Page 33 - Beverage Master_OctNov 2021

Craft Distillery

distillery design with a true identity of building sus- age and height requirements. Retail space is nice to
tainably.” have but nicer if it’s separated from any restaurant
or bar area. Even though the customers are buying
Solar energy is growing in popularity, but mostly your products, you don’t want them wandering
in incentive-based areas. Nyberg told Beverage through the bar or dining area to do so.”
Master Magazine that incentives allow the builder
to recover the higher initial installation costs more “And now, most distillers – and customers –pre-
quickly. It can be a lengthy recovery period other- fer that visually appealing connection between the
wise. If solar energy is in the plans, the builder has production areas and customer use areas. And why
to be made aware of it well ahead of construction wouldn’t you? It’s all pretty cool equipment, and
during the initial design process. customers want to see the copper, brass and stain-
less involved in the columns, stills and valve mech-
“There is the obvious increased weight issue that anisms. We know that they’ll be spending money
has to be considered and addressed upfront,” said while they admire all of this great equipment, but
Nyberg. “It gets factored in with the other installed again, you have to defer to local codes for the
weight-bearing items that affect the load on the design. You’ll likely need a fire-rated wall between
roof structure, like lighting and the type of sprin- the two areas, and probably an explosion-proof one
kler/fire systems used. It may even change your at that. Add in large glass viewing areas, and you
building’s overall orientation by looking at an east/ have a situation that must be well designed and
west run with the pitch slope towards the south to planned to code.”
get the maximum benefit from the sunlight.”
Seek Out Experience and Plan for Success
“Wastewater concerns are another location-spe-
cific code requirement,” said Nyberg. “Water run- Nyberg said that first and foremost, it’s essential
off should always leave the property at the same to work with a qualified, experienced distillery
rate it would if the new building and lots were not builder that fulfills your vision and offers a range of
there. Detention pools are a common solution for options. Then you contact your local permit author-
this problem, and although there are different lev- ity for the specific steps needed to proceed and
els of codes, requirements and enforcement on this the correct path for the building team to take. For
issue, we encourage businesses to conscientious- example, will subcontractors be allowed to formu-
ly decide to be good neighbors and plan for it by late their plans and designs, or are you building in
adding it to their design. You don’t want to be the a highly permitted area where the entire project is
reason that others suffer because of the increased documented and signed off on by a single qualified
water flow due to your construction.” lead-engineer before any construction occurs? It
varies in different regions, and you and the builder
How Big Can You Go? need to know.

Distillers need to be diligent about expected “Some of the best advice I can give to potential
growth and build a distillery welcoming to future distillery builders, and I’ve seen a lot of them, is to
additions, including retail, restaurant and produc- always plan for the best possible outcome of your
tion areas. Otherwise, the potential for expensive business,” said Nyberg. “Plan for expansions in
mistakes multiplies. production, retail and even dining areas, and then
design your space accordingly. Will you want to
“A distiller has to be realistic in the operations offer space for future events like private tastings,
area of distilling along with the brand image that business or club meetings, weddings or anniver-
they want to project,” said Nyberg. “You never saries? Sketch these areas into your initial design,
want to get into a project only to discover a high- including all the necessary utilities, even if you’re
priced issue that requires additional resources from not building those areas right now. There is noth-
your lender. You absolutely need an accessible ing worse than trying to piece together expansions
receiving area, big enough to handle your needs, while keeping operations running. If the original
yet somewhat hidden from your distillery’s other, plans include sketches of these areas, your building
more public spaces. You need to know what equip- will be ready to accommodate the additions with
ment you will be using, including the square foot- the least amount of disruption possible. Patrons

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