Home brewing saves you money? HAHAH!

[Yooper]

Oh, I dunno...my basic partial mash batch these days involves 4 lbs. of grain from lhbs for $8, 5 lbs. of dry extract (in bulk, on sale, from label peelers) for about $12, 3 ozs. of hops (in bulk from eBay) for $4, and about $3 for yeast (usually repitching one or twice).

Since I get about 26 to 28 bombers from a batch, that's about a buck a bomber. (Goes up and down according to style of course.)

That's considerably cutting my cost over the $5 to $9 I'd pay for a bomber of decent beer in the store. Doesn't factor energy costs, of course, but in the winter the boil actually helps heat the house. (And makes it smell nice. )

But, with rinsing/saving yeast, and buying grain and hops in bulk (and growing my own hops!) I just made 11 gallons of cream ale for $16. I got the Uncle Ben's rice from the Dollar Store, and used cornmeal from the grocery store. The two-row was $37 for 50 pounds (way more than I needed for this batch, but I used the per pound cost to figure the batch cost). The hops I grew myself, and the yeast was saved from a batch of California common.

So, yeah- $16 for 11 gallons of beer. That's a cheap beer to make and buy, typically. I generally spend about $25 for a batch of IPA (again, 11 gallon sized batches).

That seems cheap. But I have a good $3000+ into my brewing equipment. Most of it isn't necessary, but it makes brewing easier and more fun.

So I suppose you can save money by brewing your own, but it's a hobby so I don't count the savings OR the costs. I just simply like my beer, my kegerator(s), my brewing system, and brewing itself.

 

[TyTanium]

...But I have a good $3000+ into my brewing equipment. Most of it isn't necessary, but it makes brewing easier and more fun. ...

Right. It's not the variable costs that get you. And when fixed costs behave more like variable costs (always adding/upgrading equipment)...the math just doesn't add up.

Solution: stop adding and just brew

 

[LovesIPA]

Solution: stop adding and just brew

But I just need to get one more piece of brewing equipment. Then I'll be all set and won't need to buy any more equipment. It will make brewdays easier or let me buy in bulk/make my own to save even more money!

 

[TrubHead]

But, with rinsing/saving yeast, and buying grain and hops in bulk (and growing my own hops!) I just made 11 gallons of cream ale for $16. I got the Uncle Ben's rice from the Dollar Store, and used cornmeal from the grocery store. The two-row was $37 for 50 pounds (way more than I needed for this batch, but I used the per pound cost to figure the batch cost). The hops I grew myself, and the yeast was saved from a batch of California common.

So, yeah- $16 for 11 gallons of beer. That's a cheap beer to make and buy, typically. I generally spend about $25 for a batch of IPA (again, 11 gallon sized batches).

That seems cheap. But I have a good $3000+ into my brewing equipment. Most of it isn't necessary, but it makes brewing easier and more fun.

So I suppose you can save money by brewing your own, but it's a hobby so I don't count the savings OR the costs. I just simply like my beer, my kegerator(s), my brewing system, and brewing itself.

Yooper - feel free to send me your "unnecessary equipment" cause I think it's holding you back.

 

[Bostonbrewin63]

+1 to the thread starter. I get asked this question often by non-brewing friends. It would be really disingenuous for me to go around telling folks (or try to fool myself into thinking) that I'm somehow saving money by home brewing or that they can.

I can see where, if someone brewed very regularly, bought in bulk, did a bunch of DIY and kept their equipment cost to a bare minimum, they could possibly save money over a period of years. That, however, doesn't describe any of the home brewers that I know.

Just ingredients? That would be like saying the the cost of owning a car is just what you spend in gas. Typically, ingredients for a 5-g batch runs me about 20-28 bucks depending on style and/or if I have previously-harvested yeast. I could buy in bulk and save some $$, but I have a great fledgling LHBS (our first ever here) that I want to see succeed and thrive.

To be truthful about it, if I factored in all of the money I've spent on gear, especially my E-brewing components and kegging (although I do DIY a heck of a lot), the cost per bottle/glass would be rather disappointing. I brew because it's an interesting, challenging (to do really well) and enjoyable hobby plus I like the end result better than just about anything I can buy at the store. I save money whenever I reasonably can, but I don't worry about it nor kid myself (or the wife) that it's cheaper than store-bought.

first off.. thanks,

there is nothing better then sitting down to watch a game an drinking a beer that you made yourself.. from recipe to glass... an ill be honest i DEF. take a sense of pride when i serve my beer to friends an family. There are ALOT of VERY VERY good commercial beers out there, but god dammit i could CLONE any one of them!!!!! :rockin:

 

[ryno1981]

It looks to me like you would save a ton of money by brewing if you live in Canada. $45 for a case of BMC!! That's insane!

 

[Bostonbrewin63]

In the "How much do you spend" thread I just calculated that I spend -- on average -- between $48 and $73 to make a typical 10-gallon batch of beer. That's 110 bottle-equivalent, 58 bombers or 80 restaurant pints. Craft beer here is typically $10 / sixer, $5-6 / bomber (typical), or $5 / pint.

110 bottles equivalent = 18.3 sixers = $183
58 bombers equivalent = $319 (assuming average of $5.50)
80 pints equivalent = $400

So compared to store-bought sixers, I'm saving >$100 per batch, and for comparison to bombers/pints, saving basically $250 to >$300 per batch. (Note - the bombers *might* be a poor comparison as I'm often buying DIPA, rare beers, and other expensive batches in bombers, and brewing high-gravity will cost me more than $73, but then those often go for more than $6 anyway.)

I brew 12 batches of 10 gallons each per year. So you can assume that for equivalent quantity compared to store-bought sixers I'm saving $1200 per year, and much more compared to bombers.

Even with all the money I've spent over the last 6 1/2 years on equipment -- including 6-tap keezer, 12 kegs and replacement items over time -- I'm probably well past the break-even point at this time, and extending with every brew session.

But that said, I don't do it for the money. I do it because I love the hobby and I make awesome beer. I still buy commercial beer to go along with it anyway.

all this "savings" and ill bet you still go out to your local dive bar and buy a few beers........

but honestly DONT WE ALL!!! haha

 

[BBBF]

What kills me is the amount of homebrew I drink is much greater then the amount I would drink if I bought it from a store.

 

[travis0123]

Along the same line as Yooper--bulk grain, bulk hops, and washing yeast will save money. Bulk buy a bittering hop that will work for a range of styles. Bulk buy a base malt. Kits are awesome, but really cost you.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

What kills me is the amount of homebrew I drink is much greater then the amount I would drink if I bought it from a store.

This is me, and I don't even want to talk about what I spend on "Craft Beer Research" :cross:

 

[travis0123]

What kills me is the amount of homebrew I drink is much greater then the amount I would drink if I bought it from a store.

Me too. But, at least we know what's in ours! It's almost a healthier alternative to commercial beer.

 

[Redoubt]

It looks to me like you would save a ton of money by brewing if you live in Canada. $45 for a case of BMC!! That's insane!

Yup. And I'm not even exaggerating. Quebec is the exception -- prices there are on par with US prices, at least for BMC, but everyone else pays a mint for the privilege of drinking dirty water. Even if you take into account Yooper's $3000 equipment -- PS: Yooper, colour me jealous! -- over time you'd save enough to make it worth it in Canada.

It's the price of alcohol here that drove me to brew my own; it's the fun and awesome product that kept me in it.

 

[DaNewf]

Checking in from Newfoundland, Canada.

I'll back up what my fellow Canucks are saying. $2.00/12 oz bottle is as cheap as it gets here. The stuff I actually like to drink is $3.50+. I haven't bought a new peice of gear in months and I don't need to buy anything else in the forseeable future. I'm only brewing about a year and a half but I'm past the break even point and I'm saving money even taking my increased drinking (compared to my pre-homebrewing consumption) into account.

 

[Varmintman]

I guess I brew for different reasons than most folks. I brew because I like drinking beer I have made just like I would rather have a slice of homemade bread that I made myself. And since I do not enjoy high abv brews the cost of each batch is rather minimal.

I do it because I can. The fact that I have a very small investment in equipment and do not have a urge to buy more just means with out a doubt the beer I brew is much less expensive than even the PBR beers out there. Just the way I am and have been brewing now for ever.

Mind you I do not begrudge the folks who have spent tons of money on their brewing rigs it just is not for me. And my beer is every bit as good as beer brewed on a automated electrical rig. Better even if I consider that I like my beer and do not enjoy most other beers

I do not brew my beer to enter contests and I do not care if anyone else likes my beer since I brew it for myself and no one else. I have not drank more beer since I started brewing and have even cut back my drinking by a bunch since brewing but that might just be age showing. I still give away more beer than I drink but that is no different than when I was buying beer.

My breakdown for the two types of beer I brew in 6 gallon batches.

Moose drool clone. 15 bucks for 60 beers but I tweaked it some so it has lower abv. Compare that to a case of MD at 8 bucks a six pack or 32 bucks a case and I am saving tons

Cream ale. 10 bucks for 60 beers. Compared to a bud light at 19 bucks for a 30 pack I am saving a ton of money.

I do not brew to save money I brew to drink what I like and I think I am going to go have a beer that I brewed and save some money

 

[Yooper]

. Even if you take into account Yooper's $3000 equipment -- PS: Yooper, colour me jealous! -

It isn't pretty! But I LOVE it. I brew inside, because there is like 2 weeks here that it's warm enough to brew outside.

It's convenient, dependable, fun, and there is very little to no lifting with the pumps and tippy dump for the mashtun. Overkill? well, probably.

 

[BigFloyd]

Why Yooper, next thing you know, you'll have a nice rig that that down here in TX too!

 

[Crito]

I got family, inlaws and friends who make excuses to hang out at my place and drink. Friends are home brewers, they usually don't consume much. Family and in-laws though.... no money savings here.

But its good to make beer that far exceeds most craft beers.

If I make one of my signature beers.... I keep it out of sight.

 

[TrubHead]

That's a nice setup. What functions are in the gray control box?

It isn't pretty! But I LOVE it. I brew inside, because there is like 2 weeks here that it's warm enough to brew outside.

It's convenient, dependable, fun, and there is very little to no lifting with the pumps and tippy dump for the mashtun. Overkill? well, probably.

 

[Jayhem]

hahahaha! well like all hobbies it costs a few bucks! but not all hobbies have a cold beer as your aftermath!

This is how I justify it. Most hobbies only cost you time. Homebrewing provides you with every possible style of beer!


I actually have saved money by homebrewing but perhaps I'm in the minority.

When people argue that brewing doesn't save them money they often don't count the cost saved by staying home and brewing on a Friday night instead of going out to the resturant/bar every Friday night and blowing $50-120 with the GF/wife or the boys.

 

[Redoubt]

It isn't pretty! But I LOVE it.

Ah, well, it's in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? I have a super-simple set-up -- space is limited! -- so yours looks downright sexy to me.

Things to aspire to, though...

 

[ktblunden]

It isn't pretty! But I LOVE it. I brew inside, because there is like 2 weeks here that it's warm enough to brew outside.

It's convenient, dependable, fun, and there is very little to no lifting with the pumps and tippy dump for the mashtun. Overkill? well, probably.

Yoop, did you fab the cart together yourself or buy it? I've got an e-brew setup in my future and trying to figure out my stand options. Is the tippy dump just a hinge welded to the mashtun? And do you have any close up shots of that?

 

[TrubHead]

Is this brew equipment envy or what?

Why Yooper, next thing you know, you'll have a nice rig that that down here in TX too!

That's a nice setup. What functions are in the gray control box?

Ah, well, it's in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? I have a super-simple set-up -- space is limited! -- so yours looks downright sexy to me.

Things to aspire to, though...

Yoop, did you fab the cart together yourself or buy it? I've got an e-brew setup in my future and trying to figure out my stand options. Is the tippy dump just a hinge welded to the mashtun? And do you have any close up shots of that?

 

[jbaysurfer]

Thankfully I don't chose to brew to increase economic efficiency. I brew because it's fun and awesome and tasty and other people think I'm cool.

Awesome quote. :rockin:

 

[Yooper]

That's a nice setup. What functions are in the gray control box?

I have a PID for the HLT, with a switch for the stirrer for the HLT. I have a PWM for the boil kettle, with a switch also.

I have two switches for pumps.

 

[Yooper]

Yoop, did you fab the cart together yourself or buy it? I've got an e-brew setup in my future and trying to figure out my stand options. Is the tippy dump just a hinge welded to the mashtun? And do you have any close up shots of that?

I bought it. I got it from a guy who built it from a box shelving kit. Then my friend (lschiavo on this forum) and I hacked it up, shored it up, and added lawnmower wheels to the bottom.

The HLT and MLT are bottom draining, and the HLT is a tippy dump. I don't have any other photos right now, but I'll try to take some and then start a new thread since I didn't mean to steal this one!

 

[Marc77]

Brewing is much like golfing. You don't get into either one to "save" money. I love doing both though. Now if I can just convince my wife to let me buy those 20 gal/80 qt stainless steel stock pots...oh and buy the stuff to finish my fermentation chamber.

 

[Bostonbrewin63]

i got a question for all the guys who have wives; now i see alot of people always say something along the lines of "i gotta talk to the wife an see if its ok" (to buy more equipment.. ect..) my question is.. doesn't your wife buy things too? doesn't your wife go shopping an spend money? idk maybe its just me, but my girl loves shopping and i never say anything to her so A, she leaves for the the WHOLE day B, i can brew ALONE allllll day C, SHE CANT SAY **** WHEN I BUY 200.00 bucks of bulk grain and hops!! so yea.. CHEERS! its friday!

 

[JohnSand]

True, my wife never complains about the money I spend on brewing or sailing. But she loves spending money!
Kidding aside, lots of couples make joint financial decisions. And I haven't spent more than $40 at a time on brew gear. I'm keeping it small, simple, and relatively cheap.

 

[Paps]

Saving money or not is relative to your tastes.
Where i live BMC sells for 7-8 $$ a 6 pack
Guinness sells for $9 + a 6 pack
Left hand milk stout nitro runs $ 12 + a 6 pack

I personally spend roughly $1 a beer for what i make which imho is as good as any of the above.
So yes i can say that i save money by homebrewing.
Of course if you drink natyy by the 30 pack then i guess you aren't saving money.
But you aren't drinking `good beer` either.

 

[mike_in_ak]

Yeah well anything you do your self has cost barrier to entry.

Installing my new drier. Old duct falls apart and was done wrong in first place. $300 in tools and ducting later, I'm still working on it. Bonus: Wife loves that I'm apparently cutting holes in her new house.

Made me sick to spend that money on something not beer or fun related.