Who wants a 64 oz growler with metal flip top ?

progress update.....
fermenter room is starting to look like a fermenter room,
interior walls are all up,
plumbing is going in,
ABC part one is done, part two is underway,

slow and steady wins the race. ( I really need to upload some pics of the construction.)

Busy, busy,,,

We're busting our butts.  We got our building permits, electrical permits, plumbing, permits, health permits, ABC part 1 permit,,,,, gees makes me tired just saying them all yet alone doing all the paper work.  and I probably even forgot a few permits in that list.  Each of the above permits probably require two days per permit just to do the paper work correctly.  Hence the title of this post, busy, busy.

Now we're starting construction which is not just busy busy but also sweaty sweaty.  A lot of this early on construction phase has included crawling around in a hot attic.  And with the weather around here lately, that has not been,, enjoyable. Its barely even survivable.   Luckily we have had some very generous and brave helpers(cough bryan thanks a lot! cough).  We have torn down most of the interior walls that were already there and have rebuilt walls to isolate the brewing and kitchen areas.  The large window to allow viewing of the fermentation room is already in place. That is really helping us to keep our motivation up because its finally starting to look like a brewery.  This weekend we also installed a large mantel in the table area that is made from huge and positively heavy reclaimed oak.  

So we're getting a little further a long every day... stay tuned, same horse time, same horse channel

Tanks are here !

Our tanks have arrived.  We now have a mash tun, brew kettles, and fermenters.  That look great.  Good craftsmanship, all polished up. Exciting times.
Below are the boxes as they arrived off the truck.  and to the right is a fermenter as one side of the packaging was pulled off.    and at the bottom is the brew kettle with one side of the packaging pulled off. 

TTB APPROVED

TTB APPROVED 

Actually, we got our approval about two weeks ago.  We got an email saying it was approved and then called to confirm. and yep. We're golden.   We're just about the shortest approval I've heard of.  It took us about 35 days.  Not bad at all.  

Time to celebrate.... and then get to work.  

We passed the Lovettsville Planning Commission unanimously !  So now its on to the Town Council approval.  Basically, We need these to change the zoning from a by right use to a special exception.  Thus far we have good momentum.  Just a million or more permits and approvals and we'll be ready. 

Got the control panel a couple days ago and have been playing with that.  So that's been interesting.  The more I look at it, the more I'm glad I went with this vendor instead of some of the others.  The features of slow ramping heating elements, countdown timers, timers, water tight, and mainly the versatility are the main selling points in my mind.  Some other control panels are setup so its basically their way or the highway.  But what if you want to brew something using a completely different process.  This system is simple enough, or as I prefer to say versatile enough, that you can use it to fit whatever you want to do.  At least I hope.  When I start brewing here in,,, ummm,,, ( gees don't want to jynx us),,, Sept I will find out if it really works. 

We are gonna change the name to Mad Phoenix Brewpub cause we're rising from the ashes.

(okay that was lame sorry)

Started working on the bar top this weekend.  I got two huge and awesome wood slabs, approx 30"x12'x4". Spent all day saturday and sunday sanding them down, since I don't have a 30" wide plainer. (and really who does)  One is pretty well poly'd now and looking good.  Its starting to get exciting seeing it come together.

Got a delivery of 24 firkin 1/2 bbl kegs friday.  I figure they'll be perfect for on-site cask storage.  The firkin side port will allow for easy cleaning.  We figured that storing our beer in kegs would be a more flexible option then using brite/serving tanks.  By storing in kegs we can keep the beer closer to the tap and don't have to use a line chiller.  There is also less waste because you don't waste all that beer in the line when the keg goes dry.  And if in the future we want to start distributing then we are set.

Also,,, ( yes a lot has been going on)
I found the article in the Purcellville Gazette announcing that our Change of Use request will be considered at the upcoming town hall meeting in Lovettsville.  So that's,,, exciting,, scary,,, anxious something like that.  Lovettsville is charming little town that really fits our style.  So lets hope things work out.