14 replies to this topic

[SchwanzBrewer]

We're selling some of our restaurant equipment off that we don't need to pay for a trailer shell that's already for equipment rather than build our own and we just happen to come across some people at a storage unit place we both use. Turns out they own this little German restaurant about 20 minutes south of us and they are expanding. So we had them over to my FIL's to look at some equipment and they all (Husband - not german, Wife - from Cologne, and daughter).

 

The wife says, and I kid you not (all in a very cute German accent), "Schiesse! this is REALLY good! This is better than the beers we have in Cologne." I'm pretty sure I blushed. She's really damn good looking too. Really nice people. 

 

So we got to talking about beer and food and I ear wormed the idea of contract brewing them a beer for their restaurant once we get going. They loved the idea. This is awesome and depressing all at once. We are nowhere close to being able to come through on that, but everyone wants the beer. Makes me want to explode.

[positiveContact]

but how!??  all of that O2!

[HVB]

So we got to talking about beer and food and I ear wormed the idea of contract brewing them a beer for their restaurant once we get going. They loved the idea. This is awesome and depressing all at once. We are nowhere close to being able to come through on that, but everyone wants the beer. Makes me want to explode.

 

Is it just that you cannot find a space?

[SchwanzBrewer]

Is it just that you cannot find a space?

 

Lots of problems, that being a key one. We're trying to do it in our home town of Brandon which is a suburb of Tampa. Really it's the Brandon/Riverview/Valrico areas. With all the churches, all the craptastic mega chains, and a lot of problems with a lack of utilities (100k - 200k to install utilities in most locations - we just can't afford that) it's been a hair pulling exercise beyond comprehension. On top of that some of the leases we've read could have been written in crayon. We've come damn close on about 3 occasions, but had to say no, or the owner went another direction. We've been contending with people problems that have sabotaged some of our efforts too. It's a cluster #$^%.

 

So right now we're focusing on getting some stuff sold off (not brewing stuff), getting our trailer done, and getting some income. We might go for broke and go super small with existing equipment and work ourselves to the bone for several months to a year. But, that might be what it takes to get where we want to go.

 

The product is outstanding by all objective accounts, the business has been a nightmare. Lessons have been learned and if we get off the ground we'll be stronger for it. 

[positiveContact]

a lot of small breweries seem to do the "industrial strip mall" type of thing to start.  is that not an option for you guys?

[SchwanzBrewer]

a lot of small breweries seem to do the "industrial strip mall" type of thing to start.  is that not an option for you guys?

 

It is, but we weren't looking to start that small for the last three years. The numbers show you need to be a certain size. 1bbl doesn't cut it. We'll likely start with 3-7bbl and 2.5k sq ft if we can find it. It's not optimal either and it will be a struggle, but it's what we have to do to get in business.

 

The food trailer comes first though no matter what.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

Most of the suburban breweries in this area are like that.

[HVB]

Lots of problems, that being a key one. We're trying to do it in our home town of Brandon which is a suburb of Tampa. Really it's the Brandon/Riverview/Valrico areas. With all the churches, all the craptastic mega chains, and a lot of problems with a lack of utilities (100k - 200k to install utilities in most locations - we just can't afford that) it's been a hair pulling exercise beyond comprehension. On top of that some of the leases we've read could have been written in crayon. We've come damn close on about 3 occasions, but had to say no, or the owner went another direction. We've been contending with people problems that have sabotaged some of our efforts too. It's a cluster #$^%.

 

So right now we're focusing on getting some stuff sold off (not brewing stuff), getting our trailer done, and getting some income. We might go for broke and go super small with existing equipment and work ourselves to the bone for several months to a year. But, that might be what it takes to get where we want to go.

 

The product is outstanding by all objective accounts, the business has been a nightmare. Lessons have been learned and if we get off the ground we'll be stronger for it. 

Well that is a whole lot of suckage but what I expected.  Best of luck.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

It is, but we weren't looking to start that small for the last three years. The numbers show you need to be a certain size. 1bbl doesn't cut it. We'll likely start with 3-7bbl and 2.5k sq ft if we can find it. It's not optimal either and it will be a struggle, but it's what we have to do to get in business.

 

The food trailer comes first though no matter what.

Our industrial strip mall breweries are usually 15 barrel.

[HVB]

Our industrial strip mall breweries are usually 15 barrel.

15 seems to be the magic number around here too. 

[positiveContact]

It is, but we weren't looking to start that small for the last three years. The numbers show you need to be a certain size. 1bbl doesn't cut it. We'll likely start with 3-7bbl and 2.5k sq ft if we can find it. It's not optimal either and it will be a struggle, but it's what we have to do to get in business.

 

The food trailer comes first though no matter what.

 

one near me that's in a space like I mentioned claims to be a 7 bbl brewery.  I don't know what exactly that means.  is that the batch size?

 

just found another that claims to be 7 bbl.

 

another says it's 15 bbl.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Yeah, batch size. If we are 7bbl it's because we're brewing two 3.5bbl batches simultaneously.

[HVB]

one near me that's in a space like I mentioned claims to be a 7 bbl brewery.  I don't know what exactly that means.  is that the batch size?

 

just found another that claims to be 7 bbl.

 

another says it's 15 bbl.

Brewhouse is that size.  So 7 bbl = 217g or 15 bbl = 465g.  Many will also have fermenters that are bigger so they can do a double run to fill it.

[SchwanzBrewer]

It should be noted that some of our woes are our own fault too. Learning curves can suck.

[Big Nake]

Rich... really good to hear that some real Germans liked your beer. I had brought some festbier and dunkel over to my dad's place a couple years ago and the neighbor across the street was old-school German. My dad brought a couple of bottles (22 oz) over to him and he came back the next day asking if he had any more. Good luck on finding your spot. You will find one and you and your FIL will be on your way. Cheers.