Average Price Per Brew?

What is your average price per brew? Obviously, AG is cheaper. Growing your own hops helps. Harvesting yeast helps.

I am at the "mostly grain" stage. My cost comes in at about $25 to $30 per brew:

7lb base malt @ $1.15 /lb = $8.05
1lb special malt @ $1.55 /lb = $1.55
2lb DME @ $4.00 /lb = $8.00
1 pkg dry yeast $2.00 = $2.00
1.5oz hops @ $4.00 /oz = $6.00
1lb corn sugar $2.00 = $2.00
Shipping = $3.50 ($7.00 / 2)
Total = $31.10

If I trim the DME to 1lb and the hops to 1oz, that cuts the price down to about $25. Assuming two brews a month, that comes to $50 to $60 for ingredients.

My efficiency is creeping up, so I should be able to cut the DME and sugar more, maybe even eliminate it soon for some brews.

Really, once you get the equipment complete (like that will ever happen), this is not that expensive a hobby.

I've calculated my March Brown Mild to $15/batch.

I'm at around $35 per 10 Gal. for an ordinary bitter (AG)

around 18 or so for a smash recipes to 30 for an ipa

I am still brewing primarily from kits, so $25-$35 per 5 gallon batch. I plan on taking the plung into all grain, but not until I move out of my apartment.

Grains $18.00 - $ 20.00
Hops $ 4.00 - $ 6.00
Yeast $ 2.00 - $ 12.00 (depending on yeast)

Brewing your OWN beer, and having 40 gallons on tap at ANY time = PRICELESS

I've had as low as $15.xx for an AG batch with buying hops and yeast included, but I am usually right at about $22-$25 for my Amber Ale/APA/Oatmeal Stout recipes I like so much. Although, one recipe I priced was about $60 for a 5gal batch! The Dark Lord is quite costly to brew. Even still when you think about that, its just over $1 a beer to brew the Dark Lord clone recipe.

Yeast, grain, specialty grain, hops, gas (NG), water, electric for fermenting, ect about $50 per 10 gallon batch, about .47 cents per 12 ounce beer.

My average across, IPAs, specialty beers and my lighter ales... average for 2009 is $24 including SHIPPING. Not bad, $24 for a 5 gallon brew.

my last batch(ruination clone)was the most iv'e ever spent on one brew.$50!!! 6Oz. hops will do that i guess.

My last bach was 10g of my "kolsch" for SWMBO.

Grains:
2-row 13lbs @$0.51/lb = $6.63
White rice 6lbs @$0.24/lb = $1.44
crystal 10L .5lbs @$0.78 = $0.39
torrified wheat .5lbs @ =$0.20

Hops:
1 oz sterling @$2.00 =$2.00
1 oz willamette @$1.75 = $1.75

Yeast:
Washed kolsch yeast from storage = $0.00


Total = $12.41

add $3.50 for RO water, $5 for propane, and an extra buck for irish moss, 5.2, starsan, etc...

Thats ~$22 for 10gal

I find for 5 gallons I go from $20-$30, though the IPA I just made is running around $45 for 5 gallons due to the amount of hops. At $5/2oz I have used 10oz so far, so $25 in hops alone.

Joos said:

my last batch(ruination clone)was the most iv'e ever spent on one brew.$50!!! 6Oz. hops will do that i guess.

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6 ounces, that is still under $12... isn't it?

THB House Pale Ale (11 gallon batch):

19# 2-row Malt: $10.45 (.55/lb.)
1.5# Crystal 60L: $1.04 (.69/lb.)
1.0# White Wheat Malt: $.59 (.59/lb.)

1.5 oz. Whole Leaf Cascade Hops: $1.50
2.0 oz. Whole Leaf Centennial Hops: $2.00

2 Pkgs Nottingham Dry Yeast: $3.50 ($1.75 ea.)

+ Propane: $4.00 (assuming 5 batches/tank)
Subtotal: $21.33
+ Tax: $1.55

Grand Total: $22.88
11 gallons = 88 pints = 117-12oz bottles

Price per pint: $0.26
Price per bottle: $0.20

I brewed 2.5 gallons of Hefe for $5.90. re-used the yeast and found the hops for 99 cents per ounce.

TwoHeadsBrewing said:

THB House Pale Ale (11 gallon batch):

19# 2-row Malt: $10.45 (.55/lb.)
1.5# Crystal 60L: $1.04 (.69/lb.)
1.0# White Wheat Malt: $.59 (.59/lb.)

Price per pint: $0.26
Price per bottle: $0.20

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Correct me if I am wrong, and I hope I am not, you pay $30.25 for a 55# bag of 2 row delivered?

Bulk buy?

How can I?

I never figure these things, I'm afraid that If I did, I would quit brewing.
I have every receipt for every brewing related purchase that I have ever made, ingredients, CO2, equipment, absolutly everything. They are all tucked away neatly in a shoe box, and I have never added it all up, I'm scared :cross:

enderwig said:

I never figure these things, I'm afraid that If I did, I would quit brewing.
I have every receipt for every brewing related purchase that I have ever made, ingredients, CO2, equipment, absolutly everything. They are all tucked away neatly in a shoe box, and I have never added it all up, I'm scared :cross:

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Thats why you don't keep them, throw them away and destroy the evidence

Those bulk grain buys must make a big difference. 60 cents a pound for two row. I'm jealous.

Doing PM's and not buying bulk grain I'm seeing $25-$35 per 5 gal batch. I did Ed's house pale ale for $25 but have 2.5lb of 2 row already so thats another couple $$, Hobgoblin II clone cost $34 for everything. These were both with dry yeast, adding liquid yeast would add $4 per batch.

Extract does hurt though, $12 for 3lb of DME which takes the place of 5lb of base grain, the base grain would run about $4.50 so that adds $7.50 per 5 gallons. Buying in bulk to get $.50-$.75 / lb grain prices makes a huge difference too.

Just thinking out loud...

5.5 gallon batch (~5 gallons in keg)
base grain (avg): $0.70/lb x 10lb = $7
specialty grains (avg): $1.20/lb x 2lb = $2.40
hops (avg): $1.50/lb x 3oz = $4.50
liquid yeast (avg after 4 washes): $7 / 4 = $1.75
RO water, salts, buffer, sanitizer, cleaner: $3
electricity (brewing & fermentation), tap water: $4
co2: $2

total: $25 / 5gal = $5/gal = $25 / 53 bottles = $0.50/bottle

Never wanted to think sbout the price. The look on others when they drink my homebrew pays for it all!!! I would have to say maybe 35-40 dollars per 5 gallons. I do extract but am thinking ag is very soon.

Yeah, to all those paying under $1 for 2-row, um, where and how can I do this?? I pay $1.09/lb and I thought that was cheap!

I am around $20 or less for brews unless there is specialty stuff involved like adding fruit or I have to get something I am missing from the LHBS.

50lbs of grain for $33
hops less than $2/oz a lot of them are close to $1/lb in the freezer
Reuse liquid yeast by washing
Efficiency is at 85-87% too

a typical 1.055 - 1.060 for example

10lbs of grain $8 including specialty
6oz of hops $8
amortizing yeast by washing $1.50
extras such as coriander/orange zest $2.50

There's $20

The blonde ale I'm brewing today:

7lbs of 2 row @ .60 per lb= 4.20
1 oz of Willammette @ $2= 2.00
1 lb of specialty grain= 1.50
Reused Cali yeast= 0.00

Total= $7.70 for 5 gallons or 15 cents a bottle.

Add in the hidden costs:
Propane: $5
Yeast: $1 (divided up cost of yeast)
Sanitizer, camden tabs, etc: $1

$14.70 per batch or 29 cents a bottle.

I have to echo another post I saw. I really don't think about the price much anymore. I know it's pretty cheap. Let's see...

4 lb pale extract - $15
1/2 lb choc malt - $0.95
1/4 lb dark crystal - $0.65
1 oz Argentinian Cascade - $1.99
2 oz blueberry flavoring - $2
1 pkt dry yeast - $1.25

TOTAL - $21.84

Makes about 45 bottles, so about $0.49 per bottle.

At the same time, I brewed from an Ironmaster kit, to show a friend how easy it can be to start. So, for that one 10 bucks/45 bottles=$0.22 per bottle

Love this hobby.

RedIrocZ-28 said:

Yeah, to all those paying under $1 for 2-row, um, where and how can I do this?? I pay $1.09/lb and I thought that was cheap!

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where r u getting it for $1.09/lb i think thats pretty cheap

like2brew said:

where r u getting it for $1.09/lb i think thats pretty cheap

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That is cheap is you are buying it by the pound, but you should never pay more than a $1/LB if you are buying in bulk. My 50LB sacks work out to 64c/LB That price is from B3

of my house pale ale:

9 lbs. 2 row $4.50

2 lbs Vienna 1.20

.5 lbs Crystal .80

3 oz Hops Free. I grow my own

Dry Yeast 1.50

Propane 3.50

co2 maybe $1.00 a cornie to carbonate

So about ~ $13.00

If I use purchased hops, it would add $1.40 to $2.50 per ounce of hops. My IPA is probably closer to $18.00.

I'm thinking about 20 bucks for an IPA and closer to 12 or 13 for a basic APA.

VTChuck, I live in VT for the summers, I think we met in the brewing section of a food Cooperative this summer. I was just getting started with extract, but I lost your email. Where do you get your 2-row at $.50/lb??

humann_brewing said:

That is cheap is you are buying it by the pound, but you should never pay more than a $1/LB if you are buying in bulk. My 50LB sacks work out to 64c/LB That price is from B3

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i would pay 64c/lb in a heartbeat where are you buying from?

like2brew said:

i would pay 64c/lb in a heartbeat where are you buying from?

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B3=Morebeer

Lets see.. Last beer:

10lbs 2-row @ .30/lb = $3
2oz hops @ $2/oz = $4
3lbs specialty malt @ ~$1/lb = $3
1lb lactose = $.80
8oz chocolate = $4
Yeast:Free (I have a massive supply of washed and frozen yeast)

Total: $14.80

My english brown:
10lbs 2-row : $3
1.5lbs special: $1.50
2oz hops: $4
Yeast: Free

Total: $8.50

The berliner weiss I did was like 6lbs of malt I have in 50lb bags = $1.80, 1oz hops = ~$2 and a $4 packet of bacteria = 7.80. Reusing the culture next time for a $3.80 5 gallon brew!
And before anyone asks, I get 50lb sacks at wholesale.. so base malt is really cheap.

like2brew said:

i would pay 64c/lb in a heartbeat where are you buying from?

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Here it is. Problem for me is the cheapest shipping is a little over $45 making it $1.50/lb

American Pale (50 lb Sack) | MoreBeer

like2brew said:

where r u getting it for $1.09/lb i think thats pretty cheap

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My LHBS - and IF you are local, its your LHBS too because there is only 1. Sicilianos. Marris Otter is only $1.29/lb and most of the Specialty grains are less than $1.70/lb IIRC.

I run between $10.00-35.00/5.5 gallon batch. With a recent bulk buy of grains and some hops along with using my home grown hops and cultured yeast I expect the prices to drop even more. wonder if I can get a 5 gallon batch under $5.00...... I haven't counted propane which adds a few $$ per batch.

Call around. I found 50# sacks of 2-row at most supply shops in my area, and the drive to the nearest one is less than the cost of shipping, plus I sometimes drive by there and can get a sack for no shipping if I don't consider the trip strictly for brewing.

Also call nearby breweries if you have any. I just purchased a sack of grain from a brewery for the same price because they are very cool and could afford to sell it at that time.

Or look for a group buy if you can. It will not only be cheaper, but maybe resolve any issues with not having a supplier nearby.

Depending on the beer:

Recently planned Two-Hearted Clone: $24 approx. (5G)
Basic Pale Ale: $15 (5G)

I'm assuming grain costs $0.80 a lb. bulk sack, and bulk hops at 30 a lb. shipped.

Some saving could be had by growing your own hops, but this is not really a feasible cost savings unless you planted enough and they produced well, which takes a couple of years.

Washing yeast is cheap, and you can harvest some from your favorite bottle-conditioned brew.