How much do you pay for your HB?

[Brewer3401]

I do AG, and it costs about $ 28.00 for everything. Counting filtered water cost, ice (make my own), clarifiers in pot and brite tank, utilities, and base and specialty grains.
I lose 2.3 gallons per net 5 gallon batch in the kettle. Get 6 gallons to fermenter, and after racking to brite tank, then keg, I have a tad over 5 gallons net beer.
Paying about $ 1.00 per pound for base malt (Thomas Fawcett Maris Otter), but found out our club buys by the pallet every so often. That will reduce the cost to around $ .70 per pound, which will reduce overall cost by $ 4.20
New total cost will be around $ 24.00

 

[Xiren]

I buy from a local HB shop and im still a newb so im not re-propigating my yeast or anything like that.

How does one do this? A web site will good enough.

 

[ajf]

How does one do this? A web site will good enough.

Try http://www.donosborn.com/homebrew/yeast_washing_the_wyeast_way.htm

I can't say I completely agree with him, but it's certainly good enough to get you started. Google "yeast washing" should give you enough more information to keep you busy for a long time.

-a.

 

[98EXL]

and I Assume this works pretty well then?

 

[FlyingHorse]

Try http://www.donosborn.com/homebrew/yeast_washing_the_wyeast_way.htm

I can't say I completely agree with him, but it's certainly good enough to get you started. Google "yeast washing" should give you enough more information to keep you busy for a long time.

-a.

Or just check out the HBT Wiki

and I Assume this works pretty well then?

No need to assume...many on this forum do it, with success

 

[98EXL]

Or just check out the HBT Wiki


No need to assume...many on this forum do it, with success

sweet, I forget now, but the last two things I looked at on the wiki weren't there

 

[Jekster]

Although I have not made this batch yet, it will be my first batch and I have calculated the price. This is a batch where I will be steeping some specialty grains and using LME extract.

2 lb Wheat Whole Grain:
2lb Wheat Pilsner Grain:

Total: $5.40 on Morebeer.com

2lb Wheat LME
2lb Pilsner LME

Total: 12.40 on Morebeer.com (This includes the $3.00 for containers)

2 oz Hallertau Hops

Total: $3.00 at my LHBS

Whitelabs liquid hefeweizen yeast

Total: 7.95 at my LHBS


Overall total: 28.90 for ingredients alone. This of course does not include caps or sanitizer and such as I consider them initial cost of brewing equipment.

This should make a nice five gallon batch that will make 2 cases of beer. That's $14.38 a case or $3.60 a six pack. IMO not a bad deal at all if it turns out well, especially since I usually pay $5-7 for a nice 6 back of brew in my town.

I also agree that cost is all relative. It's nice to get cheap beer, but it would take lots of cheap beer (and an All Grain setup) to really outdo the initial cost of gear it takes to brew. You also have to consider the entertainment factor and whether the hobby is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. If you don't enjoy the process I would say choose another hobby and start buying beer at Sam's club.