Is AG really that much cheaper then extract? - Page 6

hough77 · 11-04-2011, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehaar

Where do you get S05 for $2 per packet?

US-05 is $2 at my HBS

gstrawn · 11-04-2011, 02:07 PM

the only "special" equipment i use for AG is a large fruit strainging back. I use a modified BIAB technique and get 83% efficiency. i brewed an oktoberfest for $20. And Cream of Three Crops for $15. You dont have to have a propane burner, or a cooler MLT for AG all i need is a 6 gallon pot, a bag, and a bucket. Don't get me wrong i would love to have a HERMS thhree tiered system and im super jealous, but i just don't have the money for it. My point is, yea AG is that much cheaper. Am i going to get carried away when I'm out of school and spend like $1500 on a setup, probably. But for now moving to AG literally cost me $6 and an extract wheat kit for 1.045 beer was $28. My IIPA cost me $25 and i have more control of my process. So yea it is that much cheaper, it does produce better beer if the process is mastered, and yes i would recommend itto anyone. I do still do extract for that quik brewday however. Go AG and you can spend however much you want, I will gauruntee you wont regret it. If you do, Ill buy your equipment from you for half price, so what do you have to lose!!!

ChickenHops · 11-04-2011, 03:07 PM

I lowered my costs pretty significantly when I went AG.

My biggest savings came when I stocked up on ingredients. I avoided last minute trips to the LHBS, or shipping costs that can double the cost of an ingredient.

I always have plenty of ingredients on hand. I can brew just about any beer at any time. I have to plan a little if I use liquid yeast. If I'm last minute I'll use dry yeast.

For me grain stores better than extract, especially if it's whole kernal.

I honestly don't stress too much about the cost. Making beer is cheaper and all around better than buying beer. I can make beer for less than I can buy bottled water by the pint.

solbes · 11-04-2011, 04:35 PM

About $18 per 5 gall batch all grain from $26 extract for me (for a ~ 1.05x gravity brew). But now I need a grain mill, so we'll call it even for the next 15 batches or so!

**RM-MN** · 11-04-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoodyCopperpot

That's not necessarily true. It will all depend on the equipment you are using for extract. Most extract brewers use 5 gal kettles, and that is definitely not big enough for AG batches. You generally will be boiling 6-7 gallons of wort for a batch, not the 3.5 or whatever you use in extract. You can pick one a 10 gal pot at a restaurant supply store for under $80.

This isn't really true. I made 3 batches in my 5 gallon kettle and they turned out well but I only made 3 gallon batches. I didn't need to boil 6 or 7 gallons.

I did add a larger kettle so I could do 5 gallon batches later on but I learned the techniques with the small batches first.

**RM-MN** · 11-04-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solbes

About $18 per 5 gall batch all grain from $26 extract for me (for a ~ 1.05x gravity brew). But now I need a grain mill, so we'll call it even for the next 15 batches or so!

I'll go along with your math for the first part but it shouldn't be necessary to go 15 batches to pay off a grain mill unless you are looking for a barley crusher. I bought a cheap knock-off of a Corona mill for about $20 and I'd say that it would pay off in 3 batches. With brew in a bag you don't need the grain crushed to preserve the hulls, you don't have a strainer in a mash tun that will give you a stuck sparge. If your wort quits coming out of the bag, you just squeeze a little harder.

solbes · 11-04-2011, 05:57 PM

Yeah, good point. I am using BIAB, but figured I will be doing homebrew for another 30 years +, so I would just jump straight to a BC. Do you have a certain model Corona that you could recommend? It looks like there are some quality ones out there, and then some that last for 2 batches before falling apart. Hard to know what's what.

Had to look up where Solway was at. Looks like just west of Bemidji. Hope to head up to the area next weekend for one last fishing trip. Been out at all?

**DeNomad** · 11-04-2011, 07:03 PM

In Canada at my LHBS extract costs about $5/lb. Grain costs like $1/lb for base malts, $2/lb for specialty malts.

Needless to say I have not met a single extract brewer in the city...