The Coffee Conundrum

I hooked up with fellow explorers 'syn' and 'zong' (aka 'makewiththebits') to conduct a further exploration of my favourite abandoned brewery. Although this was my fourth such trip into this massive complex, I still have yet only explored less than half of the facility.

As syn and zong were running a tad late, I decided to document their approach into the facility from the roof-top . . . I was fairly impressed how well the fellas blended into the background while in super-ninja-stealth-mode.


As I had not yet toured through the brewery's hospitality centre (read: beer tasting room!), I made it a point to explore this area first. This space was, I'm sure at one point, beautifully appointed to host countless thirsty guests after their tour of the brewery. The room features natural stone and wood materials.








Shown here is a lovely rock waterfall and the impressive stone hearth / fireplace. Equipped with a hot hostess, many would have considered this place back in the day 'beverage nirvana'.


Much of the hospitality centre has been ripped apart by contractors recovering material for re-use so it now appears a ghost of its former glory. Speaking of glory, no golden barley-water was to be found at the bar . . :-(








Of particular note regarding the very strategic location of the tasting room - it is sited directly below the former corporate offices. Coincidence? - I think not.

Behind the tasting room bar are conveniently located washrooms. The natural stone theme is carried through here as well. Very disturbing however, is the horridly garish choice of ceramics.

Toothpaste and tooth brushes were found in the Tasting Room fugly-a$$ washroom confirming my suspicion that the corporate managers occasionally spent the night at the bar.

As the crew pushed on to yet-unexplored areas of the facility, we took some time to photograph the gutted room where I suspect the bottling operation was housed.










For some reason today, I just could not get enough steel girders / 'H'-beams. Perhaps it is simply an iron deficiency.



One end of the bottling room contained a shallow lake. Since it had been raining intermittently for the last several days, I conclude that there may be a leak in the roof somewhere.

When I look at this image, I imagine Gollum climbing to the top of an island in an underground lake . . . weird !

Lone chairs seem to be ubiquitous with these larger abandonments. As no exploration is quite complete without taking one of these 'di rigeur' camera shots, I have included one here.



This was a really nice chair by-the-way. I could only wish to have such a chair for my desk at the Office.

Since I'm feeling like some more black & white images after that lovely chair-shot, I present here an old-skool dolly and a pipe-threader all found (very!) close to the occupied portions of the facility.













The team finally pushed into a yet-unexplored portion of the facility. This large room was rather dark with the exception of a hole in the roof which provided some interesting lighting effects for this small wooden pallet of material.

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I should hope that some of the blog readers out there(you average almost 800 per month to this blog)are starting to wonder why the the title of this post is "The Coffee Conundrum". Well, I shall get to that now.

Within the ill-lighted room mentioned previously, one of the first pieces of equipment encountered was this dusty machine used to bag coffee. Some may recall that 'Aurora Beverages' along with 'National Roasters' still occupy leased space here.

As we further explored this space, we identified numerous other pieces of equipment and machinery present all in a similar state of dis-use. Although there had to be several short years of dust and debris on the equipment, an entire coffee process line was operating here; roasting, grinding and packaging coffee.

What was highly unusual about this abandoned production space was the large volume of abandoned stock. There were numerous pallets of un-roasted (or green) coffee beans everywhere.








Several bags had been split open 'spilling the beans' perhaps by accidental movement of the product, by highly caffeinated rodents, or by O.P.P. Tactical and Drug Enforcement Officers back in 2004.

If I had to guess, I would estimate there to be the following volumes of coffee stock (all approximate of course):

• 120 x 60 Kilogram sacks, and
  
• 20 x 900 Kilogram 'supersacks'

This would give us approximately 25,200 Kilograms of green coffee beans. At approximately 80 cents per kilogram (whole-sale import), there would have been just over $ 20,000 of inventory. Given $6.00/1 Kg tin, I would peg the 'street value' (read: grocery store aisle) at just over $ 151,000. Them is a lot a beans - and we haven't even considered the value of all the process equipment yet.

So - I'd like to hear from the readers - what reason(s) do you think someone would walk away from so much investment ?
Please comment here on the post (or eMail me if you must) to discuss your theory.

Additional bit'o'information - Vince DeRosa (who has several properties to his name in T.O. and the Hammer), is C.E.O. of Fercan Developments, the company which purchased the former Molson Brewery. Vince also happens to own National Roasters, the coffee company, and Aurora Beverages who lease portions of the building. After the marijuana bust in 2004, Justice of the Peace Sue Hilton issued a non-communication order between the accused just released on bail and Vince DeRosa.

Molson Brewery 3

This is the third exploration into the former Molson brewery in Barrie.
For the first two adventures, look here and here.

From Left to Right in the Pipe Gallery -
CrossFire, JFK and yours truly.
UrbEx Barrie's very own JuicyFruitKisses and our good friend CrossFire from UEKW were in attendance today, both of whom had expressed a deep desire to explore the brewery. Having already put two explorations through a limited portion of the facility, one may suggest that perhaps I start an Urban Exploration adventure tour company.

I have already thought of that but could not think of a creative way to describe the nature of my illegal trespassing business within the business license application. Anyway, its always a pleasure to socially interact with other explorers , pick up on useful tips and perhaps find something very interesting overlooked previously.

Here, JFK, like a ghostly apparition, flows down the hallway to the boiler room.

Portions of the facility not previously explored that were covered today included the barley storage silos and the dimly-lit basement housing various process equipment.




JFK hamming it up for the camera.
Apparently there may a 'un-natural' gas hazard present in this room.

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I am always fascinated by gauges, levers, pulleys, and dials at an industrial abandonment. I visually attempt to recreate the manufacturing processes by following the process piping and studying any labels still attached to equipment.

I could not determine what this lever did but if I were the process engineer, I would have it spring a trap door in the lobby.

From the boiler room area, stairs led down into an absolute blackness. This is the moment where I remember that I wanted to pick up an LED flashlight and chuck my little mag-lite out. Fully descended, we discover that the basement is basked an eerie glow from fluorescent tube lighting in. This room has not seen anyone from the maintenance department for quite some time.

Highlights of this exploration for Crossfire and JuicyFruitKisses were definitely discovering evidence of the former marijuana grow operation. Watering and fertilizing schedules were scrawled on the converted brew vats.

Not the best shot to say the least but my only one showing our exploration of the barley silos. There are three rows of four silos, all connected via passageways to allow access to the drain valving. As the thick walls provide structural support for the silos above, the doorways resembled those on a battle ship or submarine. Very nautical, without the smell of seamen.

In this large room is where I imagine where the bottling equipment may have been installed. All has now been removed by the contractors working on decommissioning the facility and preparing for the ethanol operation.
With no handrails, aggressive pigeons, open holes and a good drop from this second floor catwalk, this is no place for a complacent explorer.

One could almost hear the equipment rust in the boiler room here. Again, my interest is captured by the valves, pulleys and chains.

It is my wish that one of these days, I find an operational pneumatic tube system in a building to send rotten eggs to an unsuspecting explorer in the next room.

Reception on this old television was quite terrible . . . curious. There are quite a few TVs of all sorts, sizes and ages in these two or three adjoining rooms.

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As I mentioned, this is my third trip to the brewery. You may have noticed that we have already posted shots very similar to these previously. I just can't help myself, I had to take another set.









A lonely bus seat near the boiler room, removed from its vehicle still parked in the bay.

Another shot of the 'pipe gallery' in the boiler room.

Molson Brewery 2

Molson Brewery Exploration - Part 2 (Mol-Ex Deux)

The second trip to the brewery re-visited some areas of interest and covered a lot of new ground. Also, we have our second video posted to Google and YouTube which compresses a four hour exploration into approximately four and a half minutes.


If you have a slower connection, take a break and let it load up . . . it's worth it.

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In this exploration, we are joined by Jef (aka T2WT) formerly of the Hammer, now re-located more locally to UrbEx Barrie's area of operation.










This is the first time we have explored with Jef.
As we discovered, he loves heights and roof-tops.

Speaking of roof-tops, I was mildly surprised to be able to see almost the entire length of Kempenfelt Bay out to Shanty Bay from this vantage point on top of the silos.

This is the covered walkway on top of the silos from where the previous image was taken. I was not surprised that birds have found their way into most of the areas but was taken aback to find raccoon cr@p up this high . . . I'm thinking either climbing gear or a new breed with opposable digits.

It would have been a lot easier to have taken the elevator but Rustblade's story (fire department rescue) stands as a warning beacon to other Urban Explorers hoping to take an easier way up.
Here, is the elevator motor looking in fairly good shape.

I toured Jef through the brew-house. It's unfortunate that we were not afforded the opportunity to see this space with the massive copper kettles still in place.










This is an image taken in the mechanical penthouse at the very top of the brew house.
Although the removal of the stairs here may provide a degree of distress to those suffering from vertigo, it does provide an unobstructed view 6 floors down.

A large number of explorers I know go ape-$hit over dials, gauges, buttons, control-boards and switches.
This location is chocked-full of money-$hots like this for those 'gauge-ophiles'.

The ground floor, presumably where the bottling line was once located, has been completely gutted by the contractors.
Here, Jef makes his way up the stairs for more interesting UrbEx fare.

In one of the mechanical rooms upstairs is this odd-looking piece of equipment, possibly used in the transfer of barley grain.
If you are a former Molson employee or perhaps someone with brewery knowledge, please leave a comment and let us know.

We now arrive to the infamous area of the facility. Here are some of the old beer vats which were converted into incubators for marijuana seedlings. These were highly efficient as both temperature and humidity could be precisely controlled.
Dirt and irrigation tubes were still on site. We also found a lot of stalks and pot-dust in the drying room.

This image will be filed in the WTF folder.
A mural on the back of this door shows a chilling creature from Dr. Seuss climbing through a window into your nightmare.

Remember kids, UrbEx Barrie is taking only photos and leaving only footprints even if there was more pot debris laying around.

Molson Brewery 1

Molson Brewery Exploration - Part 1


My very first urban exploration video now posted to Google Video and YouTube. Your comments and constructive criticisms are most welcome.

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This scout had turned into a brief sortie into the facility. Perhaps as a result of my previous experience at Naples Pizza location, I had decided to take immediate advantage of this newly discovered point-of-entry.

This wall mural is visible from Highway 400 from the second windowed floor.
Given some of the graffiti placed on walls and doors by the former employees during the plant's last days, I'm surprised no-one touched this.

The grain silos are full of . . . absolutely nothing!
Once properly retro-fitted, these silos may make a suitable location for ballistic missiles.

The retro-fit by the new Ethanol company seems to have slowed or even halted. This school bus seat had been set up just inside the rear roll-up doors offering the contractors a makeshift break area.

Several areas of the facility has had large sections of roofing and walls removed, presumably by the contractors for removing larger pieces of equipment no longer required. Squadrons of pigeons now roost within the facility . . . UrbEx tip - Explorers, wear appropriate head ware.

Most likely left by a former brewery employee in their locker, this foot-loose shoe had made it halfway up this flight of stairs.
It's 'sole-mate' was not located in the general vicinity.

Adjacent to these tanks and vats is a large pit, which once held one of several massive copper brewing vessels. Now for something completely different - the cost to manufacture a copper penny is 0.8 cents, but due to its valuable copper content, the penny actual is actually worth closer to 2 cents.

Due to this facility's massive size and kilometers of hallways, stairs, and catwalks, I suggest that Explorers take time to ensure they do not get lost or disorientated. It would be a poor idea to leave a trail of bread crumbs (see above pigeon reference).

That's the post for now. Be sure to check back soon to see more exciting material from my Molson Park explorations.

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Background
The Molson brewery in Barrie closed down in 2000, throwing more than 300 employess out of work. The facility sat idle and eventually leased out sections of the former brewery to several tennants, some who really wanted to 'grow' their business.


Acting on a tip and surveillance, more than 100 police officers raided the facility and found one of Canada's largest marijuana grow operations -- with kilometres of irrigation piping and 1,000 hydroponic lights covering an area the size of a football field. This facility, in plain view of the busy Highway 400, held tens of thousands of marijuana plants with a street value of tens of millions of dollars.

There were millions invested alone in just the equipment and is thought to have been the largest and most sophisticated marijuana factory in Canada.It took the Police two days to clear the building, and then sevearl weeks to conduct forensic work.

Northern Ethanol is planning a major retro-fit of the facility to meet the demand of regulated ethanol content in vehicle fuel in Ontario. The project is currently experiencing delays due to the several issues including cold feet by the new mayor and concerns from local residents. There may not be much longer to explore the facility before the new owner moves in.