The Story of Lil’ Brew Bird
It started off as a way to get away from Zoom. A way to decompress. To work with my own two hands again and be creative. It was the summer of 2021 and I needed a project to work on so I didn't go crazy. Something to take my mind off the stress of my corporate job.
I had first seen the vintage mobile tap trailer concept in New Orleans, a city that knows how to celebrate just about anything. I was impressed. I loved the idea of taking the old and making it new again … but with a twist.
Lil’ Brew Bird is a 1968 Shasta Compact travel trailer. We bought her from some friendly folks in Asheville who were ready to see her move from off their driveway. We knew she needed a lot of work, and we were ready to give her a new lease on life. The drive east on I-40 was a bit nerve wracking. At 54 years old, would she hold together? Thankfully, she managed just fine. This old girl must have good bones, we thought.
Our plan was to fix the known damage, sure up the frame and suspension, cut in an opening for towers and faucets, and build out the refrigeration system. It all started off fine. We began to take her apart carefully. And with every piece and part removed, I found myself taking off another. And another. And Another. Until we were in way over our heads.
We soon realized we’d need to take the entire trailer apart. Too many of the walls were just too far gone to repair. So, we made the extra effort to take it all the way back to the base frame. And in doing so we were able to strengthen the frame to better accommodate the added weight of the refrigerators and kegs. A new floor was built and sealed to protect from the elements. And to keep the vintage shape, new walls were framed using the old walls as templates. The walls were sheathed in 1/4” plywood and stained a neutral tone to keep the highlights of the wood grain. Rigid foam Insulation was added to all wall cavities and new period appropriate aluminum siding was hung.
With the trailer structure completely built out, it was time to turn attention to the fun part of the build. The back wall of the serving area was clad in reclaimed palette wood, adding a bit of texture to contrast the straight, clean lines of the siding. And the “window” was framed in chestnut stained wood to add warmth. The refrigerators, tap towers and faucets were installed 10 months after beginning the build.
It’ been a long, hard journey. Lil’ Brew Bird spread her wings and began flying around the Triangle serving up the best craft beverages in September of 2022. Interested in having Lil’ Brew Bird at your next gathering? Simply send us some details, and we’ll respond with a custom quote. Cheers!
