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My brewery is housed
in a 8x 6 shed picked up second hand for £100, I had previously brewed in
our small kitchen (approx 5ftx5ft) but after finding hops for days later
and having to clean the entire kitchen every time plus the ventilation
issues I just had to have a shed - is this desire the product of middle age? |
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Equipment on
stillage |
The only place
bikes and beer should mix |
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Knowing I was using it
for brewing beer I did away with the wooden floor and
laid a floor screed and damp proof membrane and after replacing a few
rotten timbers total cost was around £150. I installed the electrics myself,
running a 16mm.sq steel wired armoured cable to small two way distribution
board, all sockets and electrical items in the shed are IP (ingress
protected) to 56, suitable for outdoor use. |
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| Work
area |
Cellar |
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The brew equipment
sits on a timber frame stillage, which takes up 4ft 8in by 18 in, still
allowing much storage of garden equipment,
motorbike and other odds and sods.
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| Grain mill and hopper |
Boiler |
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| Another bench on the
other side of the shed, 5ftx18in allows four barrels to be stored and what’s
left in middle is enough for the bike. Although everything fits in, getting
to the barrels can be interesting after having had a few!! On the plus side,
I don’t smoke in the house so I can nip to the shed sit on the bike, pour a
beer and have a fag, some nights I’ve forgotten I’ve only been out for a
smoke and have had to be retrieved by my puzzled wife wondering where I’ve
gone. |
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| Sparge arm connector to
boiler |
Sparging and wort
collection |
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| I have no water supply
to the shed, relying on a hose to the bathroom for all water supplies and
all cleaning is undertaken in the garden where I have a drain. Fortunately
the bathroom is to the front of the house and not too much of a problem. I
have managed to utilize Hozelock connections to any pipework that a need and
with a bit of ingenuity, which all craft brewers seem to acquire, only three
or four bits of tubing are all I need. |
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| Mash
tun |
Two
bucket hop back |
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| The major problem I have
found is that of seasonal temperatures and ventilation. Should I be starting
from scratch I would have insulated the roof and walls. In the summer
overheating can be a problem and conversely in the winter beers can be way
too cold, although not enough to form a chill haze. I get round this by
storing my barrels in another shed to the rear of the house, which backs
onto a stone retaining wall having 8ft of soil on the other side, I find
this keeps the beer at acceptable temperatures during the summer. I also
have made an insulated "store" which I use for laying down my winter ales.
During the winter I simply decant the beer I’m drinking into a cornie which
sits next to my chair in the lounge. |
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At work |
Instruments 'n'
bits 'n' bobs |
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This year I am
intending to move the stillage to the door to try to alleviate my
ventilation issues and having successfully used my wife’s hairdryer last
week to see how much air movement would be required to clear the air, I will
acquire a free standing fan which should do the job. I also intend to fit
insulation to the walls and roof, 50mm polystyrene should do the job with
1/4 ply to cover and reduce fire risk. |
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My neighbour's
favourite sight |
Beers usually on tap |
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