Nick Moeller spent several years learning to brew beer with friends while working as an engineer for the naval shipyards in the vibrant craft brewery scene around San Diego, CA, but he had an idea to bring the craft beer scene home to Ohio. With so many craft breweries headquartered in San Diego, brewery hopping is practically a pastime. Moeller figured the good people of his hometown of Maria Stein, Ohio deserved some good craft brews too. He envisioned brewing beer for the people he grew up with, using their input and a brewery that showed off the ins and outs of craft brewing. Armed with a vision and his passion for beer, he and his wife moved their young family the 2,200-plus miles back home to Maria Stein, OH to open Moeller Brew Barn in the fertile farmland of northwestern Ohio.
His dream of brewing tasty beer varieties with local input in a completely exposed environment is coming to fruition thanks in part to decorative and functional aluminum railing. Customers get to see all the brewing equipment in action at a safe distance behind a physical boundary.
A Feast for the Eyes and Taste buds
On discussing his open design, Moeller commented, “It doesn’t leave anything to the imagination. Customers can see and touch every tank. I didn’t want to hide behind walls or windows, and the aluminum railing gives us that.”
Moeller’s has a 15-barrel brew house that produces two and a half brews a week – including their standard Wally Post Red, Honeywagon IPA and Blackberry Prairie Wheat, as well as an Ales for ALS© selection which supports ALS TDI research. They also create up to three quarterly seasonal varieties. To celebrate the harvest season, they are now brewing a “garden variety” of beers including the Cucumber Patch – cucumber infused with one of their lightest offerings – the Dirt Track Kolsch.
Customers can sample their standard varieties or seasonal specials in the 75-seat tap room or at one of the 6 picnic tables in front of the Brew Barn. The taproom bar is barely 10 feet from the tanks, so customers can see where their beers were born.
Although tours are given by appointment – a task that Moeller himself relishes— customers can stroll around the facility anytime to check out the equipment and watch the crew whip up a batch of suds. Whether working at the double-walled, direct-fired brew kettle or within the cellar ring, which includes fermenters, brite tanks and keg washer, there is plenty for customers to see.
Open Concept, Safe Design
With the open structure of the aluminum railing, the views are basically unobstructed. Designed with aesthetics and functionality in mind, the decorative series 500 railing is strong, durable and maintenance-free, and meets OSHA, ADA and ICC safety criteria. Concealed fasteners and internally-sleeved / epoxied connections allow for a smooth surface and create a clean, contemporary design. This product is available in standard heights of 32”, 36”, 42” and 48” – with custom heights upon request – Moeller opted for the 42” in a satin anodized finish.
Posts and top rails for pipe and pipe picket railings are assembled to run in continuous lengths. This is a stronger design than cast tee and cross connections, and it also provides a continuous smooth top rail surface. Pipe pickets are factory assembled with a tight drive-in-fit to the top and bottom rail to ensure squareness and rigidity. Finishes available include baked-on enamel, anodized or duranodic, in white, light brown, green, sandstone, tan, almond, satin anodized, dark bronze and black.
Superior Pipe and Pipe Picket Railings are factory-assembled and made to customer specifications. Special curves or pipe radius can easily be fabricated at the factory to suit application requirements, yielding significant on-site fabrication savings. Easily assembled on site with no welding.
Moeller did not have to go far to find the railing – it was manufactured by Superior Aluminum Products in nearby Russia, OH.
“We approached our local building supply company, Shockman Lumber, and they referred us to Superior,” recalls Moeller. “They’ve been great – very easy to deal with. Form, fit and function all come together.”
Moeller began working with Superior early in the construction process and appreciated the opportunity to customize railing lengths and gate openings to suit his site-specific requirements. These specs were detailed on a CAD drawing provided for review and approval – and the project was built using the drawings.
The railing was installed immediately after the brewhouse equipment was installed and has been protecting brewery equipment and patrons ever since. Moeller and his crew remove a railing section and a gate to allow easier placement of the canning line – they are quickly and easily re-installed, allowing visitors a clear view of this fan favorite process.
Building a Bigger Brew Barn
Finely crafted beers like Burbank Blonde, Dirt Track Kolsch, and Wally Post Red are certainly the key element of the success of Moeller’s Brew Barn. That success is allowing them to expand the facility – increasing production capacity to allow 10-brews per week while adding 140 seats. Another cellar ring is planned which will include fermenters, brite tanks and a canning line. When completed it will all be surrounded by more railing from Superior Aluminum Products.
“This aluminum railing allows us to get the tanks exposed, the canning line exposed and still provide that customer to production boundary. It looks good, and customers can ‘hang at the brewery rail’ while having a pint.” said Moeller.
Moeller wants his customers to see all aspects of how it is made; the open design and unobstructed views of the brewing process are all part of the Moeller Brew Barn experience. For customers getting a behind the scenes look at the brewing process while sipping on a locally crafted pint, it’s all about what brought Moeller home in the first place: the beer.
About Superior Aluminum Products
Headquartered in Russia, Ohio, Superior Aluminum Products is an industry leader in the manufacture of aluminum railings and fencing, and aluminum and Fiberglas columns. This third-generation family-owned and operated company has been making aluminum products since 1956. Their decorative and functional products are custom built to customer specifications, with CAD drawings created for layout, design and manufacture. This allows them to identify and prepare for any slight difference or oddity in any area, and greatly simplifies installation. All products are designed to meet local, state and federal building codes, including the American with Disabilities Act. Their maintenance-free products are ideal for commercial, municipal and industrial facilities, as well as single-family and multi-family residential locations. Their Russia, OH headquarters facility includes over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing floorspace, as well as engineering, design, research & development, customer support and administrative offices.
For more information, visit www.SuperiorAluminum.com or contact info@SuperiorAluminum.com
Superior Aluminum Products Co.
555 East Main Street | P.O. Box 430
Russia, OH 45363
P: 937-526-4065
