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Building a Brewery

The Journey

Jul 21, 2014

The following links are specifically the ones detailing the startup of R.Shea Brewing, beginning with the search for a building.  I will be chronicling every step of the way where you will find the links here.

The Journey actually started with my 1/2 barrel homebrew system that evolved over the course of several years.

Selecting a Brewery Location 
Chronicling a search of nearly three years.

Inside the New Brewery: Pre-Renovation 
Pictures of the location before we move equipment in, build a bar, etc.

The New Layout of R.Shea Brewing and the Theme Behind It 
What's the vibe going to be at this new craft beer watering hole?  What's going to make this unique?

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 1, Aug 4-10, 2014
Lease papers, insurance, federal brewers application and timelines to opening day.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 2, Aug 11-17, 2014
Insurance and bonds.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 3, Aug 18-24, 2014
Keys, doors, bonds, shandys, sliders and more!

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 4, Aug 25-Sep 1, 2014
Everything from the tear-out, signs, bar mockups,  Amarillo IPA and more!

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 5, Sep 1-7, 2014
Fermentors on order, marble tile removal, waiting on the bond, more shandy development and Session IPA tasting.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 6, Sep 8-14, 2014
Bond approval, researching beer flights, major floor removal.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 7, Sep 15-21, 2014
I have the bond!  Finishing Federal application, finishing floor removal, CHILI DOGS! and bar stool research.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 8, Sep 22-28, 2014
I completed and submitted the Federal Brewer's Application.  I also built an adjustable 'mock bar' to get final dimensions.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 9, Sep 29-Oct 5, 2014
Making a brewery trench drain, final floor polishing.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 10, Oct 6-12, 2014
More floor preparation.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 11, Oct 13 19, 2014
Final floor coating and it's done!  Insulation for walk-in cooler build.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 12, Oct 20-26, 2014
Purchase more walk-in cooler materials, Ohio Brewery application done, security and internet done!

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 13, Oct 27-Nov2, 2014
The fermentors arrive!

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 14, Nov 3-9, 2014
Starting the walk-in cooler build.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 15, Nov 10-16, 2014
The brew-system arrives!  We also do some more walk-in cooler work.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 16, Nov 17-23, 2014
Installation of the CoolBot on the walk-in cooler and successful testing.  Final cooler interior work done (floors, painting walls).

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 17, Nov 24-30, 2014
Primer painting the cooler exterior plus some other walls we patched.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 18, Dec 1-7, 2014
Bathroom floor prep and tiling.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 19, Dec 8-14, 2014
Brewery wall tiling.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 20-22 , Dec 15-Jan 4, 2014
Going virtual!

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 23, Jan 5-11, 2015
Building a bar, on demand water heater plumbing and painting.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 24, Jan 12-18, 2015
More bar work and painting.  New burners came in for the brew equipment.  We also moved the homebrew/pilot system from the house to the brewery.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 25, Jan 19-25, 2015
A new fermentor chiller and making a stand for it.  Burner blues and experimenting with pulled chicken and homemade BBQ sauce.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 26, Jan 26-31, 2015
Getting metal for the bar, tiling the bathrooms and getting a new bar sink.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 27, Feb 1-7, 2015
Beer trunk line delivery, grouting and painting bathrooms and trying our new (used) panini press.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 28, Feb 8-14, 2015
Getting wood for the floors and bar top.  Marble tiling the front of the bar floor.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 29, Feb 15-21, 2015
Federal approval!  Laying wood flooring and putting on the bar top wood.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 30, Feb 22-28, 2015
Kettle test fire, draft system plumbing, bar top prep.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 31, Mar 1-7, 2015
Completed draft system, bar rail and keg deliveries.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 32 & 33, Mar 8-21, 2015
Bar rail install, sanding and staining.  State license approval.  Keg cleaning on a large scale.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Week 34, Mar 22-28, 2015
Bar varnish, beer judging and bar metal prep.

Brewery Shakedown Cruise
Making the first beer the Rubber City Red, on the new system.

Building R.Shea Brewing: Weeks 35 & 36, Mar 29 Apr 11, 2015
More tiling, plumbing the fermentor glycol lines.

So Ron, When Will You Be Opening?

Scale-up Blues

I’m as Frustrated as You Are…But There is Light…and a Tunnel

This Will Be My Last Post on the Buildout

Akron's Homebrewing Club's 20th Year Anniversary Brew

And a Big Thank-You To....

It's Been Two Months!

Hosting an event?

We have the perfect party room waiting!

Contact partyroom@rsheabrewing.com and ask about our party space and catering menu... perfect for parties of 40-70 people. And you can’t get any closer to great beer and food!

Find out more...