electric equipment start up costs

[Dgonza9]

Electric brewing will always be more expensive than gas. That much is true. You can't build an electrical brewing setup for $50. There's no way. There are many reasons to go electrical including (a) brewing indoors, (b) control (usually a PD), (c) less cost over the long term since electricity costs less than gas.

I'd say setup costs for electrical setups the way most people would want to be set up are in the $500 range once you factor in everything. You could easily spend $200 just in getting a 30A+ electrical outlet installed from your breaker panel.

The point of my site isn't to get non-brewers people to be interested in brewing or how to do it cheaply - there are a bazillion sites and books out there for that. You can brew on your stove for basically next to free. For example, see the first video here: http://brooklynbrewshop.com/instructions

For what it's worth, I know lots of people (not rich people) who spend more than $5K on a hobby. You'll easily spend more on golfing, skiing, etc over just a few years. Remember that this brewery setup cost is one time cost. I also know a lot of brewers who have spend more than that over the years because they buy cheap stuff that doesn't last or work right and they are constantly changing out stuff. Pay once, do it right. Then use it forever. IMHO, $5K to pay once for hobby that you'll do for the rest of your life is cheap!

There's still the malt/hops/yeast cost that but that's really cheap if you buy in bulk. I pay $25 for a 50lb sack of 2-row. Hops are $6-10/lb. I get together with a bunch of local brewers and do bulk oders. We spend many thousands direct from the maltsters and hop distributors and save. I figure it costs me about $100-150/year to make as much beer as I and all my friends could ever drink. Brewing (even with a high-end setup) is one of the cheapest hobbies I know about!

Kal

Great points, but like many people I couldn't afford to outlay $5k at one time, even though it makes sense in the long run. "Afford" is a relative term, though as people have the capability to buy without cash on hand. My wife can spend $180 on a pair of shoes. I would never do that, but I'd spend $280 for RIMS and control panel parts in a heartbeat with plans for more upgrades next month. I assume many people are the same way. I once balked at buying a 14 cubic foot chest freezer practically new for $100 because I'd only wanted to spend $75. Love to find that deal again!!

Although I started brewing less than a year ago thinking I'd only spend a few hundred bucks for a used chest freezer and some kegerator parts, my love of the hobby has consumed me and I now have a monthly budget for my hobby. My initial goal was to brew all the beer I drink. I once thought that a lofty goal. Now I have 20+ gallons on hand most of the time with plans for 40 more in my head.

So I think some of this question is not about what makes the most sense in the long term, but how a brewer is approaching the hobby at the outset.

That being said, Kal is absolutely right that considering a long term view will be much cheaper overall. I waaaaay over did my electrical outlets and built too many heat sticks, among many other decisions in this hobby that were not long term oriented. Now that I have inline O2 injection with a flow meter, I'm not sure I need it. I have carboys sitting around that I don't use now that I ferment in a sanke with a spund valve. All of these little upgrades are costly, but that's one way I have a lot of fun in this hobby. Even now, there's no way I could convince SWMBO that a $5k outlay would've been a good idea. But I'm sure I'll surpass that number with all my little projects and re designs.

Is this logical? Probably not. But it's okay to keep your plans step by step and see where it leads you. Like many others, I also could not plan an entire setup because of the huge learning curve. One thing at a time was about all the learning I could envision. This is a hobby after all, not business plan and with all the clever ideas floating around this board I can't imagine ever being "finished" with my setup or looking at a balance sheet to calculate how fiscally responsible I have been when producing my beer. To each his own. Part of me is also envious when I see how masterly some have produced their rigs, cleverly anticipating every aspect, including the financial.

Cheers guys.

 

[shuie]

Maybe a footnote would be appropriate indicating anybody can start brewing with probably $50 in parts.

$50 is a start, but it really won't go too far. Forget about the cost of any of the equipment. If someone had given me all of my equipment for free it would still cost me ~$25 to make a 5 gallon batch. And, that's just a normal AG beer with pellet hops & dry yeast.

 

[jasonsbeer]

$50 is a start, but it really won't go too far. Forget about the cost of any of the equipment. If someone had given me all of my equipment for free it would still cost me ~$25 to make a 5 gallon batch. And, that's just a normal AG beer with pellet hops & dry yeast.

OK, $60 if you need to buy bottle caps and a capper. Ale pails are only like $14 around here. You can go even cheaper; some people use 5 gal pails from the hardware store. Save empty bottles from your last beer purchase, get some from a local bar, or get your neighbors to save them - that's free. You can do a partial boil with a big kitchen pot, which I think most people probably already have, or borrow one from your family or neighbors - that's free. Pick up a kit for $25 and your golden.

The whole point of my first comment is that somebody's gonna come along, see that price, and say "WTF!!! Why would I ever start brewing if that's what it costs! I'll just buy 250 cases of BMC instead".

It's all about perception. You may know what's going on, but not everybody will.

 

[kal]

OK, $60 if you need to buy bottle caps and a capper. Ale pails are only like $14 around here. You can go even cheaper; some people use 5 gal pails from the hardware store. Save empty bottles from your last beer purchase, get some from a local bar, or get your neighbors to save them - that's free. You can do a partial boil with a big kitchen pot, which I think most people probably already have, or borrow one from your family or neighbors - that's free. Pick up a kit for $25 and your golden.

The whole point of my first comment is that somebody's gonna come along, see that price, and say "WTF!!! Why would I ever start brewing if that's what it costs! I'll just buy 250 cases of BMC instead".

The thread topic is "electric equipment start up costs". Key words "electric equipment". This thread's in the Electric Brewing forum.

Why would you talk about the base price of doing brewing without electricity? Again, $50 won't get you far in electrical brewing.

It's all about perception. You may know what's going on, but not everybody will.

If someone can't figure out that we're talking about electrical costs based on the thread title and the forum name then I'd say that the brewing process is going to be too complex for them to wrap their heads around.

Kal

 

[Walker]

If someone can't figure out that we're talking about electrical costs based on the thread title and the forum name then I'd say that the brewing process is going to be too complex for them to wrap their heads around.

Wait... what? Brewing? I thought this was a discussion forum for poodle grooming!

No wonder I have been so mother f*&#@ing confused for the last 5 years.

 

[kal]

A 7000W element is waaaaaaaay too much power to groom a poodle. 4500W is more than adequate. I prefer to trim poodles with a HERMS setup too.

Kal

 

[jfkriege]

If you pick parts correctly, and are willing to do much of the work yourself, you can get a decent electric setup for about $1000. If you plan well, as you build your propane system you can purchase parts that will carry over when you convert to electric. Now, you can spend a lot more than that, but you dont have to if your budget does not allow.

On a good electric system, and with good bulk purchasing, I regularly make beers for less than $15 a keg.

Joshua

 

[kal]

Kal said his estimate was $5K for everything: stands, electronics, kettles, the hood, and (including) the kitchen sink! I think that is a super hot screaming deal and peanuts for what you get.

Actually, the commercial grade restaurant sink is *not* included. Figure about $600 for a sink and arm.

Complete price breakdown here: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/FAQ

Kal

 

[sjvicker]

As far as I can remember here's my rough costs over the past year while piecing together my electric brewery. Thankfully I've been lucky and received some awesome freebies/gifts over the past year.

Keg's: Donated
Brew stand steel: freebie from work
PID's, TC's, Heat sinks and SSR's: Gift
Elements: Donated
Pump: $100
Pre control panel electrical: $250
utility tub: $90
Cooler MT: $100
control panel: Donation
Plumbing and Kettle Fittings: $200

I still need to purchase about $400 worth of electrical connectors, switches and extras before I'll have the system up and running. I'm looking at $1140ish out of pocket with about $650 in donations/freebies/gifts for a basic 3 tier electrical system. But hey, I'll also save about $3.50 in energy costs every 5 gallon batch so after brewing 325 batches I'll start seeing a return on my investment.....

 

[Sparky]

Well, you get what you pay for, and it shows in some of the builds. And, maybe the Ghetto builds works as well as the Porsche build, but at most - some of those sketchy systems look rickety.

I think Kal has it pretty much spot-on as the "general" pricing. It will vary with how much digging or work you want to do.

With that said, we look forward to seeing the build! Time for pictures.

 

[kal]

I think Kal has it pretty much spot-on as the "general" pricing. It will vary with how much digging or work you want to do.

For my pricing I actually went through every single of the compenents listed , checked the current price, and then added them up. There's absolutely nothing missing because otherwise my instructions would be incomplete.

I'd say that 99% of the time when someone tries to guess what they spent by simply trying to remember, they miss a TON of small things which add up quickly. I know I do if I just try to fudge a guess.

Kal