Homebrew Math

[MaxStout]

"Close to $5k."

How do you manage to get by so cheaply?

My son just turned 47. I started brewing the year he started college, so about 30 years since I brewed my first batch. I wouldn't know where to start compiling the money I've spent on this hobby, both directly and indirectly. Just counting my current setup of stainless gear, glycol chiiler and automated AIO, that itself is probably $5K combined. Then there's the kegerator, the 20 kegs, the refrigerator we didn't get rid of when SWMBO's got her new kitchen remodel, or when I had a 240V/30A box installed on the patio so I could brew outside. There's bins full of TC equipment, some frequently used but others mostly collecting dust. Glass carboys, plastic fermenters, a banjo burner and 10 gallon brew pot, three Igloo coolers, etc., that haven't been used in years, but surely do fill up a shed. So many bits and pieces that would surely take my brewing to the next level, but now merely take up space.

We/re not even yet talking about over 200# or grain, or literally a freezer compartment filled to the brim with untold hops and frozen yeast samples. I do have electronic files of nearly every beer I ever brewed, so if I estimated an average of ~$25/per 5 gallon batch (prolly $15 per when I started, maybe $45 now) I might derive a rough estimate of consumables. Surely I've not accounted for everything. There's also $25 or so for HBT and (now) $49.99 for the electronic-only version of Craft Beer & Brewing.

If I'd only started investing all that money at 7% ROI, compounded over 30 years, I'd have a very tidy pile of cash. But it could never begin to match the fun, camaraderie, adventure, and (parenthetically) awards I've enjoyed. I'd have been a much poorer person. Glad I invested the time and money here!

It's not hard to rack up way more than 5 grand in homebrewing. I don't have a lot of bling. Basic kettles, burners, a couple Brew Buckets. A lot of my stuff is DIY, like ferm chamber, BIAB sculpture thingy, chillers, etc. And I bottle, not keg. I'd love to have a 14 gallon stainless steel conical with glycol cooling, tri-clovers and lots of pumps to assist, but not in the cards for me now. Maybe some day when my back starts to give out...

Taking this topic on another tangent... I sometimes hear people ask, "wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just buy beer at the store?" I reply something like, "wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to buy fish at the grocery instead of all the rods, tackle, boat, etc. for fishing?" Or buy furniture instead of woodworking, etc.

I joke about spending $5k on gear, plus another grand or so on little stuff. Others have a LOT more invested in gear. I never got into this to "save money on beer," and I suspect most are in the same camp. I know some people do brew to save $$$, and that's great. (Thinking of you, Bracconiere!) We all have our motivations for the hobby.

BTW, I have never shown that spreadsheet to my wife. I'd get the "OMG, five thousand on beer stuff?"

 

[mac_1103]

How do you manage to get by so cheaply?

Trust me, don't even try to work out the per batch amortization of your equipment costs. As I've said before, I don't brew to save money; I save my money so I can afford to brew.

 

[firerat]

I don't brew to save money; I save my money so I can afford to brew.

I do it to cut back on the cost of therapy.

 

[mac_1103]

I remember about 10 years ago the bedroom communities of Rockville and Gaithersburg, literally the suburbs of D.C., were being overrun with deer, and the hiring of sharpshooters to cull the herds was discussed, but I don't remember how things finally got resolved.

The irony in my case is that my subdivision and all the others in the area are built on a bluff overlooking about 250 acres of flood plain. Culling the herd there would be completely safe and highly effective, as the deer eating the azaleas up here would be perfectly happy to move back down there. But of course, the deer aren't a nuisance when they aren't in the neighborhoods so you have to wait for deer season, get a license and adhere to the limits.

 

[MaxStout]

We have deer culls around here from time to time. In urban/suburban areas it's archery-only, and the archers must demonstrate proficiency before being issued a tag.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

There's a lot of deer in my neck of the woods. I once asked my long-time neighbor across the county road how he controlled destructive deer on his 60 acres of mixed use agriculturally zoned land.

"Easy," he said. "A 30.06 and a freezer."

Harvesting destructive nuisance animals is allowed year-round, and doesn't require hunting license, at least in this part of rural Maryland.

I'm not sure what Wisconsin allows. I have lots of deer on my property, it's nothing to see a dozen roaming around fairly close to the house. I'm good with the animals as long as they stay out of my beer garden.

 

[Broothru]

I'm not sure what Wisconsin allows. I have lots of deer on my property, it's nothing to see a dozen roaming around fairly close to the house. I'm good with the animals as long as they stay out of my beer garden.

I have a brother-in-law outside of Boyceville, north of Menomonee who built a beautiful homesite on what used to be his and his brothers (and their friends) huge deer camp. The deer are thick up there, and wander through the property quite frequently. Also an occasional black bear. Last fall they had a momma and two cubs out foraging for the last available snack before settling in for the long winter nap. It drove their huge black lab crazy. You want to give them a pretty wide berth. The dog, Cash (think Johnny Cash, the Man in Black) had to stay indoors for a few days. I'm not sure if you can even get a bear tag in Wisconsin, but I know BIL & SIL were armored up whenever they ventured outside, just in case.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I have a brother-in-law outside of Boyceville, north of Menomonee who built a beautiful homesite on what used to be his and his brothers (and their friends) huge deer camp. The deer are thick up there, and wander through the property quite frequently. Also an occasional black bear. Last fall they had a momma and two cubs out foraging for the last available snack before settling in for the long winter nap. It drove their huge black lab crazy. You want to give them a pretty wide berth. The dog, Cash (think Johnny Cash, the Man in Black) had to stay indoors for a few days. I'm not sure if you can even get a bear tag in Wisconsin, but I know BIL & SIL were armored up whenever they ventured outside, just in case

Wisconsin has a lottery type license for bear hunting, limited number issued each year . You apply but there's no guarantee you're going to be selected plus there's a waiting period before you can be selected. Could be 5-9 years. I have heard they are making some changes. It's convoluted at best.

 

[Willy]

You can get a bear license in Wi during Packer Season. Go Packers!

 

[jdubdvdt]

So about a year ago I decided it was time to level and go with kegs in lieu of bottles. Of course, I had to justify the move with some "math". Haha.

If I drink about 6 beers a day (includes friends stopping by but not parties) that comes out to $84 per week (at $12 a six pack - I like the good stuff). Over a year - that works out to $4368 and on that I will add $950 for parties... So basically commercial beer is costly me over 5 grand a year!!!

So, of course - this becomes my budget for moving to kegs. Keezer, homebuilt at about $1400. Kegs, $40 a pop used, gas manifold - 6 taps, $130, co2 tanks and gas, faucets ... Etc etc. Homebrew math is slow to include all the knick knack stuff. It makes the numbers work out better. Hahaha.

For me to brew my own 5 g batch... I am looking at $30 for grains, $5 for yeast, etc etc ... (Again, don't really work at finding the true cost)... In the end, I am making my beers at about $1.11 per 12 oz serving size. Saving $0.89 per bottle.

Now, the Homebrewer moves to fantasy math... So... If I keep drinking at the same rate - I am saving about 25 grand over 10 years.

Is anyone else playing internal mind games with math that says - yeah!!! Making Homebrewer really saves me money. Hahahaha

Previously I would justify purchase cost vs commercial cost.
Now with young kids I justify based off time saved and/or more remote monitoring.

I try to save as much as I can by buying in bulk, but in reality I have more equipment than I need, but I keep buying more.

When friends or family ask how much things cost - I usually just tell them "excluding the equipment investment and electricity, depending on the beer I can get around $0.30/beer for light beers and $1/beer for bigger beers with specialty malts or lots of hops"

That resonates pretty well with most crowds. If they're a light beer drinker they think it is a pretty good deal. If they drink IPAs they can quickly do the math that it is also a pretty good deal.

 

[Broothru]

You can get a bear license in Wi during Packer Season. Go Packers!

Now that was good!

 

[mac_1103]

You can get a bear license in Wi during Packer Season. Go Packers!

I need to find a groan emoji...

 

[day_trippr]

Eyeroll works

 

[mac_1103]

Not visceral enough.

 

[Willy]

Is replying Dick Butkis a violation of HBT decorum? Asking for a Packer fan.

 

[mac_1103]

First of all, you might spell his name right. Second, de mortuis nil nisi bonum.

 

[mac_1103]

OTOH, maybe Bears fans have trouble spelling Nitschke?

 

[Willy]

First of all, you might spell his name right. Second, de mortuis nil nisis bonum.

As a packer fan... He wasn't one of "us". So forgive, local spelling.
That said. The dude was awesome and amazing. Enjoyed watching him play except for when he was crushing our guys.

 

[Willy]

OTOH, maybe Bears fans have trouble spelling Nitschke?

You had to look it up. Ha.

 

[Snuffy]

I do it to cut back on the cost of therapy.

I think a lot of what I do now is subconsciously a “therapy” of some sort. Anything I can do to just focus and neutralize the noise in my head. Building the recipe in software. Hand cranking the mill. Watching the boil. Cleaning gear. The only things I have found that work better are staring at a campfire with a toasty buzz and the complete sensory fulfillment of swinging a motorcycle down some sweet twisty backroad.

 

[Broothru]

I think a lot of what I do now is subconsciously a “therapy” of some sort. Anything I can do to just focus and neutralize the noise in my head. Building the recipe in software. Hand cranking the mill. Watching the boil. Cleaning gear. The only things I have found that work better are staring at a campfire with a toasty buzz and the complete sensory fulfillment of swinging a motorcycle down some sweet twisty backroad.

Absolutely. I’m recovering now from a surgery five weeks ago, and am on “light duty” as we called it in the Navy. I’d be going nuts right now if I didn’t have this hobby (the talking and planning, but not yet the actual doing), to keep my mind focused and in the game instead of feeling useless. At least I’ve been ‘cleared’ to enjoy an occasional beer in moderation.

 

[firerat]

I think a lot of what I do now is subconsciously a “therapy” of some sort. Anything I can do to just focus and neutralize the noise in my head. Building the recipe in software. Hand cranking the mill. Watching the boil. Cleaning gear. The only things I have found that work better are staring at a campfire with a toasty buzz and the complete sensory fulfillment of swinging a motorcycle down some sweet twisty backroad.

This is exactly it.

I actually stepped away from brewing for a while because I lost the "zen" for a little bit. It became more of a chore which defeated the whole purpose.

It happens. But I always come back to it.

 

[shoengine]

I've definitely spent a decent amount of money on brewing equipment and supplies, but nowhere near how much I've spent on car projects over the years.

I actually stepped away from brewing for a while because I lost the "zen" for a little bit. It became more of a chore which defeated the whole purpose.

Me too, but after the hiatus I had a lot more zeal for the process and the results. Anytime I "have to" go to the store now to get beer I'm a little depressed that I don't have any of my own to drink.

 

[Snuffy]

This is exactly it.
I actually stepped away from brewing for a while because I lost the "zen" for a little bit. It became more of a chore which defeated the whole purpose.
It happens. But I always come back to it.

I see guys coming up with new methods and gear to try and streamline the brew process and reduce the time to a few hours. Brew day is a day for me and I'm cool with that. And I never forget the bittering hops.

My brew buddies, but one, have all fallen away over time. That's the reason I hang around here. Nobody I know wants to talk brewing anymore. That, and I enjoy a twisted sense of humor.

 

[Bassman2003]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. Keeping costs down has always been one of the parts of homebrewing for me. Used fridges and not extravagant setups have allowed me to justify it for 20+ years. Since packaged beer is a lot more expensive these days, it is a pretty low bar to clear to beat the costs. Brew a few Belgians and you are really ahead of the game!

 

[BrewZer]

de mortuis nil nisi bonum.

Man, why would you dime out Morty and Nisi? They're both consenting adults.

 

[MaxStout]

Man, why would you dime out Morty and Nisi? They're both consenting adults.

And we shalln't speak ill of them.