Outdoor Walk-In Coolers for Fort Collins Breweries
Fort Collins has one of the most active craft beer scenes in Colorado, and almost every brewery and taproom eventually hits the same wall: there is no more room inside for cold storage. Kegs stack up, canned inventory crowds the brewhouse floor and the taproom cooler is full before the weekend starts. For many owners, the answer is a walk-in cooler outside the building.
BBCOND installs new Crown Tonka walk-in boxes with Heatcraft refrigeration systems for commercial businesses along the Front Range, from Fort Collins and Loveland down to Denver. Here is what Fort Collins brewers should think through before putting a walk-in outdoors.
Why breweries move cold storage outside
Inside square footage in a brewery is valuable. It holds fermenters, brite tanks, the canning line, grain storage and the taproom itself. An outdoor walk-in can free up that space and make deliveries and distributor pickups easier.
- Keg storage. Full kegs are heavy and bulky. An outdoor box near a loading area keeps them out of the production space.
- Packaged product. Canned and bottled beer waiting for self-distribution or pickup can be staged cold in one place.
- Growth room. Adding fermenters or expanding the taproom is easier when cold storage is no longer competing for the same floor.
- Hop and ingredient storage. Some brewers dedicate part of the space to keeping hops and other ingredients cold.
What makes an outdoor walk-in different
Crown Tonka builds walk-ins from modular insulated panels, and boxes can be configured for indoor or outdoor use. An outdoor box is not simply an indoor box set on a parking lot. It needs protection from the elements and a solid base.
- A weatherproof roof. Outdoor walk-ins need a roof system that sheds rain and snow instead of letting water sit on the panels.
- A level slab or pad. The box needs a flat, properly drained foundation. Many brewery projects start with a new concrete pad.
- Weather-resistant finishes and sealing. Exterior panel finishes, seams and penetrations should be detailed for sun, moisture and temperature swings.
- Door placement. Think about where staff will roll kegs and hand trucks, which way the prevailing wind blows and where snow tends to drift.
- Lighting and access. Exterior lighting and a clear, shoveled path matter for early morning loading in winter.
Northern Colorado weather and your refrigeration system
Fort Collins sees hot summer afternoons, hailstorms, heavy spring snow and cold winter nights, sometimes all in the same season. The Heatcraft refrigeration system on an outdoor box has to handle that range.
- Hail. Condensing unit coils can be damaged by hail. Placement, guards or a protective structure are worth discussing during the site survey.
- Snow load. Roofs on outdoor boxes and any shelter over the condensing unit should be planned for local snow conditions. Confirm requirements with your building department.
- Cold-weather operation. When outdoor temperatures drop well below the box temperature, refrigeration systems need appropriate low-ambient controls so they keep running correctly through winter.
- Summer heat. On hot days the condensing unit works hardest. Giving it good airflow and keeping it away from hot exhaust helps it do its job.
- Altitude. Equipment should be selected and set up with Front Range elevation in mind.
Remote or self-contained refrigeration
Heatcraft offers both remote split systems and self-contained or top-mount units. Each fits different brewery layouts.
- Remote systems place the condensing unit away from the box, such as on a pad or the building roof, with refrigeration piping running to an evaporator inside the walk-in. This can keep noise and heat away from a patio or beer garden.
- Self-contained or top-mount systems package the refrigeration on the box itself. They can simplify installation when the walk-in sits on its own and a long piping run is not practical.
If your taproom has an outdoor patio, think about where people sit. Nobody wants a condensing unit humming next to their table, so placement deserves as much attention as the box itself.
Sizing and layout for kegs and cases
Brewery walk-ins are sized differently than restaurant walk-ins. Instead of produce and proteins on wire shelving, you are planning around keg footprints, pallet sizes and case counts.
- Count the kegs you need to hold at your busiest point, by size, and leave room for growth.
- Decide whether kegs will be stacked, racked or set on the floor, and whether you need room for a pallet jack.
- Plan wide enough doors and aisles for hand trucks and dollies.
- Separate space for packaged product, so cases are not buried behind kegs.
- Consider strip curtains to limit warm air coming in during long loading sessions.
Energy features such as LED lighting, good door gaskets, self-closing doors, EC fan motors and solid temperature controls help keep operating costs in check. Federal DOE standards apply to walk-in coolers and local energy codes may add requirements, and these rules change over time, so confirm what applies to your project.
Permits and planning in Fort Collins
An outdoor walk-in usually involves more review than an indoor one. Depending on your site, you may need building and electrical permits, and placement can be affected by zoning, setbacks, fire access and landlord approval. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and change, so check with the City of Fort Collins or Larimer County, as applicable, early in the process. Starting this conversation before you order equipment keeps the schedule realistic.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a brewery keg cooler hold?
Most breweries hold finished beer cold, but the exact target depends on your styles, carbonation practices and draft system. Your brewer should set the target, and the Heatcraft system is selected to hold it.
Can an outdoor walk-in work through a Fort Collins winter?
Yes, when the box and refrigeration are configured for outdoor use. That includes a weatherproof roof, a proper pad and refrigeration controls suited to cold ambient conditions.
We have an old outdoor box that keeps struggling. Can you fix it?
BBCOND does not repair or service refrigeration. If your existing box is failing, we can quote a new Crown Tonka walk-in with Heatcraft refrigeration as a replacement. For repairs, contact a refrigeration service provider.
How long does an outdoor walk-in project take?
Timing depends on box size, manufacturer lead times, slab work, electrical and permits. After a site survey, we lay out a realistic schedule so you can plan around brewing and release dates.
Plan your brewery walk-in with BBCOND
If your Fort Collins, Loveland or Greeley brewery or taproom is out of cold storage space, BBCOND can help you plan and install a new outdoor Crown Tonka walk-in with Heatcraft refrigeration. Call 303-219-1000, email sales@bbcond.com or contact us online to schedule a free on-site estimate.