42 replies to this topic

[3rd party JKor]

I won't drink enough beer in my lifetime to pay for the money I've spent homebrewing.  I haven't been brewing, so I buy commercial beer.  I can still find reasonable prices on cases of decent beer.  I usually only pay $22-24/cs for SN, BBC, Harpoon, etc.  10 gallons nets ~4.44 cases.  At $24/cs that's $105.  I bet when you look at all in costs for brewing a 10 gallon batch (time not included), you're looking at $60-70.  Let's say that's $40/batch, or ~$9/case.  I'd say I go through about a case every 3 weeks, which would put me at about $156 in savings a year.  I'm guessing i'll break even at some point in my 80s if i don't buy another piece of brewing equipment for the rest of my life. 

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I bought a lot of used stainless (kegs, conicals, kettles) before prices went crazy. I'm sure I'm up a bit overall if I needed to sell.

[MyaCullen]

it's always porter/stout season at my house

indeed good sir, your ilk is too my liking

[Stout_fan]

it's always porter/stout season at my house

For some arcane reason, I am compelled to agree with this.

[Stout_fan]

...12-packs of bottles are also up to ~$17 for SNBC, and I've been buying at least one 12-pack of bottles a week during our weekly shop, for the last 2-3 years, which is getting to be a bit spendy....

Now add the People's Socialistic Republick of Maryland's 10% alcohol tax and it gets easy to see things your way!

[realbeerguy]

I won't drink enough beer in my lifetime to pay for the money I've spent homebrewing.  I haven't been brewing, so I buy commercial beer.  I can still find reasonable prices on cases of decent beer.  I usually only pay $22-24/cs for SN, BBC, Harpoon, etc.  10 gallons nets ~4.44 cases.  At $24/cs that's $105.  I bet when you look at all in costs for brewing a 10 gallon batch (time not included), you're looking at $60-70.  Let's say that's $40/batch, or ~$9/case.  I'd say I go through about a case every 3 weeks, which would put me at about $156 in savings a year.  I'm guessing i'll break even at some point in my 80s if i don't buy another piece of brewing equipment for the rest of my life. 

This is not a hobby of logic, Mr. Spock

[3rd party JKor]

This is not a hobby of logic, Mr. Spock

 

 

Just throwing some reality in there.  If you're brewing to save money you should be using a whatever you have in your kitchen to brew and a bucket to ferment.  As soon as you start talking about a brew stand, kegs, taps, etc. you've gone off the rails w.r.t. saving money.

[BarelyBrews]

Just throwing some reality in there.  If you're brewing to save money you should be using a whatever you have in your kitchen to brew and a bucket to ferment.  As soon as you start talking about a brew stand, kegs, taps, etc. you've gone off the rails w.r.t. saving money.

 

I used buckets from work( had lemon pulp in them once) and crushed grains with a rolling pin in the beginning. Nothing but bottling beer for 2 or so years. I thought i started to save money.

 

And for the record i  purchase beer too often.

[gnef]

Haha. I've always said that hobbies were never meant to save us money, they were to maintain our sanity!

[MyaCullen]

Just throwing some reality in there.  If you're brewing to save money you should be using a whatever you have in your kitchen to brew and a bucket to ferment.  As soon as you start talking about a brew stand, kegs, taps, etc. you've gone off the rails w.r.t. saving money.

unless you are a spendthrift like myself who piecemealed their system together for low bucks

[DieselGopher]

unless you are a spendthrift cheap-a$$ like myself who piecemealed their system together for low bucks

[MyaCullen]

I call myself that as well

[DieselGopher]

I call myself that as well

I freely admit it about myself.

[djinkc]

I don't spend more than $50 - $60 on a ten gallon batch. Probably less most of the time. If I've spent $4000 on brewing specific items that would put me at about 60 - 70 cents for a 12 oz pour. That's not why I do it though.

[MyaCullen]

I don't spend more than $50 - $60 on a ten gallon batch. Probably less most of the time. If I've spent $4000 on brewing specific items that would put me at about 60 - 70 cents for a 12 oz pour. That's not why I do it though.

I've spent about $1000 and a 5 gallon batch takes about $20-40 depending on style

[Steve Urquell]

I just got 110lbs of floor malt and 55lbs of Vienna in so I better not be buying beer. All my eqpt has been paid for for years and totals <$800. I use 1 yeast strain from 1 pack for ~1 year. My 7 gallon batches are cheap($20ish). Also, where else can you find fresh Czech lagers other than by brewing them yourself?

[djinkc]

I've spent about $1000 and a 5 gallon batch takes about $20-40 depending on style

 

 

I just got 110lbs of floor malt and 55lbs of Vienna in so I better not be buying beer. All my eqpt has been paid for for years and totals <$800. I use 1 yeast strain from 1 pack for ~1 year. My 7 gallon batches are cheap($20ish). Also, where else can you find fresh Czech lagers other than by brewing them yourself?

 

Time constraints can make it tough to brew cheaply.  Use some extract and a couple yeast packs and the coin adds up quick.  I buy in bulk but that just doesn't work for everyone.  And time is one reason why I didn't brew for 20 years.

[Steve Urquell]

Time constraints can make it tough to brew cheaply.  Use some extract and a couple yeast packs and the coin adds up quick.  I buy in bulk but that just doesn't work for everyone.  And time is one reason why I didn't brew for 20 years.

Yep bulk is the way to go. I brew in spurts when my kegs get low. Sometimes no brewing for months then every week till my stock is up. I have 2 weekdays a month off work due to working 1 wkend per month. Thats when I brew--home alone.

[MyaCullen]

I just got 110lbs of floor malt and 55lbs of Vienna in so I better not be buying beer. All my eqpt has been paid for for years and totals <$800. I use 1 yeast strain from 1 pack for ~1 year. My 7 gallon batches are cheap($20ish). Also, where else can you find fresh Czech lagers other than by brewing them yourself?

man after my own heart

 

that $1000 is a rough estimate and includes all my wine and mead stuff as well as my kegs and taps etc

 

where's you get that floor malt?

[Steve Urquell]

man after my own heart that $1000 is a rough estimate and includes all my wine and mead stuff as well as my kegs and taps etc where's you get that floor malt?

Midwest. I had a 20% off coupon. Got it for $66/bag delivered after the coupon was applied. My buddy bought 1/2 sack so I actually have 80lbs on hand. We're gonna do Vienna SMASHes with the Franco Belges (French) Vienna and Wyeast 2002. He's using Saaz, I'm using Saphir.