Beer got cheaper

**hopdawg** · 07-25-2009, 03:55 AM

Well my production cost just fell significantly. Too bad I can't write off my capital expenditure.
I just received my "Barley Crusher". I live 5 minutes from Gambrinus Malt Co. and I can walk in and purchase a 55LBS bag of 2 Row Pale Malt for $22.00USD. Lets see, for a batch where I use 8LBS that would be 22/55=$0.40/LB so 8x$0.40=$3.20 for a batch 'o' beer. And since I grow my own hops it's virtually "FREE BEER". Ok forget that my hop yard cost me $700 and my Barley Crusher was $150 landed and my keggerator was another $400. Not to mention the propane burner and misc equipment.
WHO CARES!!!! I CAN MAKE MY OWN BEER!!!!

Another round please love.

JMSetzler · 07-25-2009, 04:06 AM

That's a bargain for sure on the 2-row. I'm trying to work out a deal with my local brewery so I can get them to add a 50lb bag on to their orders here and there so I can save a few bucks. I also bought the barley crusher a while back. I have only used it once so far but it worked great at the factory settings. I'm not sure if i'm gonna tweak that any yet, but i might down the road. I hand cranked a 14lb grain bill on my first use of it. I'm gonna hook my DeWalt 3/8" drill up to it on Sunday's brew and see how that goes...

Fingers · 07-25-2009, 04:12 AM

Very nice. I bought a Barley Crusher and found a malt plant on my doorstep too. I pay about the same price as you. My hop garden isn't producing yet, but there may be some little presents on them this fall. Now all we need is a wholesale source of crystal and specialty malts.

**hopdawg** · 07-25-2009, 04:24 AM

The specialty malts get purchased out of petty cash and are available from my LHBS. Once I get the yeast harvesting method nailed it'll be as close as you can get to free beer.
The dewalt on barley crusher is the way to go, like shellin' peas. (I'll spend two hours rigging a motorized solution to save 10 minutes of manual labour

)
Now I think I hear someone challenging me to a game of pool, gotta go.

**humann_brewing** · 07-25-2009, 04:28 AM

haha, I am not sure any of us are in this hobby to save money on beer althought it is becoming cheaper and cheaper and time goes on and i find myself buying less and less at the store

I am having quite of a bit of my Vienna/Northern Brewer smash tonight

**Whutever** · 07-25-2009, 05:06 AM

You suck. . . . . . Can you tell I'm Jealous?

Synovia · 07-25-2009, 05:12 AM

$22? wow. Thats .40 a lb. You could do $10 batches

amercuric · 07-25-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faststage1

I live 5 minutes from Gambrinus Malt Co. and I can walk in and purchase a 55LBS bag of 2 Row Pale Malt for $22.00USD.

Obligatory "You suck!"

**hopdawg** · 07-25-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amercuric

Obligatory "You suck!"

Ok, know I'm feeling guilty of stretching the truth to benefit my story. Truth be known I'm really 8 minutes from Gambrinus.

**hopdawg** · 07-25-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humann_brewing

haha, I am not sure any of us are in this hobby to save money on beer.............

Actually saving money was my original motive. It started with getting it from the kettle brew store at 12 dozen for $100.00. To buy in the liquor store would be approx $250.00 for the same amount (beer ain't cheap in the great white north).
Even with all the equipment costs it doesn't take long to achieve a ROI.

So lets look at a typical 5g batch of ale:

8LB 2 row Pale Malt - $3.20
1-2LBS specialty malts - $4.00
Bottled water - $4.00 (10 gallons)
Hops - $0.00 (home grown)
Pk of Notts yeast - $2.50

For a Grand Total of: $13.70 or about the cost of a 6pk of craft beer.

The other production costs I don't factor in are:
Propane
CO2
Sanitizer
Water for the hops
Electricity for the keggerator
And of course capital equipment costs.