in progress. I would rather not tear it down and replace just due to color.

Liscensing
I continued work on my Ohio liquor license…about 1/3 done.
Security/phone/cable/internet
I met with several people from local firms. I picked a security company, ADT and will be going with Time Warner for the other stuff. This is going in in a few days.
Next week
- Finish Ohio license
- Finish getting cooler materials
- Rent a forklift
- Receive fermentors
- Finish security installation