HOMEBREW COST - The Addiction: My $$$ Per Pint

[Ashz]

Can't even begin to tally what I have spent. But as far as I am concerned it's money well spent. It's a hobby I love. It's something that gets my creative juices flowing. It just so happens that the end result is something I can drink and share with others.

It's a learning process, with learning comes expansion of the equipment you need. If you look at this hobby as a business you may soon tire of it. If you look at it as the hobby it is, it will be an eternal money drain, but a continued joy. Just my two cents.

 

[Doc Robinson]

You'll also need a refractometer, scale, stir plate, etc, etc.

I have a scale.

Can't even begin to tally what I have spent. But as far as I am concerned it's money well spent. It's a hobby I love. It's something that gets my creative juices flowing. It just so happens that the end result is something I can drink and share with others.

It's a learning process, with learning comes expansion of the equipment you need. If you look at this hobby as a business you may soon tire of it. If you look at it as the hobby it is, it will be an eternal money drain, but a continued joy. Just my two cents.

I couldn't agree more. The money...I couldn't care less. Like an incredible meal, it's worth every penny.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Alright Doc, I didnt read the whole thread and skimmed the cost list. Are you including cost of ingredients? At the point I'm at I've kept track of everything and could do a similar list, except ingredients, and I'm putting my cost per batch at ~$20/batch as I always swayed towards the cheaper kits and since I've gone AG+10 gallons+bulk buy (and Brewmasters Warehouse) my costs have plummeted.

Now, I'm not doing costs with the efficiency of a CPA, but I'm at about 1495 for equipment costs and 41, 5 gallon batches, NOT including gas/electic/water costs (those are absorbed into household expenses and split .) By my math I'm at 1.41/pint, not that I've consumed all the pints, but thats what they cost me, and I have a very large equipment collection to show for all of that (~20 kegs and this https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/craigslist-score-finally-my-turn-132409/)

Actually right now all I could need in the world are more ingredients, brew time, a minifridge from lowes (I sold my third kegerator) and perhaps a propane burner....

Don't listen to the haters saying you shouldnt track your costs! I would say track your costs, but don't let them prevent you from upgrading.... Trust me, when I start buying (building?) conicals those will be considered "brewery research" for the day I may go pro, haha! Switch to buying bulk (big saver) and 10 gallon batches if/when you get recipes you like, and your costs will come down eventually...

 

[mordantly]

i stopped counting equipment costs after 2K. it got scary, fast.

 

[katja]

I'd definitely keep track of the costs. It's definitely satisfying to know that I can make pub-worthy ales at 1/8th the cost of anything I purchase at a pub! And I am working with a really basic, labor-intensive apartment AG setup. Don't count your hours - that's why it's a hobby. But it's definitely worth your time to value your equipment. Hey if I had an extra couple hundred grand I'd try to go pro in a heartbeat, but with the resources I've got, my cheap mash/lauter system will work just fine!

 

[JKoravos]

Thank god I don't have records for all the stuff I've bought for brewing. I might be a little depressed to find that my cost per pint will never be below $10.

 

[hopdawg]

Alright Mr. CPA, at what point in time to you stop factoring your capital equipment cost? Legally three 3 years?
I know we all do it but any hobby costs money. If you got into photography would you amortize the cost of every picture taken together with the equipment? NO!
Just the cost of goods and propane is all you need to concern yourself with.

You'll be giddy once you factor that out. If I use tap water and dry yeast my costs are $6.00/5g batch. Do I count the hours and cost to plant, tend and harvest 60 hop plants? Nooooo. And the extra electricity costs to run my keg fridge. Nooooooooo. Don't care. It's fun deductible. Like motorcycles, zero net cost because they're so damn fun! (I knew I could bring this conversation around to motorcycles if I typed long enough)

 

[mitch171]

What about the cost of over 800 posts in less than 3 months almost 10 posts a day? Good you are excited! Keep brewing and have fun!

 

[buzzkill]

having all your beer at home=no drinking and driving...priceless.

 

[MVKTR2]

I'd definitely keep track of the costs. It's definitely satisfying to know that I can make pub-worthy ales at 1/8th the cost of anything I purchase at a pub! And I am working with a really basic, labor-intensive apartment AG setup. Don't count your hours - that's why it's a hobby. But it's definitely worth your time to value your equipment. Hey if I had an extra couple hundred grand I'd try to go pro in a heartbeat, but with the resources I've got, my cheap mash/lauter system will work just fine!

I'm with ya.

My AG equip. cost under $100, total equipment investments under $250. I'm 20 batches in using a corona mill, buying hops in bulk, and the ocassional bag o grain. My bier comes in at under $1 per pint and I'm brewing big and small biers. Unlike our Bugs Bunny friend the cash does matter to me, God bless you that it doesn't to you. I'm not fixated with costs, as someone else said, if I've got the cash I spend it, if no so! It's a hobby.

What about the cost of over 800 posts in less than 3 months almost 10 posts a day? Good you are excited! Keep brewing and have fun!

I thought the same thing and wondered how long it would take someone to post something about it! That's an amazing post rate... I'm impressed!

Schlante,
Phillip

 

[beerocd]

Alright Mr. CPA, at what point in time to you stop factoring your capital equipment cost?

OH! Depreciation! You'll be brewing cheap beer in no time!

EDIT: Alright, how about you start serving it to all your clients and deduct 8/pint as office supplies. Just like coffee.

 

[Doc Robinson]

Alright Mr. CPA, at what point in time to you stop factoring your capital equipment cost? (1) Legally three 3 years? I know we all do it but any hobby costs money. If you got into photography would you (2) amortize the cost of every picture taken together with the equipment? NO!

(1) Depreciable assets are ALWAYS capitalized, depreciated, and included as deductions against gross income...As a tax attorney, I can also tell you there is no "legal" time frame regarding this concept.

(2) I understand you were attempting to sound like you know what you are talking about, but the proper term is "capitalize." And no I wouldn't capitalize the cost of every picture. The cost of a taking a photograph is an expense in the ordinary course of business for a photographer. It is proper to deduct all the necessary expenses for capturing that image in the period in which the image was captured.

Has a homebrewed pint only cost me the cost of the ingredients and propane? No. It would not have been possible without my capital outlays. Therefore, my cost per pint is as accurate as it's going to get without factoring in depreciation and the opportunity cost (my hourly billable rate) forgone by spending the time brewing. Do I really give a ****? No. The fact of the matter is, the higher my $/pint is, the more it humors me. Money exists so it can be spent.

Stick to brewing & riding bikes (insert a smiley here if you want).

 

[hopdawg]

Yeah "capitalize" thats it. Leave it to an account to factor out the "fun deductibility".

 

[Doc Robinson]

Yeah "capitalize" thats it. Leave it to an account to factor out the "fun deductibility".

I feel bad about my last post. I was being a dick. But I am a dick. So I don't really feel that bad.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Like I said before, I like tracking my numbers. And part of what I like about brewing is that I have it all paid for by the time I enjoy it; equipment, ingredients, everything. Putting 5 gallons of beer on tap feels great, no matter what.

Knowing that I owe on my motorcycle doesn't detract from its fun, money does exist to be spent (eloquently put, DR!)

 

[RDWHAHB]

I fail to see the entertainment value of tracking the bleeding. But then I guess that's why I didn't become a CPA.

 

[hopdawg]

I feel bad about my last post. I was being a dick. But I am a dick. So I don't really feel that bad.

Smile inserted

 

[HPDrifter]

What an interesting read.... I think I might go and check the cost of all of my Equipment as well.... I'll be back!

 

[mitch171]

Because I am recently married, just finished my Master's Degree, and am still looking for a full time teaching job; I had to keep the cost down as much as possible so here is my break down. I went right into AG because that seemed the most home made to me and allowed for the cheapest batches.

1 cooler - Found in parents basement
Glass carboys - Part of family Wine making
Propane Turkey Burner - Borrowed from Aunt and Uncle
7.5 Gal Pot - Found at family rental property
Keggle - Pay it forward thread shipping cost $23
Mini fridge - Father's old college fridge
Plexi-glass - Scraps from another project
CO2/faucet/regulator - Different Uncle who only bottles now...
Stout faucet - $90
Second CO2 Tank (exchanged for beer gas) - $50
Copper pipe to make manifold - ~$10
Copper pipe and parts for IC - ~$25
various tubing - ~$15
Brewing ingredients for 3 batches - $70
CO2/Beer gas fills - $35

So I am at ~$320 so ~$2.15 per 12 oz beer. Still cheaper than going out and almost the same cost as buying "****" beer.

 

[springer]

this is silly... Never ever try to put a price tag on your hobby. I ride Harley's and collect old cars if I figure out what it cost me per day or mile it would be staggering... Siht ever buy a NOS set of hub caps for a 66 SS Chevelle would make you toes curl and your bung hole pucker ....



Look at it this way

Cost of equipment =$3221

Cost per pint=$8.05

Fun Factor of a hobby brewing Beer = Priceless

 

[Doc Robinson]

this is silly... Never ever try to put a price tag on your hobby.

The haters miss the point. This isn't a complaint thread. It's for fun.

 

[wildwest450]

You'd think after spending all that money on a fine hobby you wouldn't cut corners by shaking the piss out of your beer to carbonate.

 

[Yooper]

Thank goodness I didn't track my expenses! I think that I would be sick at the amount of money I pissed away (literally!) in the last 4 years or so.

My husband, after acknowledging that I'm buying the_Pol's rig, today said, "It never ends, does it? You'll be happy for a year or so, and then 'need' something else." Aha! He finally understands!

I was perfectly happy with my little partial mash system in my little pot. I was happy bottling over 100 batches. But, then I found this forum. Now, I want a brewery and a reverse osmosis water system! It never ends.

 

[CNote2]

I attempted to do something like this with my other hobby (I run a beer league mens softball team here in Albany, NY) and SWMBO's jaw dropped when she saw how much I spent for that.

If she saw how much we spend on homebrew (which I spend a lot more on than I do the softball team)... let's just say it's a good thing she can't see all of the thoughts that are running around in my head after having started to read through a lot of this forum over the past week!

 

[Jenks829]

I count my cost also.

I do it in two ways: overall (meaning every dollar I have spent to brew up to and including the last batch) and per batch (meaning only the ingredients in the bottle that I am drinking).

My per batch ranges from $1.30 per bottle ($1.74 per pint) for a Belgian Saison which I had to pitch twice to get the gravity down and $0.76 per bottle ($1.01 per pint) for a Red Ale which used a pre-hopped extract, no additional hops and dry yeast.

My overall cost includes everything.........EVERYTHING. From caps, propane, Starsan, cheap vodka for the airlocks to carboys, DME for starters and any book I buy or class I take. Even the cost of the mason jars for yeast washing is incuded. Presently my cost per bottle is $1.75 ($2.34 per pint) through 17 batches. This cost almost always goes down unless I buy some new gear, then it peaks a little.

 

[dontman]

Nothing like jumping into a hobby headfirst. good for you, though thatt you found a hobby you enjoy. Seems like you should be just about finished with equipment purchases and can work on getting that per pint number down to a respectable number.

This is about the funniest quote in this thread. For me this hobby is at least 50% about the equipment purchases, and diy builds, etc. The beer is just a happy, wonderful by-product.

I am just like Yooper. I finish up a major project, like a fridge build, or an AG set up, and it is then time to build a brew scuplture or new fermentation room.

I came home with a keggle last week and my wife was like "oh no! No big ass brew sculpture until you build yourself a brewshed to house it." See, this is
why I love my wife so much; she is practically demanding that I build myself an awesome brewshed. At least that's how I interpret her comment. Am I right?

 

[HickoryMike]

One of the things I like about this hobby is that the high dollar pieces of equipment tend to hold their value (as long as you buy good stuff at a decent price). When the time comes to upgrade, you can usually get a lot of your investment back out of the old gear. It's not like you're just burning money.

Looking over the OP's expense sheet, I hope he Ebay'd the crap out of all those extra brew kettles he purchased.

 

[springer]

The haters miss the point. This isn't a complaint thread. It's for fun.

well I am not a hater and never thought you were complaining about it. Its just that people get caught up in the monetary aspect of a hobby thats all. Whatever you do as a hobby is going to cost money but there aren't to many hobbies that can get you a good buzz... Well some agricultural hobbies do but this is a legal one

 

[Whut]

It's for fun.

And fun it is - both brewing and the DIY build. Up next for me this next year is converting my system to electric. Of course I'm going to have to do a lot of reading and probably hire an electrician but it will be fun.

Did I mention this is a very fun hobby? Like DR, I don't care what I've spent and SWMBO indulges me. Cheers!

 

[Soulrebel]

Doc, you have a problem. Quit buying feces. Next time you feel like buying something, pick up one of your 2 books and get to studying. Repeat after me ... buy ingredients not equipment...buy ingredients not equipment.