Strangebird
Well-Known Member
So I've been lurking here for a couple months and have read a few recent and archived posts about folks getting into brewing to save money. Now mind you, that wasn't at all my reason. I'm somewhat of science a geek and just thought it would be fun to try to replicate some beer I've had at local breweries.
Anyway, tonight I was at the local liquor store looking at the craft brews. I did a little math for a coffee porter I had at a dinner party this weekend that I'd like to replicate. It costs $4.49/22oz and I realized that maybe you can save some money depending upon what you're trying to brew. For instance, I can buy a kit (extract w/speciality grains) for about $30-40 to make 5gal. The cost to buy the equivalent in that coffee porter is about $130.
128oz/gal x 5gal = 640oz
640oz/22oz = 29.09
29.09 x $4.49 = $130.62
So I'm curious why some folks say they don't save money by brewing at home. Is it because you find that you end up spending more money on equipment. Personally, I've been doing it on the cheap and picking up what little equipment I have from freecycle and craigslist and filling in the gaps (funnel, sanitizer, etc) with my local shop.
Are folks replicating brew that don't cost as much as the stuff I'm trying to make? I've only been drinking beer for maybe 6 months so maybe I just have expensive taste in craft/micro brews? I've literally never even had Bud.
Anyway, just curious what folks' thoughts are and what brought them to the hobby. Not trying to argue against those that say you don't save money.
Anyway, tonight I was at the local liquor store looking at the craft brews. I did a little math for a coffee porter I had at a dinner party this weekend that I'd like to replicate. It costs $4.49/22oz and I realized that maybe you can save some money depending upon what you're trying to brew. For instance, I can buy a kit (extract w/speciality grains) for about $30-40 to make 5gal. The cost to buy the equivalent in that coffee porter is about $130.
128oz/gal x 5gal = 640oz
640oz/22oz = 29.09
29.09 x $4.49 = $130.62
So I'm curious why some folks say they don't save money by brewing at home. Is it because you find that you end up spending more money on equipment. Personally, I've been doing it on the cheap and picking up what little equipment I have from freecycle and craigslist and filling in the gaps (funnel, sanitizer, etc) with my local shop.
Are folks replicating brew that don't cost as much as the stuff I'm trying to make? I've only been drinking beer for maybe 6 months so maybe I just have expensive taste in craft/micro brews? I've literally never even had Bud.
Anyway, just curious what folks' thoughts are and what brought them to the hobby. Not trying to argue against those that say you don't save money.