Any of you who have visited my blog probably know I love BEER! I am, in fact, enjoying one right now. those who have been here a while may remember I run a computer services company and one of the specializations we have developed is building out networks for breweries. Hence the #beerology tag. Here are a few shots from our most recent build.

Having worked on the first 2 Abe Erb (their middle name literally is BEER!) breweries, it is time to build out the third. It is in a neat little town called Ayr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr,_Ontario in a refurbed feed mill that is being completely redone. With brewing done onsite and a kitchen for great food AND a cafe for fresh roasted coffee, it should be a nice addition to the Abe Erb empire and the town of Ayr.

I wouldn't call it a mess at this point but we were not the only trades workers onsite as we put in all the components necessary for opening and launch. We had surveyed the location when it was a shell and talked through the plan and our part. Having ordered everything and pre-configuring it in the lab, this visit was to get as much as we could done, and scope out tasks for the next visit.

This is where we discover that many of the plans have changed and decisions were made without consulting us as the information technology specialists. "We are no longer housing the network termination and related equipment in its own office secure in the basement. We are now putting it all here in this little cabinet, under a serving station." The look on my technician's face equates to, "Oh shit."

Here is all your networking crap....good luck. Well, lets see if it can be done.

One of the best and smallest investments you can make is in a network rack. It is made to not only contain the network gear, but kind of establish a domain for the computer stuff that should be without all the other crap that comes with a business. This one seems to have fit nicely in the cabinet and we just have to reinforce the attachment of it so that it doesn't rip out of the particle board wall.

While we divide and conquer, I leave the wire termination to my guy while I unbox the rest of the stuff and install some of the end points.

There are only a few network drops meant for receipt and kitchen printers, wireless access points, payment terminals, and the Sonos music system https://www.tomsguide.com/us/what-is-sonos,review-5140.html which is a network device as well. It really is home technology that the restaurants have come to like for its modular nature and reasonable price.
It is nice to get in and get our part done before the electricians have their power drops complete. I have the wallplates, network jacks and Wireless Access Point all ready to be put in and tested.

When all is said and done, everything luckily fits with zero millimeters to spare. Here, we have cable modem, network router, cloud key for remote management, patch panel, gigabit managed switch, wifi access point with both corporate and guest networks, and a really nice UPS to protect and power it all.
Our next step will be the installation of the printers, iPads for the point of sale, Mac Mini which acts as the server, and test everything to make sure it is ready for opening.

There will be a little running around before grand opening but now, we are just imagining the finished product and anticipating the good beer!

Some neat art work in the form of a mural on the back wall. Incorporates some of the original branding as well as a tied to the rural farming surroundings.

The tanks are already onsite and ready for their home. We check, and unfortunately, there is not a drop of delicious beer in them. If there was, You can see the tap you would hook up to if you were Barney from the Simpsons.

Until then, we will have to get our beer fix from one of the other breweries and get this one launched before we can enjoy here.

What's the name of your favourite local craft brewery?