Loose ends...
23/08/25 09:50
Apologies in advance for the long post!
If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone looking into our windows to observe our progress, I’d be a wealthy person. Thanks to all who’ve inquired about our opening date and have shown excitement in visiting us when we do finally open. Also, thanks to all who have shown interest in joining our team. We’ll be in touch with all of you soon.
So when will we open? While I don’t have a definitive answer today, it won’t be long until we are able to make our first batches and be able to open with a limited selection. After we start brewing, it’ll be several weeks until they are ready.
One of the most important parts of opening a brewery with new equipment is the process of commissioning the equipment. In short, commissioning is required to test the equipment, make sure any automation is working, ensure all valves and sensors are talking to each other and learn to properly clean and sanitize the equipment. A week ago, Jarrod, our representative from @Paul Mueller Company spent an entire week working with Greg, our brewmaster, to make sure the equipment was in proper working order. Greg and Jarrod are in the picture. We’re happy to know that it’s all working perfectly.
That leaves just two more steps left before we can start our first brew; we still need to have our burner flue for the brewhouse fabricated and installed and second…we need water.
There are four main ingredients in beer, the quality of each is just as important than the others. They are Grains, Yeast, Hops and Water. If you don’t have quality grains, you won’t have a quality beer, if your yeast or hops are of low quality, a quality beer isn’t likely. If your water isn’t of good quality, it would be difficult to brew a quality beer.
Unfortunately, while Union Grove water isn’t bad water for any normal activities including drinking, UG water has a relatively high sodium content because the water has been softened.
For that reason, we’ve teamed up with yet another Union Grove business and have contracted with our friends @Meredith Culligan water to provide the components we need to produce reverse osmosis water to be used in our beers.
RO water is basically pure water so we’ll have the ability to build the water chemistry up to mirror the water components of countries around the world so that our beers can also mirror beers from specific regions. We just want to do it right.
We expect the RO water components to be installed next week.
I know that this is quite a bit of information but I just wanted to explain what’s going on as it relates to our opening date.
Slàinte mhath!!!
If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone looking into our windows to observe our progress, I’d be a wealthy person. Thanks to all who’ve inquired about our opening date and have shown excitement in visiting us when we do finally open. Also, thanks to all who have shown interest in joining our team. We’ll be in touch with all of you soon.
So when will we open? While I don’t have a definitive answer today, it won’t be long until we are able to make our first batches and be able to open with a limited selection. After we start brewing, it’ll be several weeks until they are ready.
One of the most important parts of opening a brewery with new equipment is the process of commissioning the equipment. In short, commissioning is required to test the equipment, make sure any automation is working, ensure all valves and sensors are talking to each other and learn to properly clean and sanitize the equipment. A week ago, Jarrod, our representative from @Paul Mueller Company spent an entire week working with Greg, our brewmaster, to make sure the equipment was in proper working order. Greg and Jarrod are in the picture. We’re happy to know that it’s all working perfectly.
That leaves just two more steps left before we can start our first brew; we still need to have our burner flue for the brewhouse fabricated and installed and second…we need water.
There are four main ingredients in beer, the quality of each is just as important than the others. They are Grains, Yeast, Hops and Water. If you don’t have quality grains, you won’t have a quality beer, if your yeast or hops are of low quality, a quality beer isn’t likely. If your water isn’t of good quality, it would be difficult to brew a quality beer.
Unfortunately, while Union Grove water isn’t bad water for any normal activities including drinking, UG water has a relatively high sodium content because the water has been softened.
For that reason, we’ve teamed up with yet another Union Grove business and have contracted with our friends @Meredith Culligan water to provide the components we need to produce reverse osmosis water to be used in our beers.
RO water is basically pure water so we’ll have the ability to build the water chemistry up to mirror the water components of countries around the world so that our beers can also mirror beers from specific regions. We just want to do it right.
We expect the RO water components to be installed next week.
I know that this is quite a bit of information but I just wanted to explain what’s going on as it relates to our opening date.
Slàinte mhath!!!
Supporting Union Grove businesses
10/08/25 09:47
Giving a huge shout out to another Union Grove neighbor who brought us one Step closer to completion, Byfluglien Inc.
The Byfluglien team created our custom window sign and installed it effortlessly above our front door. I think you’ll all agree it looks great!
We’ll definitely use Byfluglien again as we continue to support as many Union Grove businesses as we can.
The Byfluglien team created our custom window sign and installed it effortlessly above our front door. I think you’ll all agree it looks great!
We’ll definitely use Byfluglien again as we continue to support as many Union Grove businesses as we can.
It's getting closer!
01/08/25 09:47
In the three years of planning our brewery, we had several visions of what the exterior and front entrance would look like. We intentionally went with the angled southwest corner just to get away from that square building look and to catch the eye on the northbound travelers on Hwy 45. We also had several ideas of what type of signage we were looking for and were leaning in one direction until our friends at Bower Design and Construction talked us into using TS Signs and Designs in creating something special for us. In the end, we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.
On another note, In keeping with our desire to work with as many Union Grove businesses as practical, we just received our first order of shirts and hoodies from our friends at Ruma Sports. If you’ve never shopped at Ruma before, their merchandise is of the highest quality, it arrives quickly and most importantly, the folks there are incredibly friendly. I have no doubt that this delivery will be the first of many to come.
We’re getting pretty close to be able to announce our opening date. There’s still a little work that needs to be done on the interior, the brewhouse equipment will be commissioned next week and we’ll soon be looking for our occupancy permit. Once we get that, we’ll start our first brew which will be ready in a couple weeks. Once all the permits are in order, we’ll have the ability to ferment as many as 6 different styles at a time. Our goal to have 12 beers constantly on tap will happen within a month or two.
On another note, In keeping with our desire to work with as many Union Grove businesses as practical, we just received our first order of shirts and hoodies from our friends at Ruma Sports. If you’ve never shopped at Ruma before, their merchandise is of the highest quality, it arrives quickly and most importantly, the folks there are incredibly friendly. I have no doubt that this delivery will be the first of many to come.
We’re getting pretty close to be able to announce our opening date. There’s still a little work that needs to be done on the interior, the brewhouse equipment will be commissioned next week and we’ll soon be looking for our occupancy permit. Once we get that, we’ll start our first brew which will be ready in a couple weeks. Once all the permits are in order, we’ll have the ability to ferment as many as 6 different styles at a time. Our goal to have 12 beers constantly on tap will happen within a month or two.
Moving the equipment into it's new home...
17/07/25 09:42
We reached yet another milestone at the brewery yesterday when our brewery equipment was safely transported out of temporary storage at Union Grove Lumber Lumber & True Value Hardware, to its new home within our brewery. Once again we’d like to thank our friends at Union Grove Lumber for all their help in the use of their staff, equipment and facilities to keep our brewery equipment safe and secure.
Early yesterday, our equipment made its way safely into its new home without a single scratch or dent. Apologies to anyone who may have been following the equipment or had to wait while the forklifts crossed Main Street.
We’ve mentioned in previous posts how pleased we were with the team at Bower Design & Construction Design and Construction in the work they’ve done to date. Yesterday, when they organized, executed and safely completed the move of 21 large pieces of brewing equipment without incident, the Bower team surpassed any expectation we would ever have for any construction company, including companies experienced in previous brewery construction.
If they could pull this move off as easily as they did, they could do anything.
We also have to compliment the actual team that did yesterday's work. Led by Chris, Adam and Scott, a group of incredibly well mentored young men, eager to break into the construction trades, provided much of the muscle behind the efforts. We were truly impressed at their show of enthusiasm, teamwork and strength (see the pictures).
Thanks to all who made this happen. I know that the Bower Team is as passionate about this project as we are. Our next house will definitely be a Bower home.
For those who have asked about our grand opening date…we’ll have something on that soon. Unfortunately, it won’t happen in time for the car show on August 9th. We really don’t want to hurry with the opening so that we can do it right. Once we pass all the inspections and other related red tape, we’ll have a better idea for an opening date.
Early yesterday, our equipment made its way safely into its new home without a single scratch or dent. Apologies to anyone who may have been following the equipment or had to wait while the forklifts crossed Main Street.
We’ve mentioned in previous posts how pleased we were with the team at Bower Design & Construction Design and Construction in the work they’ve done to date. Yesterday, when they organized, executed and safely completed the move of 21 large pieces of brewing equipment without incident, the Bower team surpassed any expectation we would ever have for any construction company, including companies experienced in previous brewery construction.
If they could pull this move off as easily as they did, they could do anything.
We also have to compliment the actual team that did yesterday's work. Led by Chris, Adam and Scott, a group of incredibly well mentored young men, eager to break into the construction trades, provided much of the muscle behind the efforts. We were truly impressed at their show of enthusiasm, teamwork and strength (see the pictures).
Thanks to all who made this happen. I know that the Bower Team is as passionate about this project as we are. Our next house will definitely be a Bower home.
For those who have asked about our grand opening date…we’ll have something on that soon. Unfortunately, it won’t happen in time for the car show on August 9th. We really don’t want to hurry with the opening so that we can do it right. Once we pass all the inspections and other related red tape, we’ll have a better idea for an opening date.
Another Milestone!
01/07/25 09:38
Today was yet another milestone day for Tailwinds Brewing Company as our brewing equipment finally arrived in Union Grove. The downside to this delivery was that because our concrete was just recently poured, there was no way we could receive it at the brewery. We were at a little bit of a loss of what to do until another longtime Union Grove business raised their hands offering to help us out. Today, two semi’s arrived with our 21 pieces of stainless steel goodies. Scott from Union Grove Lumber and True Value Hardware offered the time, the use of their forklifts and a space to store the equipment until we could accept it. When that day comes, they’ll even help to move it into our building.
This was a true team effort of two great Union Grove businesses. Bower Construction and Design had their team out there in full force along with Scott. While Scott was maneuvering one of the two forklifts used for the delivery, his team on the inside was working that much harder in his absence.
When we first started planning this project, it was important for us to use as many local resources as possible in an attempt to support the community. Today, a village business made their resources available to us, just to help us out. This is what we love about small towns, Union Grove and the Union Grove business community that we’re proud to be a part of.
Union Grove Lumber and True Value Hardware will always be our first choice for our lumber and hardware needs. They deserve that. Shop local!
Once we unwrap those stainless steel goodies, we’ll post those pics as well. The brewing system and serving tanks we chose will be very unique to the area and we can’t wait to show them off.
This was a true team effort of two great Union Grove businesses. Bower Construction and Design had their team out there in full force along with Scott. While Scott was maneuvering one of the two forklifts used for the delivery, his team on the inside was working that much harder in his absence.
When we first started planning this project, it was important for us to use as many local resources as possible in an attempt to support the community. Today, a village business made their resources available to us, just to help us out. This is what we love about small towns, Union Grove and the Union Grove business community that we’re proud to be a part of.
Union Grove Lumber and True Value Hardware will always be our first choice for our lumber and hardware needs. They deserve that. Shop local!
Once we unwrap those stainless steel goodies, we’ll post those pics as well. The brewing system and serving tanks we chose will be very unique to the area and we can’t wait to show them off.
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