Wallingford, CT

The rehab of this 2,440-square-foot 1930s building began in the summer of 2018. Originally outdated, it had cracked concrete floors, a deteriorating mechanical room, rotting openings, and a pit beneath a trap door housing the main utilities. The structural masonry walls were also cracking.

Located on a .19-acre lot with narrow setbacks—only 3 feet on three sides—the site posed challenges for equipment installation. The building’s transformation into a brewery, designed by owner Pete Ford with Ricci Construction Group, involved removing 900 square feet of old concrete to install an underground drainage system, relocate utilities, and create space for brewing.

The ceiling was vaulted to allow 12 feet of headroom for tank access, and the old mechanical room was removed. The floor was designed to slope toward the center for drainage, with 6 fermenters and 2 brite tanks creating around 24 tons of weight. It was reinforced with 8″ 4000 psi concrete and a nonslip surface.
With limited space, careful planning was needed to fit brewing equipment like the boiler, chiller, and auger. A loft above the bathrooms provided storage and space for the communication demark.

The brewery’s high electrical demand required a 400 amp 3-phase service, and a custom roof platform was built for the large chiller condensing unit. A gas-fired heater and mini-split unit handled HVAC for the brewing area.

Two custom-insulated coolers with independent refrigeration systems were built to store the beer, and a CO2 system was installed for both brewing and dispensing.

The tap room features an epoxy resin floor with wood chips for a unique look and nonslip surface. Custom woodwork from a local mill includes a black walnut bar, Sleeping Giant hemlock drinking rails, industrial pipe stand tables, and pine shiplap walls.

A clear garage door opens to bring the outdoors in, with a removable screen for nice weather. The custom tap rail displays 10 featured brews, and the room is equipped with a Sonos system, security cameras, and large-screen TVs, creating a welcoming space.