Buying Beer As A Homebrewer

[Nubiwan]

Sure I have replied to this thread once before, and apologize if my comments are repeated, but frankly I do buy the of few cans when pipeline has been neglected. Have no choice but to buy pints when on the town or eating out. My qualm is the price for the stuff. $5 a can in the store, and $8-12 a pint in most bars restos. Often the beer is meh, but sometimes ok, is my experience. It’s a ridiculous price point here, and assume much is taxes. If beer was reasonably priced, I honestly don’t think I’d bother homebrewing.

As an example, I might brew 500 pints a year. I think my grain cost etc is around $0.50 a pint give or take. So let’s say $350-500 a year in grain. The same 500 pints are $4-5 grand plus tip at a bar. I’m also a decent tipper.

 

[Nubiwan]

As an example, I might brew 500 pints a year. I think my grain cost etc is around $0.50 a pint give or take. So let’s say $350-500 a year in grain. The same 500 pints are $4-5 grand plus tip at a bar. I’m also a decent tipper.

Conversely, I drink waaaaay more since I restarted homebrewing than I ever did before.

 

[rock_n_herm]

Conversely, I drink waaaaay more since I restarted homebrewing than I ever did before.

And that, my friend, is our problem.

 

[Joe P]

I probably drink about the same as I always have. I enjoy the taste of homebrew more then ever but also have some stand by brewerys. If anything cost wise, I'll remind myself as to why am I buying beer when I have several cases on hand? I think it's because I'd rather save mine for myself or get togethers. OR it's because buying the occasional case extends my brew supply. Whatever the reason I still REALLY enjoy the hobby of drinking...uh...I mean home brewing.

 

[KyBeer]

Is it illegal to fish without beer? I know with many sports the spectators are required to consume beer. But for the spectators who do not consume beer, they permit other spectators to consume beer in their place. That's why I always have at least two to help the other spectators who don't drink.
Just doing my part.

 

[bracconiere]

i'm just impressed this thread is still going strong!


gotta admit, i've been getting my ass beat. had to buy 10 gallons of apple juice. somehow 'they' have got my 10 gallons of sugar wash i added wheat germ & rice bran, both boiled into tea too, it's only gaining 1% a day it's up to 7% but needs to go to 13-14%....


my apple juice probably won't be done for another week, got what should be 4lbs of 65% to add to a keg, malt is drying, almost ready for the kiln. but both my fermenters are tied up because of this slow sugar wash....


THE FIGHT IS REAL!

 

[Sam_92]

That's why I use 5 gallon hardware store buckets for my mashes/ washes. Can't let a slow ferment hold up the beer pipeline! Can't bring myself to spend the coin on a six gallon bucket either because all the ones I've looked at are $20! I simply can't fathom why the one extra gallon costs 300% more.

 

[Homebrew Harry]

I simply can't fathom why the one extra gallon costs 300% more.

I could be wrong, but I think that they call it price gouging

 

[KyBeer]

It is important to keep perspective with your expenditures when brewing wine, beer, or spirits. I look at the cost of purchasing the beverage at a restaurant or bar, then the cost of the grocery store and last of all the cost of homebrewing.
If the cost of a 6 gallon bucket is then constdered over several uses it makes it less painful.

 

[spersichilli]

I really don't think homebrewers should ever stop drinking "commercial" beer. Yes you may make beer you think is very good, and yes at a certain point homebrew will be cheaper, but at the same time if you're just drinking your own beer it's hard to develop your palate or find inspiration. Continual development of your palate is key to constant improvement of your beer. One of the reasons I think my homebrew has gotten really good is that I constantly seek out the best examples of the styles I want to brew. I don't think I would be making as good of barrel aged stouts as I do without using beers from Side Project, Toppling Goliath, and the like to set the standard for me. Also, maybe it's the ADHD in me but I feel like just drinking my own beer would be boring. So many other brewers, both commercial and homebrewers, have different perspectives on different styles of beer so it's always refreshing/interesting to see how others attack beers. I think when we rest on our laurels, thinking we make "good" beer and don't need to look outward for inspiration is when our beer stops progressing.

 

[Plastic Brewkettle]

@KyBeer I must remember that. It's axiomatic and will become my mantra.

 

[balrog]

It is important to keep perspective with your expenditures when brewing wine, beer, or spirits. I look at the cost of purchasing the beverage at a restaurant or bar, then the cost of the grocery store and last of all the cost of homebrewing.
If the cost of a 6 gallon bucket is then constdered over several uses it makes it less painful.

I got an 8 gallon bucket once for those huge krausen wheat brews. It is, I fear, just that much too big. Size does matter. Should've stuck with 6 gallon buckets.

 

[BrewZer]

i'm just impressed this thread is still going strong!


gotta admit, i've been getting my ass beat. had to buy 10 gallons of apple juice. somehow 'they' have got my 10 gallons of sugar wash i added wheat germ & rice bran, both boiled into tea too, it's only gaining 1% a day it's up to 7% but needs to go to 13-14%....


my apple juice probably won't be done for another week, got what should be 4lbs of 65% to add to a keg, malt is drying, almost ready for the kiln. but both my fermenters are tied up because of this slow sugar wash....


THE FIGHT IS REAL!

I blame the Ukrainian situation.

 

[bracconiere]

I blame the Ukrainian situation.

you mean my yeast are intimidated? i haven't checked the ph of it....(mod note, i know, i know) maybe there are too many H+ in it?

 

[1bottlerocket]

Oh yes, I noticed your location and the entry-level threshold to the market is definitely ridiculously low in Switzerland. I did not get involved myself in the steps necessary to go commercial because I am purely a homebrewer, but it seems to be really easy. Heck it seems to me that every second homebrewer here is opening some sort of micro- or nano brewery at some point. Some of them are going commercial not even after a year of homebrewing (!). So at the moment it is kinda a wild west situation here with respect to craft breweries opening... how many do we have...1300+ "breweries" for a population of 8 million, if I am not mistaken? That gives an idea of the situation.
Not that this is necessarily a bad thing!
The downside is that you can find everything on the market: from truly great beers to truly terrible ones. And of course you pay the terrible ones the same price as the great ones (meaning hefty Swiss craft beer prices).
Knowing which are the good breweries definitely helps a lot here. And luckily, there are more and more really good ones.

I'm not sure about other European countries, I believe most do have somehow stricter rules than Switzerland?

Sorry, I just saw this. I am not sure of the rules in France or Germany, which are both very close, but I can imagine that they are not much more strict than in Switzerland.
The market is exploding right now in Switzerland and yes a lot of people are making beer.

 

[Miraculix]

I buy Coors from time to time. I love it.

 

[Homebrew Harry]

I blame the Ukrainian situation.

Might as well. That "situation" has turned into a regular scapegoat for other situations in the US

 

[bracconiere]

Might as well. That "situation" has turned into a regular scapegoat for other situations in the US

thank god, i don't watch the news! er, i mean good enough at turning barley into alcoholic liquid, that i rarely have to buy beer....

edit: that i'll be one of the kids in this!

 

[Staticsouls]

Cost is a bitch. Current economic situation made me stop homebrewing and got me to get a job at a craft brewery. The benefits are double for me. I get free beer, they pay me, and I work under the head brewer, who has taken a liking to my extreme work ethic, and I get to learn more everyday.

Homebrewing was a means to an end at the beginning. Free beer I make. The downside was always that I was myopic in my beer purchases and also in my brewing. Now I taste all styles constantly and always learn more everyday.

Once you find your goal make a new one. Life is short shoot for the stars.

 

[Gorm]

Until recently I never bought beer unless I forgot to bring my own to a party. Did plenty of research before home brewing and pals bring over beers that they want me to brew. Now recovering from knee surgery, the last of the Homebrew is dwindling. Hopefully I will b back to brewing soon.

 

[Broken Crow]

I've been following this thread and just waiting, but no-one else has mentioned Disability as a cause for buying as well as homebrewing. Not just because of the physical difficulty, but because of the reduced income injured workers with well-heeled employers who deny anything happened have to face, and desire to have good beer. I've been unable to brew a batch of better-than-I-can-afford beer sine last May or June because I had to devote my limited use of my body to some minor repairs around the house.

 

[davidabcd]

I got all my equipment for free. I have added 3-4, 7.9 gallon fermenters; made a wort chiller; I bought some flip-tops; a new sieve. There really isn't much to my whole setup.
The kind of beer I like is expensive and so encourages me to make more homebrew.
Edit: Just bought some of that expensive beer I was talking about. Going to order a few batches of ingredients from AIHB tomorrow.

 

[bwible]

I've been following this thread and just waiting, but no-one else has mentioned Disability as a cause for buying as well as homebrewing. Not just because of the physical difficulty, but because of the reduced income injured workers with well-heeled employers who deny anything happened have to face, and desire to have good beer. I've been unable to brew a batch of better-than-I-can-afford beer sine last May or June because I had to devote my limited use of my body to some minor repairs around the house.

And the over 65, sometimes over 70 crowd. It’s physical activity, lifting, etc. We can only do it for so long. I know a couple long time brewers who had to retire. Just age and inability. The one guy only gets to brew a couple times a year now when his son comes home to help.

 

[bwible]

I got all my equipment for free. I have added 3-4, 7.9 gallon fermenters; made a wort chiller; I bought some flip-tops; a new sieve. There really isn't much to my whole setup.
The kind of beer I like is expensive and so encourages me to make more homebrew.
Edit: Just bought some of that expensive beer I was talking about. Going to order a few batches of ingredients from AIHB tomorrow.

We were just looking at Dogfish Head 120 min IPA. $36 for 4 bottles. Thats not a typo.

 

[davidabcd]

We were just looking at Dogfish Head 120 min IPA. $36 for 4 bottles. Thats not a typo.

That I'm shocked about and it says it's time to make that at home. I've arbitrarily set my limit at $5/store-bought bottle.

 

[bwible]

That I'm shocked about and it says it's time to make that at home. I've arbitrarily set my limit at $5/store-bought bottle.

I was too til I read about it. I guess its not what I thought it was. It’s an 18% super imperial IPA. So that makes sense. I don’t know if i could brew an 18% beer. I never tried anything more than 12%. Most beer yeasts won’t go that high and my mash tun isn’t close to holding enough grain for even 3 gallons of that gravity. Would take a bunch of extract or an iterated mash, probably need some enzyme.

18% IPA, why isn’t this in the American barleywine category? Or is it just marketing?

 

[davidabcd]

I was too til I read about it. I guess its not what I thought it was. It’s an 18% super imperial IPA. So that makes sense. I don’t know if i could brew an 18% beer. I never tried anything more than 12%. Most beer yeasts won’t go that high and my mash tun isn’t close to holding enough grain for even 3 gallons of that gravity. Would take a bunch of extract or an iterated mash, probably need some enzyme.

18% IPA, why isn’t this in the American barleywine category? Or is it just marketing?

I've noticed that super-high ABV equals high prices. It's not that hard to do most of it at home. I can glide in and land a 13% ABV Belgian triple that's pretty good and without it tasting like an alcohol bomb. I'm curious about super-high ABVs in stores but not enough to pursue them.
Kveik (one type or another), which I haven't used, has a 15% tolerance on the label which makes it appealing just based on that.
Volume limits are a consideration, as you pointed out. I use extract and I have a big pot so I'm not handcuffed in any way that's relevant for my purposes.
I went through a "how high can I go?" phase, which I'm over now, but I was satisfied that I don't need to go higher than 11% to achieve what I like. I'll do 12% or 13% if the need or recipe arises but I'm good with the constraints of it all.

 

[bwible]

I've noticed that super-high ABV equals high prices. It's not that hard to do most of it at home. I can glide in and land a 13% ABV Belgian triple that's pretty good and without it tasting like an alcohol bomb. I'm curious about super-high ABVs in stores but not enough to pursue them.
Kveik (one type or another), which I haven't used, has a 15% tolerance on the label which makes it appealing just based on that.
Volume limits are a consideration, as you pointed out. I use extract and I have a big pot so I'm not handcuffed in any way that's relevant for my purposes.
I went through a "how high can I go?" phase, which I'm over now, but I was satisfied that I don't need to go higher than 11% to achieve what I like. I'll do 12% or 13% if the need or recipe arises but I'm good with the constraints of it all.

Exactly. When I do barleywines anymore I go English barleywine and go for 9.5%. I’m happy with that.

 

[davidabcd]

barleywines

I got to do one of those. It sounds really, really good. Honestly, for someone who has been brewing for a long time, I don't technically know what a barley wine is...or an English bitter.

 

[Gorm]

No way i,m payin 36 bucks for 4 bottles, it’s not like it’s the last beer of my life. To each their own.
I , like Many, also went thru how high a abv can I go and like above, 9-9.5 abv for any style is more than enough for me.

last barely wine was 8.9 abv and wonderful.